OKC 25 RAM Mark puts up 25 for Ajay then uses his fist to motion for a Ram screen (player receives an off-ball screen & then sets an on-ball one). They get a switch, Hart relocates to minimize help dunkers spot, McCain on the strong side corner to prevent any help & Ajay gets LaRavia on an island.

OKC Horns Stack You can see Daigneault motioning here by throwing the horns up (2 guys on the elbow) followed by stacking his hands (PnR followed by a back screen for roller). AR wants to meet at the level of the screen, Shai rejects the pick, flies by Rui & finishes on Kennard.

OKC showing some counter's to Denver sending 2 at SGA. They get a stack pick & roll (PnR with a backscreen for the roll man), Isaiah Joe ghosts the screen & Wallace semi sets a screen/intentionally bumps into Joe's man on the roll which leaves Joe room for a 3 on a late contest.

I still can't believe Shai's performance last night. I've watched EVERY game he has ever played in a Thunder jersey, most of them multiple times. Watched probably 40% of his Clips games... Last night was one of his Mount Rushmore performances. We'll remember it for a long time.

Jared McCain vs. the Chicago Bulls last night: 20 PTS 3 REB 1 AST 66.7% True Shooting % 4/9 3P FG 2 STL 3rd 20+ point game in OKC. 8th (out of 11) 10+ point game in OKC. Uploaded the highlights over on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8QBFG1s/

In the past we’ve seen Denver load up on Shai & send multiple guys at him. To counter, OKC opened up with motion strong (staggered screen on weak-side for corner man) as a decoy action to occupy the help defenders. It created a driving lane & iso for Shai to get to the rim with ease.

Jared McCain since joining OKC (10 games): - 11.8 PPG - 61.5 TS% - 53.1% from the mid-range on 3.2 attempts per game. - 42.9% from 3 on 4.2 3PA/G (8 3PA per 75p) - 5th most points off the bench in the NBA. I clipped every bucket of his + some other plays over on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/t/ZTh7Lb7sj/

Jared McCain since joining OKC (10 games): - 11.8 PPG - 61.5 TS% - 53.1% from the mid-range on 3.2 attempts per game. - 42.9% from 3 on 4.2 3PA/G (8 3PA per 75p) - 5th most points off the bench in the NBA. I clipped every bucket of his + some other plays over on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/t/ZTh7Lb7sj/

Looks like Chet Holmgren gifted the team custom Goyard duffle bags with their initials & number on it.

one of my favorite possessions from last night: OKC sets a double drag that gets McCain going down hill, he Nash dribbles out, passes it to a relocating iHart & they seamlessly flow into a zoom action (pin-down followed by a DHO) that ends with an Isaiah Joe movement 3.

Isaiah Joe put on an absolute 3-point shotmaking masterclass in the month of February: 14.8 PPG 69.29 TS% 50% 3P% on 7.2 3PA/G (10.4 3PA/75p) I clipped all 43 of his 3-point makes from the month over on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/t/ZThnrQ2wt/

You know the Thunder put belt to ass when they pull out the you live in Oklahoma card.

Sports fans are inherently hypocritical (Literally all of them, me included), and I think you're seeing that with the Lu Dort stuff. (Not a defending Lu Dort's actions last night post lol)

Jared McCain does a nice job navigating the DHO & makes the tough floater.

Jared McCain showing off his mid-range scoring once again. Creates separation & makes the jumper over Braun.

We have the first-ever Shai with Isaiah Joe and Jared McCain minutes.

Respectfully, It’s 4 on 5 out there with Brooks Barnhizer.

Putting this together for 4 quarters against an elite team will be VERY hard but I’m not surprised one bit that the OKC role players didnt just lay down coming into the game. Culture has become a buzzword when it comes to sports but then I watch stuff like this & can’t help but use any other word.

In 10 minutes today, the Jared McCain/Isaiah Joe line-up had a +40 Net Rating & in 65 minutes together this season (extremely small sample) they have a +21.2 Net Rating w/ a 117.4 Ortg & a 96.2 Drtg, per PivotFade.

