The Thunder is no longer the “young talent laboratory” of recent years. More talented with the “return” of Chet Holmgrenthe team of Mark Daigneault has become more ambitious as evidenced by its start to the regular season (5v-4d), but also more demanding.
After the narrow defeat conceded on the floor of Sacramento this weekend (105-98), it is Josh Giddey who shouted about his team’s lack of toughness, particularly on the rebound.
For the Australian player, before his team’s catastrophic away performance that evening (7/30), it was the rebound battle that caused the Thunder to plunge. Sacramento dominated the proceedings with 52 holds against 38 for OKC. The icing on the cake, the Kings had the luxury of grabbing 16 offensive rebounds! The gap too many for Josh Giddey…
“We need to be taught that when a shot is taken, we all need to go to the rim to get rebounds,” he said after the match. “ Last year, we were smaller, but we were better at rebounding. This year, we’re having a harder time doing it… and it’s our fault, us little ones. We have to go out on the field, be physical and make life easier for our big guys.”
The importance of details
The sting therefore does not particularly concern Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City’s best rebounder tied with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in this match, but the entire group.
Especially since the problem is recurring, since the Thunder, 26th team in the league in the rebounding rankings, had already been dominated in this sector during defeats against the Nuggets (48-29) and the Pelicans (58-49).
“As we are the smallest team, it is up to us to throw the first blow,” added Josh Giddey. “There are times when you do it, and times when you don’t, but it has to be for 48 minutes. It has to be consistent. Against these bigger, more experienced teams, if we don’t get there, a lot of teams will push us.”
Arriving at the gates of the playoffs last season, the Thunder players became aware of the importance of details to continue to grab a few places in the West, and the rebound battle is one of them.
“We are a difficult team to follow, simply because of the qualities of our players. We are a talented team offensively, but it’s the other side of the field that will win us games.”insisted Josh Giddey.
Oklahoma City’s reaction will be interesting to follow on this point this evening on the Phoenix floor, among the ten best teams at the start of the season in rebounding.
| Josh Giddey | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | OKAY | 54 | 32 | 41.9 | 26.3 | 70.9 | 1.8 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 12.5 |
| 2022-23 | OKAY | 76 | 31 | 48.2 | 32.5 | 73.1 | 2.0 | 5.9 | 7.9 | 6.2 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 16.6 |
| 2023-24 | OKAY | 9 | 28 | 41.5 | 22.2 | 80.0 | 1.1 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 12.2 |
| Total | 139 | 31 | 45.6 | 29.2 | 72.6 | 1.8 | 5.9 | 7.7 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 14.7 | |
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.
