Viva Las Vegas

John Napier -

John and Brandon recap a week of more Thunder wins and preview the NBA Cup. Will OKC win the purse in Vegas? How is Shai still getting better? Are the offensive indicators coming back around for the team? Listen and subscribe here.

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Show notes:

  • 00:01:00 - Raptors W recap: Breaking down the dominant victory over Toronto, SGA’s unusual 3-point shooting, and strong bench play
  • 00:05:00 - Pelicans W recap: Discussing the big halftime lead in New Orleans, the Pelicans’ second-half comeback, and their defensive adjustments against SGA
  • 00:07:00 - Defending SGA: Exploring the Pelicans’ trapping strategy on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and why it’s tough for most teams to replicate
  • 00:09:00 - Mavs W recap: Setting the stage for the playoff-like atmosphere against Dallas, how the absence of MJ PJ Washington impacted expectations, and unexpected role-player contributions
  • 00:11:00 - Free throws and fouls – net positive for OKC? Analyzing the lack of Thunder free throws, the physical defense allowed by officials, and how that benefits OKC’s style of play
  • 00:18:00 - How the Thunder gameplan is evolving: Reviewing defensive tactics against Luka and the Mavs, limiting second-chance points, and the importance of team rebounding
  • 00:23:00 - Chet Holmgren sighting: Discussing Chet’s presence on the bench, his pregame speech, and the morale boost his return-to-form progress gives the team
  • 00:26:00 - NBA Cup matchups: Looking ahead to meeting the Rockets in the semifinals, plus considerations for a neutral-site game in Vegas
  • 00:29:00 - Will JWill get the bag? Assessing the Thunder’s chances to win the NBA Cup, the remaining field, and how that half-million-dollar bag might be secured
  • 00:31:00 - SGA is Awesome: The Segment. Praising Shai’s consistent greatness, MVP-level play, and the aesthetic beauty of his game
  • 00:36:00 - OKC’s shooting improving? Evaluating why the Thunder’s shooting numbers haven’t matched last season’s highs, the abundance of open looks, and optimism for regression to the mean
  • 00:40:00 - OKC’s assist rate and half-court offense: Considering the team’s dependence on transition scoring, the impact of lineup changes, and expectations for improvement