Chet Holmgren's superb hot shot

Four small points separated the Rockets from the Thunder at the start of the fourth quarter (83-87). This minimal gap seriously worsened in the following three minutes at the end of which the OKC players found themselves with a 14-point lead (88-102). The explanation? The beginning of a signed heat stroke Chet Holmgren.

The Thunder pivot took advantage of a long stint on the bench from his Rockets counterpart, Alperen Sengun, stuck on the bench since the middle of the third quarter after collecting a 4th personal foul. The Texan shortage of centimeters was favorable to him: he chained several dunks and taps, without being contested, before punishing at 3-points.

A complete service

The Turk's return to play will have no further effect on him who converted once again behind the arc, after a semblance of “pick-and-pop” with Josh Giddey. “ We continue to get better and better at finding him when he is open at 3-point and around the rim, which is essential to optimize the team “, Judge Mark Daigneaultwho appreciated the work of spacing his interior, including in the first half.

But it was well after the break, and particularly in this last period, that his rookie exploded the scorers: 19 of his 29 points scored (11/16 on shots including 5/8 from distance) in total, completed with 8 rebounds , 7 passes and 3 blocks, without missing a single shot in the final (7/7). “ He hurts with his qualities on the 'pick-and-pop' “, don't hide Ime Udoka according to whom his pivot is not really to blame. Due to frequent defensive changes, Alperen Sengun ultimately defended little directly on OKC's stem.

“ He was aggressive, he played at circle level, he was decisive, he took shots when he was open, made the right choices “, lists Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, recalling that despite the size of his teammate, the latter is capable of “ pass, shoot and dribble “. Fundamentals that make him a player as complete as Sengun, with a different style of play.

A great month of February

Also, at the age of 21, Chet Holmgren does not fail to show his maturity in the game and his speech. Even though he was hot in the last quarter, he didn't try to do anything in terms of shooting.

“ I don't necessarily believe in this idea of ​​temperature rise. […] Just because you've just taken several shots doesn't mean you have to start taking bad ones. The goal in the end is always to have the best shot, try to score and win. So for me, hitting shots and then taking complicated ones is going in the wrong direction. I will always stay aggressive whether it goes in or not, but at the same time you have to take the right shots », he displays.

A philosophy that has direct effects on its production. In February, it approached the twenty average points with excellent percentages (60% including 49% by far). Enough to intensify the race for the best rookie against Victor Wembanyama.

How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.