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As we approach the halfway point of the regular season, three NBA teams stand out as true contenders. This doesn’t mean that all three will meet in the conference finals, nor does it mean that another team won’t enter the picture. But as of now, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers appear to be a level above everyone else.
The Thunder and Cavs met on Wednesday night, and both combined to win 25 straight games (15 in a row for the Thunder, 10 for the Cavs), and the Cavs took care of business, extending their winning streak with a victory from 129-122.
These are matchups that could also shed some crucial clues as to who they’ll face off in June. On Sunday night, the Thunder disposed of the Celtics, somewhat convincingly, providing a delicious subplot to this marquee matchup.
Here are some key takeaways from Wednesday night’s game that could prove important moving forward:
SGA understanding its responsibility
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, one of the league’s best players and MVP candidate, once again showed off the combination of his 6-foot-6 frame, patient offense and sublime court vision to constantly probe Cleveland’s defense . He finished with 31 points on 13 of 27 shooting.
The 26-year-old is one of the most potent and fluid two-way stars in the league and almost seems destined to average 30+ points in the coming years by being fundamentally sound and shooting within the flow of the offense.
That said, when the Thunder go through offensive droughts, Gilgeous-Alexander occasionally comes out of the offense and scores his own number on consecutive possessions, which is the role of a superstar after all. Against the Cavs, with the lead constantly changing hands, the All-NBA guard decided to take matters into his own hands.
Cavs using depth
Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson has reduced his starters’ minutes, with only Donovan Mitchell hitting 31 per game. Atkinson relies on depth, as Caris LeVert, Max Strus, Georges Niang and Ty Jerome play important minutes off the bench, while being counted as legitimate offensive contributors who space the floor.
Strus was a constant outside presence throughout the game, hitting five 3-pointers, scoring 17 points and further proving how important his return is to Cleveland’s Finals chances. Strus missed the first 28 games of the season and has now returned to the lineup, where his shooting often acts as glue between the Cavs’ four stars.
OKC could really use Chet Holmgren
The Thunder miss Chet Holmgren, period. While Isaiah Hartenstein has done an admirable job (which is also expected for someone making $30 million this season), Holmgren’s presence would have drastically altered the dynamic of Oklahoma City’s interior game when facing Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
This is not to say that Hartenstein didn’t play well. He did it, finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, clogging the paint well defensively and moving the ball efficiently. His lithe 7-foot frame and crafty athleticism remain the Thunder’s biggest defensive assets on the interior. Needless to say, he doesn’t have the same caliber of spacer as Holmgren, which means there’s a problem in the matchup between these two teams that we couldn’t see.
The two teams will play again on January 16, and although Holmgren is increasing his physical activity, it remains to be seen if he will be available that day. Even if he was, he would most likely play in a limited capacity.
Evan Mobley elevating
Evan Mobley continues to be the X factor for Cleveland. When he is active around the rim, fighting for rebounds and second-chance points, he puts enormous pressure on opponents. When you try to create too much on the perimeter and dribble too much, those are possessions that don’t go through the hands of Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Mobley, who scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and seven assists, is having a career season, but his offense is sure to take another leap in the coming years. He currently shares the offensive load with some heavy hitters, but there are shots he can hunt over the course of a game that are there for him if he wants them. As a 7-footer with great ball-handling ability, the sky is truly the limit for him. But you have to look for it.
All-Star Jalen Williams?
Jalen Williams is the best player in the league that no one outside of Thunder fans really talks about. The 6-5 Swiss Army Knife plays up to four positions, averages 20.6 points on the season and functions as the often overlooked secondary creator.
Williams, who finished with 25 points and nine assists, got off to a good start, scoring seven points and grabbing three rebounds in the first five minutes as she tried to set the tone. His wide physical frame absorbs contact, allowing him to finish plays through traffic, providing the Thunder with a notable cutting presence to take pressure off of Gilgeous-Alexander.
With the Thunder as good as they are, it’s hard to argue against Williams as a true All-Star candidate this season. Some guys could put up flashier numbers, but in terms of influence, Williams has a strong case.
Donovan Mitchell takes it easy
Donovan Mitchell is clearly saving himself for the postseason. His scoring average of 23.3 points is modest by his standards, but that’s apparently by design. Mitchell spent years scoring at a ridiculously high rate in Utah, as well as during his first two seasons in Cleveland, only to now downsize and rely more on the abundance of talent on the roster.
That doesn’t mean Mitchell isn’t as potent a scorer as he once was. The Thunder clearly surrounded him in their game plan, rotating Gilgeous-Alexander and second-year man Cason Wallace over him. It started badly, going 0-for-6 until scoring its first points with 1:53 left in the first half. He finished 3 of 16 from the field for 11 points and will no doubt look for a better start when these two teams meet again.
Dario Garland is back
Garland played an exquisite game despite a modest line of 18 points and seven assists, and continued to rebound from a poor year last season. The 6-2 guard is one of the most efficient scoring guards in the NBA, but what’s notable is how the game has slowed down for him. In the past, he often tried to force the issue, taking reckless shots and making questionable decisions with the ball. But this season under Atkinson, Garland has played the point guard role beautifully while making the most of Cleveland’s fast-paced offense.
It seems increasingly likely that Garland’s optimized role going forward will always have to accommodate a fast-paced offense in which he can set the tone, dictate the pace, and make quick shots off the dribble, whether from three or reaching the cup. . Garland is playing just 30 minutes per game this season, and that allows the former All-Star to do as much as possible in the minutes he is on the court. For a guy who was in trade rumors last June, this has been a tremendous turn in his story. Garland finding a new life in Cleveland, under a new head coach, is a large part of what has allowed the Cavs to be as dominant as they have been this season.
Is SGA a lot like MJ?
During last year’s NBA playoffs, many media outlets were busy comparing Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards to Michael Jordan, but are we sure Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t the best player to make that comparison?
The sheer number of moves and counterattacks in Gilgeous-Alexander’s arsenal tends to be reminiscent of Jordan’s advanced footwork and how he operated in the mid-post. The gradual spins, mid-range pull-ups, up-and-downs and relentlessness in attacking the rim while contorting his body in a variety of ways seem to underscore Gilgeous-Alexander as a potentially better example to make compared to Jordan. .
Jarrett Allen rises to the occasion
Allen remains criminally underrated. The 7-foot center is often considered a rim runner, but what stands out is his overall presence in the post. His keen understanding of timing, when to roll, when to drop back and when to duck into the dunker spot is an important offensive component for Cleveland. The former All-Star had an efficient 15 points, six rebounds and four assists at halftime, finishing the game with 25 points, 12 rebounds and six assists and sending the eternal reminder to the people who tune in that he is one of the best two-way players. centers in the NBA.
Allen is converting nearly 70% from the field on the season, and it’s due to the fact that 91.9% of his shots are from within 10 feet of the basket, giving the Cavs a finishing component. of elite play that allows Mobley to move freely offensively. .
What do the Thunder need?
The Thunder could find more shots at the trade deadline. The Cavs had some success getting into the zone, forcing the Thunder to face the reality that while they have solid shooters, they don’t have any significant zone destroyers who can space the floor consistently. This doesn’t mean they need a chucker, but if they found a guy who was constantly ready to shoot, without a conscience, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.