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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder are enjoying a break of one week before their next appearance in the NBA Finals.
How the Thunder, fresh off a 4-1 triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, utilize this downtime could significantly influence their championship matchup against either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks, which kicks off June 5 in Oklahoma City.
Head coach Mark Daigneault is confident that his young roster will approach this pause with the same professionalism they have exhibited throughout this season.
“They maintain a high level of professionalism, consistently,” he remarked. “They embody strong character and come from honorable backgrounds. Their competitive spirit is exceptional. They consistently put in the effort, regardless of the highs and lows. Most importantly, they prioritize the team above all else.”
In the past two years, the Thunder have experienced lengthy intervals between playoff games with varying outcomes.
Last year, they swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, subsequently defeating the Dallas Mavericks 117-95 at home in Game 1 of the conference semifinals after an eight-day layoff. However, they ultimately fell in that series, 4-2.
Isiah Thomas has provided comparisons between the two Thunder teams that have reached the NBA Finals.
Following this year’s series against Memphis, the Thunder found themselves in a comparable scenario. The Denver Nuggets’ first-round series against the LA Clippers extended to seven games, prompting Daigneault to grant his players additional rest due to the nine-day gap until their next game. The initial focus for the Thunder was more about refining their own game rather than preparing for an opponent.
“Essentially, it’s about reinforcing our fundamentals,” he explained in the lead-up to the Denver series. “Defensively, success will hinge on transition defense, individual defense, help defense, coverage, communication, closeouts, and rebounding. Thus, we will examine the series through that perspective. Offensively, we’ll work on the fundamental skills that apply universally across various defensive schemes.”
Although they lost a close Game 1 against Denver, 121-119, the Thunder rallied to secure a decisive victory in Game 2 with a score of 131-80, ultimately winning the series 4-3.
Daigneault’s team is adept at adapting during the course of competition, ensuring that no experience goes without benefit, especially after achieving a remarkable 68-14 record in the regular season.
“This team consistently internalizes their experiences,” he noted. “They set aside emotional responses, learn the lessons, and then compete with focus in the subsequent moments. That’s the reason for the pace of our improvement.”
