How Chet Holmgren Swings Potential OKC Thunder Playoff Chase

The Game Theory Podcast with Sam Vecenie talked about NBA prospects that are going to make waves in NBA playoff races. Obviously, with the Oklahoma City Thunder taking big leaps as a team, they're a team to keep in mind when talking about playoff teams.

Vecenie first raved about the way the Thunder has built its roster and the versatility it brings.

"Ground coverage, to me, is the name of the game defensively in today's NBA," Vecenie said. "It's different in FIBA competition because the court is a little bit more condensed but in the NBA where the offensive zone is much more stretched out and the best shooters in the world play, it's huge."

Having big guards, both Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who offer so much offensively and bring a unique playstyle on that end, using them defensively adds so much versatility. Lu Dort is one of the league's best perimeter and point-of-attack defenders. Cason Wallace and Jalen Williams will both be versatile defenders in the system capable of taking on-ball defensive duties.

All around, this team is going to be a hassle to score on. And they're adding a versatile 7-footer in Chet Holmgren who is both able to play vertically and cover more than enough ground to ensure his defensive impact is felt.

"I think Chet is the one that really changes their team dynamic in a real way," Vecenie said. "We haven't really seen Oklahoma City with, like, a rim protector who can grab and go and who can shoot threes and can do all the things we know they wanted their fives to do."

Essentially, in a team built on versatility, Holmgren adds exactly that and will fill the holes that this team had last year on both sides of the ball. The Thunder can now be true to its full identity and Holmgren makes that happen in a huge way.

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