So much of sports is psychological, and we don't discuss it enough. Isaiah being THIS ACTIVE probably stems from the confidence he has from being on an absurd shooting high. Very cool to see it slowly develop over this run that he's been on.

“We just have fun just taking the life out of people.”

They got on national TV & don’t know how to act 😭

I really, really hope one day people appreciate Chet's game for what it is. So much focus on this and focus on that... He impacts winning. He's a winner. It's that simple.

It's not always going to be pretty with the majority of your ball-handlers and scorers out, but Richard Jefferson calling this a "system win" is a great description. This is a good win. One to be happy about & one that your role players can build on down the road.

Isaiah Joe is just all over the court. This is elite off-ball stuff & some impressive motor.

The great thing about Isaiah Joe is that he is always willing to make the extra pass, and that is such an underrated skill trait from him. Wouldn't be upset one bit if he shot it on those late close-outs, but he will always swing it to go from a good shot to a great shot.

OKC gets into some early offense with the DHO on the wing followed by the screen (Miami action) but Chet slips the screen before making contact causing both defenders to stay with Tope. Tope hits the nice off-hand interior pass to Chet for the bucket.

I gotta say, Mark's challenge attempts have left a lot to be desired this season lol.

Nice kick out from Caso, Joe makes the extra pass in mid-air & Jared McCain hits the 3. Man, is it nice having multiple shooters on the 3-point line.

The iHart & Isaiah Joe 2-man game is evolving into everything we imagined when they signed iHart.

Tough pass from McCain to Isaiah Joe for the deep side-step 3. This duo is a blast.

Jared McCain comes off the hand-off, drives, kicks it out & relocates for the 3. Elite relocation abilities.

Just an absurd sequence from Chet. Transition bucket, steals the lob, & hits the fadeaway jumper.

You gotta play Joe. They’ve never had a role player that provides this.

Been wanting to do some type of short form content (have some other stuff planned in the future) but would really appreciate a follow here. Don’t know when the first video will go up, may be a while but kinda just want to get out some of my thoughts & some schematics stuff out over here.

Chris Paul back in May: “I will forever be grateful to this [OKC] fanbase, to the people here, to the guys on the team that was here when I was here — These fans, this is my extended family.” Talked about how he started his career & won ROTY here, & then returned years later.

The story of professional basketball in Oklahoma City can’t be told without Chris Paul. From his Rookie of the Year for the OKC Hornets in 05/06 to returning 14 years later & the magical 19/20 Thunder season. An all-time great. Thank you, CP. A legend in this city forever.

Just so cool in every way possible. Nobody I’m rooting harder for than Topić.

Nikola Topić’s first NBA possession is an interior pass that ends as an assist. Just a gifted processor & passer.

I’m so happy Mark chose to play Jared McCain & Isaiah Joe together right off the bat instead of staggering them to have just one shooter on the court. Continue to laugh at how much space is on the floor on the offensive end with those 2.

One thing I'm keeping my eye on is OKC putting cheap ball handlers around Shai, Dub, & Chet after this year. Having Ajay, McCain (flyer), and Topic (hypothetical until we see him) around those 3 + others at a combined 12.6M next year & 17M the year after. feels relevant. Cap % is just 7.7% & 9.8%.

In a pre-draft podcast in '24 I said how Jared McCain was one of my favorite prospects that I would have loved the Thunder to take at 12. This year hasn't been easy for him returning from injury, but I still really like him as a prospect. Can't believe this. Such a Thunder trade too.

Oklahoma City drafted 2 All-Stars in the 2022 NBA draft.

Chet Holmgren is officially an NBA All-Star. The first of many ⚡️

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points, 11 asissts & 7 rebounds on 90.58 TS%. LOL. MVP.

All you can do is laugh

Ajay’s has became a real foul drawing threat as of late. Just another development from him. Such a threat off the dribble.

Shai, man. What a size-up step-back 3. The step-back 3 has done so much for his game. Has really opened things up.