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After the 73-point demolition of the Memphis Grizzlies to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the whole NBA community were putting the Thunder on a plethora of memes and comedic images. People were sharing their sentiments on OKC throwing away another season down the drain in order to have a top selection in the upcoming NBA Draft. However, that was not the case as the Thunder have been giving their utmost effort every night as their standing is not the best indicator on the hard work they possess every match.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to showcase his immense talent as the franchise cornerstone of the Thunder. OKC has built their core around tall guards as Australian Josh Giddey has stamped his name as one of the most delightful and exciting rookies in this class. Luguentz Dort has enhanced his arsenal as he been not just been a tough and rugged defender. These are just some of the bright spots of their campaign, but General Manager Sam Presti is known to work his magic in constructing a contending squad and build on this foundation.
Oklahoma City Thunder Predictions
Tre Mann plays exceptional as Giddey is sidelined
As Giddey was exceeding all sorts of expectations with his all-around skillset, he unfortunately sustained a hip injury that will force him to be sidelined for at least the next two weeks. It seems likely for the Thunder to shut him down for the rest of the year, but Tre Mann has been proving that they will not miss much in the scoring and offensive department.
Gilgeous-Alexander is tasked more to handle the playmaking duties, but Mann has been a reliable long-range shooter and scorer who could easily tally over 20 points on a given night. The problem with Mann has been his consistency and efficiency, but that is not much for a cause of concern because rookies usually encounter tough stretches. As Mann is given more chances with injuries to his teammates, there is no doubt that he will have more games wherein he will be a scoring machine before the 2021-22 campaign wraps up.
Isaiah Roby locks up the starting center spot
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All throughout the season OKC coach Mark Daigneault has been searching for a constant contributor as the center of their lineup. The whole team is undersized without a spectacular big man, but it seems that Daigneault has found a gem in Isaiah Roby. He fits the characteristics of a modern-day big man who runs the floor well, an athletic man who could perform a variety of things, and a reliable outside shooter to space the floor.
He has been out for a slew of games already this year, but these past two weeks have been a tremendous stretch for Roby. He has the path of keeping that spot until the end of the season as OKC would focus on developing him rather than utilizing veterans Derrick Favors or Mike Muscala. If the Thunder are not able to select Chet Holmgren or another superb big in the draft, Roby could be an individual they could focus on and expand his repertoire.
Gilgeous-Alexander does not get shut down; OKC still gets a high pick
Last season, there were swirling rumors from the NBA fans that the Thunder shut down Gilgeous-Alexander and Al Horford because they wanted an opportunity to select Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green or Evan Mobley. Even with their abysmal record, the Thunder were unlucky in the lottery as they slide to sixth. Additionally, they may have realized that having a pick at sixth means they could still select a phenomenal stud in Giddey.
Even if the Thunder miss on Holmgren or Jabari Smith, they could still add another combo forward or big man who could complement the core of Gilgeous-Alexander, Giddey, and Dort. Draft selection is not necessarily just selecting the most talented guy, but it is also his ability and willingness to fit and jive well with his teammates. Gilgeous-Alexander shows no signs of slowing down and sitting down for more games as that is a pleasant sight to see for any Thunder fan. Continuous losing is not easy to accept for youngsters in the league, and OKC has shown the willingness to continually compete every game.
For someone like Gilgeous-Alexander who is signed to maximum extension, it will be tough to muster if the organization just continually tanks during his prime. Thus, their desire and eagerness to compete this season has been more evident. Through this approach, his teammates have also been inspired to play their hearts out and not mind the subpar record of the team.
That is one major trait of an excellent leader.
