To kick off its preseason slate, the NBA launched the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the backside of the pool.
The Thunder’s five-game slate began with three video games in 4 nights. The three competitions passed off in numerous cities. The primary passed off in Texas at San Antonio Spurs on Monday October 7. The following two have been at OKC-Tulsa again to again in opposition to the Houston Rockets and NBL New Zealand breakers October 9 and 10.
LeBron James has been creating some drama not too long ago over brutal preseason routines. The Los Angeles Lakers have been pressured to journey on the highway to face the Milwaukee Bucks in an exhibition between a four-day break. The longer term Corridor of Famer took to social media to complain concerning the journey.
Can somebody clarify to me why we’re leaving in ✈️ and heading to Milwaukee for 1 preseason sport!?!?
-LeBron James (@KingJames) October 9, 2024
It is honest to say that the Thunder’s debut was extra complete. Regardless of this, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault defined the advantages of OKC’s busy begin to the preseason schedule. The Thunder have 4 days off earlier than enjoying their closing two preseason outings from October 15-17.
“That’s what we needed to do, however we’ll have good follow time this weekend right here,” Daigneault mentioned. “Then we’ll have two video games after which we’ll have a great coaching interval once more. It is good to play just a few video games and perceive a little bit little bit of what you might have and return to coaching and tighten the screws. “
As a consequence of expanded rosters stuffed with rookies, two-way gamers and Exhibit 10 guys, the Thunder used their annual BOK Heart sport to increase this group’s enjoying time. It will doubtless be their solely likelihood to play greater than half-hour in an NBA surroundings.
It additionally helps that the core rotation gamers not often play within the preseason. At most, it is just for the primary half earlier than they’re out. Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein performed the primary half of the Thunder’s additional time loss to the Rockets and have been in road garments on the finish of the sport.
Different instances, they do not play in any respect. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has solely performed for half of the preseason basketball to date. The Thunder refuse to go away meat on the bone with their five-game preseason slate in a 10-day window.
“There’s a technique to planning this,” Daigneault mentioned. “It’s served us properly.”
This text was initially printed on OKC Thunder Wire: Mark Daigneault sees benefits in a busy begin to the pre-season
