After formally clinching homecourt advantage throughout the entire postseason for the third consecutive yr, the OKC Thunder are seemingly giving their core rotation some much-needed relaxation forward of what’s hoped to be a repeat championship run.
Heading into Friday’s matchup in opposition to the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City has ruled out a total of 10 players, together with their complete beginning lineup.
As a consequence, followers ought to count on head coach Mark Daigneault to make the most of the membership’s splashy trade deadline acquisition, Jared McCain, in a manner they’ve but to experiment with throughout his two-month tenure.
Thunder injury report suggests Jared McCain could also be up for heavy utilization
When the Thunder initially acquired McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers forward of the February 5 trade cut-off, many saw the move as yet another heist pulled off by storied govt Sam Presti.
28 video games into his younger profession in OKC, such a perception nonetheless rings true amongst followers and pundits alike, and for good cause.
After all, in 17.5 minutes an evening, the purpose guard is posting spectacular averages of 10.3 factors and a pair of.0 rebounds on 46.7 p.c capturing from the ground and 40.5 p.c capturing from deep, all whereas ranking sixth on the team in net rating amongst those that have seen 20 or extra video games performed all through this stretch.
However, even along with his extremely environment friendly manufacturing, McCain has but to showcase his abilities as a go-to choice for the Thunder.
His upcoming matchup in opposition to Denver would possibly simply serve as his first.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace, and Isaiah Joe all sidelined, the position for OKC’s primary scoring weapon is up for grabs, and McCain appears to be essentially the most logical selection to tackle such duties.
Let’s not overlook that only a season in the past, the Duke product emerged as a rising star with the Sixers, posting sensational averages of 15.3 factors, 2.6 assists, and a pair of.4 rebounds on 46.0 p.c capturing from the ground and 38.3 p.c capturing from deep whereas establishing himself as the frontrunner for the league’s Rookie of the Year award earlier than being being shut down for the season with a torn UCL.
Now over a yr faraway from the injury, it appears McCain has formally shed any rust that fashioned throughout his rehab, and this upcoming bout in opposition to the Nuggets might show to be the time when he reveals the world that he is again to his pre-injury, star-on-the-rise type.
