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    • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes his preseason debut for Thunder vs Rockets
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    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander makes his preseason debut for Thunder vs Rockets

    Idris Bevan Posted on

    Here are three takeaways from the Thunder’s 122-113 loss to the Rockets on Wednesday night in OKC’s NBA preseason home opener at Paycom Center:

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    A menacing defense is brewing in OKC

    Preseason is what it is, but this quarter, this session, had no preseason feel. Given the way the Thunder defended in the first quarter, it felt like watching an AAU team that was way too energized for an 8 a.m. game.

    Everyone is smiling, hitting at balls that don’t seem to be within reach, players are in a race to see who can get to the right place.

    The Thunder ranked second in the league in total deflections and deflections per game (1,328 and 16.2) a season ago. With the hands that Sam Presti has put together, it seems like this OKC team could make that seem ridiculous.

    Veteran Alex Caruso has never seen a pass he didn’t like. Guards Cason Wallace and Lu Dort are over the top. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led the league in steals last season, takes more control of the lanes and exchanges away shots than players of his stature typically do. Jalen Williams still has incredibly long arms. Chet Holmgren is built like a long arm.

    All but Wallace made up OKC’s starting unit, a predictable lineup that is widely speculated to be the Thunder’s opening night group. And why not?

    The way they took turns, slid into place and delivered seemingly unbreakable finishes had a menacing effect on the group. With Isaiah Hartenstein coming off the bench first and lining up next to Holmgren, it remained scary.

    And Caruso, who is likely to skyrocket coach Mark Daigneault’s personal low-man power rankings, opens up far more opportunities with his help defense. Even more possibilities than Daigneault would have already calculated in Doctor Strange style.

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    Holmgren tackles the rim

    It felt like a 12-minute Drew Hanlen workout. Nothing in his peripherals, just Chet Holmgren, a ball, and whoever stood between him and the rim — and that often wasn’t enough people.

    Holmgren treated Wednesday’s first quarter like a game of King of the Hill. He struck, he dribbled through the teeth of the defense, he stretched his limbs past them. At one point he dove into the key like Evel Knieval in a pit of fire, going for a lob with no regard for a crash landing.

    He ended up shooting eight free throws (and making five), making him the fourth-most free throws made in a game last season.

    “I feel like his body control looks really good,” Aaron Wiggins said. “He seems to have his legs under him a little more when he drives to the rim. He doesn’t get knocked off his drives or anything. He looks really polished compared to his early game in his rookie year.”

    Holmgren, who didn’t shoot a single jumper in his perfect 5-for-5 performance Monday, shot 2-for-7 and finished with 10 points and six rebounds in 16 minutes. Wednesday was the second installment of what he tried to prove in the preseason: His eyes are on the rim this season.

    He will get there at any cost.

    Uncover discrepancies. He pushes his dribbling forward and between defenders. Catch lobs. Holmgren appears determined on the trail, perhaps in a way he couldn’t have been a year ago.

    “His work shows,” coach Mark Daigneault said. “He looks stronger. I think he’s playing with more determination, which is a combination of his emphasis on that and the wisdom he brings from a rookie year and an offseason.”

    More: Why Jalen Williams will be encouraged to shoot more threes for OKC Thunder this season

    Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and the era of Hesi pulls

    How did Dillon Brooks know what was coming?

    The half of the summer he spent with the reclusive Gilgeous-Alexander (15 points, six assists) wasn’t the half the All-NBA guard spent improving his pull-up 3. Not his middy, which he has mastered for a long time, or his stepback, which he unleashed to the right points last season. Four minutes into the game, SGA hesitated twice to the left before rising to shoot, perhaps the only thing stopping Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise from unstoppable to untouchable.

    This was SGA’s next step in real time. A real, straight-up pull-up 3 that you do in the park for bragging rights. All in one motion, as smooth as most things Gilgeous-Alexander can do on the court.

    It wasn’t his only one either. A few minutes later he let it go again, slowly bursting the bubble of defense so it could be a fluke.

    “In my four years here, I’ve seen him work on everything,” Wiggins said. “Like every day. Regardless of what shots he takes, I know he’s working on it.”

    And somewhere in between SGA’s few daring 3s, Williams himself hit 3 after 3. Not a huge surprise, as Daigneault expressed a desire for Williams to increase his volume from deep.

    By the end of the night, Williams, who averaged 3.4 per three attempts last season, had thrown six shots and made three.

    However, there is a difference when you watch Williams take shots that he perhaps could have avoided in the postseason. Or double his looks. Or firing off the dribble more than ever – a startling reality considering how fond Williams was of playing the sidestep.

    Brooks was the first in a long line of defenders who may not have known what was coming.

    More: Alex Caruso comes full circle as he returns to OKC Thunder, but he’s ready to ‘grow even more’

    Thunder vs New Zealand Breakers

    TIP: Thursday, 7 p.m. at the BOK Center in Tulsa (Bally Sports Oklahoma)

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    Idris Bevan
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