Last qualified and logical outsider against New Orleans which will host the “play in” match tonight, the Thunder is a bit of a surprise guest in the Western Conference.
Rather expected among the dunces of the League with their reconstruction project initiated since the departure of Russell Westbrook in 2019, the Oklahoma franchise has grown faster than expected. And if it has little experience of the playoffs, the troop of Mark Daigneault has every intention of selling its skin dearly.
To do this, she will obviously be able to count on the creativity of Josh Giddey and the power of Jalen Williams, but also the scoring of her All-Star point guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the defensive know-how of Lu Dort. The two youngest Canadians in the league are the only ones to have tasted the postseason…
” I was young [21 ans] and I was still trying to find my place in the League”remembers Lu Dort in The Oklahoman. “That game gave me a lot of confidence and opened a lot of people’s eyes to the type of player I am. And what I can do in the field. »
The match to which the native of Montreal refers is this famous Game 7 against Houston, during the playoffs in the “bubble” of Orlando. Facing James Harden’s Rockets, whom he met every summer at Arizona State, Lu Dort not only held the bearded man to 17 points at 4/15 on shots in a display of defensive aggression, but he also finished at 30 points. at 6/12 to 3-pointers!
On a commando mission on Brandon Ingram and/or CJ McCollum
A reference match which subsequently allowed him to assert himself on the circuit, and in particular to sign a five-year contract at 82 million dollars last summer.
He is now one of the best defenders in the League, as Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard and Kawhi Leonard have been able to attest, despite himself padlocked in a victory for OKC against the Clippers.
Facing New Orleans in this life-and-death game, Lu Dort will have a leading role to play. In fact, it is he who will be on the front line against the two biggest offensive threats of the Pels, namely Brandon Ingram (25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists average) and CJ McCollum (21 points, 4 rebounds, 6 passes).
Between the skinny winger and the dribbler back, Lu Dort should not rest much if the Thunder want to play the spoilsports until the end.
“I know my playoff experience was in the Bubble [et donc sans public]. But from what I’ve seen, I feel it’s going to be a great experience for us. It will be the first time for many of our players but we will have the right approach. Our competitive spirit and the atmosphere of the room, it’s going to be a game apart. »
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
