The Thunder are in the midst of a five-game winning streak and have won every game by double-digit points. In addition, the Thunder have clinched a winning season in 13 of their total 17 years of existence. Also, they are on pace to increase their wins from the year before for the fourth consecutive year. However, on this five-game winning streak, there has been one standout from the Thunder. That player is Aaron Wiggins, who is slowly becoming the X-factor for the Thunder when the playoffs come.
Last year, in the playoffs, Wiggins struggled shooting the ball, as did everyone else on the Thunder. He averaged 6.2 points per game while shooting 48.9% from the field and 30.0% from three. Before the trade deadline, Wiggins was even in trade rumors for the Thunder to get shooting help by adding a Cam Johnson. However, these last five games from Wiggins have put an ease on the Thunder’s decision to stay pat at the deadline. In the last five games, Wiggins is averaging 23 points per game while shooting 55.7% from the field and 47.2% from three. Let’s dive into why Wiggins will be the X-factor for the Thunder come playoff time.
Why Aaron Wiggins Will be OKC’s X-Factor in The Playoffs
Where Does the Scoring Come From for OKC?
The Thunder have the MVP favorite in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as he has been playing incredibly all year. Jalen Williams has become a first-time All-Star this year and has become the second go-to scorer behind Shai. Chet Holmgren has finally returned from his injury and will be the third scoring option on the Thunder. However, outside of those three, there are big question marks for the Thunder of where the other scoring will come from. In addition, another big question mark is outside of Shai, Chet, and Jalen, who on the Thunder can consistently create shots for themselves?
Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, and Alex Caruso have shown the ability to be scorers and create for themselves. However, their main focus on this team is being defensive stoppers and guarding the other team’s best players. That leaves the scoring to Isaiah Hartenstein, Isaiah Joe, or Aaron Wiggins. Hartenstein has a great push-floater shot and has become an excellent passer for the Thunder. However, he isn’t someone who can create his shot. Joe is the Thunder’s best shooter, but shooting can be hit or miss in the playoffs. Finally, Wiggins has shown the ability this season to create his own shot if the shots aren’t falling from the outside. For these reasons, Wiggins is the X-factor for the Thunder.
Bench Scoring is Huge in the Playoffs
In the playoffs, bench scoring becomes even more important. Especially since your starters will be playing more minutes in the playoffs. However, if you can get a consistent double-digit scorer off the bench in the playoffs, that will give you a huge advantage over your opponent. This might be a little challenging for the Thunder as they rank 19th in bench scoring, meaning that most of their scoring comes from their starters. However, this is somewhat due to the Thunder’s injuries; multiple players on the bench have been starters for OKC.
Once the Thunder get fully healthy, they will have their normal bench unit, which should increase their bench scoring. However, if Wiggins can consistently become a double-digit scorer off the bench like he has shown in the last five games, that will be huge for the Thunder in the playoffs, who rely heavily on their starters to carry the scoring load for them.
Wiggins Scoring Double-Digit Points Consistently Makes OKC Unbeatable
The Thunder know what they are going to get from Shai, Jalen, and Chet on a night-to-night basis. This trio is averaging 69.2 points per game. In the playoffs, that number could increase with them playing more minutes if the Thunder can consistently get double-digit scoring outputs from Aaron Wiggins in the playoffs, like he has produced in these last five games. Paired with their number one ranked defense and other players like Joe, Dort, and Hartenstein, who can score double-digit points here and there, this Thunder team essentially becomes unbeatable in the playoffs. This is why in this five-game stretch for Wiggins, the Thunder’s closest win was by 12 points.
The Last Word
The Thunder have chosen to stay pat at the deadline and run in back with the same squad a year ago with the two additions they made in the offseason. Last year, the Thunder got knocked out in the second round as the team outside of Shai struggled. However, the Thunder are hopeful that this year will be different, knowing what to expect this time around. Finally, if Wiggins can be a double-digit scorer of the bench for them, that can create his shot when needed, then OKC’s title chances will improve.
Photo credit: © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
