The Oklahoma City Thunder have dealt with serious injury problems in the new year. Multiple key players like Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Alex Caruso have seen serious playing time missed. These issues intensified after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was diagnosed with an abdominal strain. With Gilgeous-Alexander slated to miss five games, the Thunder have already lost games to the Spurs and Rockets. Both matches were competitive, but the lack of offensive firepower proved devastating. An SGA-shaped hole has been seen in the Paycom Center, and it surely proves how important he is to the team and why he is an MVP favorite.
An SGA-less Thunder Continues To Struggle In A Two-Game Skid
Slow Start In San Antonio
Adversity understates what OKC faced at the Frost Bank Center. After coming off a back-to-back, the entire regular starting lineup of the team was out with some sort of injury or soreness versus the Spurs. In the third quarter, a three-man substitution briefly left the OKC bench without an available player seated. The Spurs started the game on fire. They ended the first quarter leading the Thunder by 13 points. OKC fought back, however. Players like Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams, and Aaron Wiggins stepped up, combining for 69 points. This, however, was not enough to keep pace with the fully healthy Spurs. The Thunder went on to lose the matchup 116-106.
Collapse After Halftime Against The Rockets
A similar story presented itself when the Houston Rockets traveled to Oklahoma City. Hartenstein, Lu Dort, and Chet Holmgren returned to the lineup for this matchup, and it proved more competitive than the last. The Thunder were able to control the game for the first half. The second half, however, saw the Rockets take control, winning the third quarter by 12 points. OKC went cold from the field in that quarter and were not able to regain the momentum in the final 12 minutes. Houston left victorious with a final score of 112-106.
OKC’s Inability To Control Momentum
Both of these matchups proved just how vital SGA is to this squad. His steadiness is the heartbeat of the team. In both of these games, the Thunder ultimately lost due to explosive quarters from their opponents. Ones in which OKC could not retaliate to buckets from the other side, and it built momentum for the other team. Having SGA, with his isolation ability and knack of getting to the free-throw line, allows the Thunder to go blow for blow with any team in the league. He’s able to let OKC avoid these dry stretches during games.
Why SGA Is The MVP
Unquestionably, this ability to almost offensively will the Thunder to wins is why SGA is an MVP favorite. There have been claims that OKC is already an elite team, and his contribution is admissible, but stretches like this prove the opposite. OKC is a different team with SGA on the court. Gilgeous-Alexander will be reevaluated after the All-Star break, and OKC can not wait to have the star back in the lineup. They will look to weather the storm until then.
Featured Image: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
