For me this is not rocket science. For the Thunder to contend and win a second NBA championship in Oklahoma City will require the health of J-Dub. Given the wrist surgery missed games at the begining of last season coupled with the various hamstring and/or groin issues…JDub played a mere 33 games last season.
To put that in perspective…Joel Imbiid has averaged 28.5 games the last two seasons. As constructed…this Thunder roster is not a championship team without J-Dub on the court.
And yet as I completed the previous paragraph—if Chet Holmgren had shown up at all against the San Antonio Spurs…one could make the argument the Thunder would have been the Vegas favorite to win the NBA Finals.
But I’m not buying into that train of thought. Because while Shai is the two-time NBA regular season MVP who I’ve called Superman on my blog from time to time—I don’t think he’s the Thunder’s best two-way player.
Jaylin Williams-Santa Clara is who I think is the Thunder’s best two-way basketball player and most versatile five skill basketball player on the team.
I don’t want to read like Mr. Cliche on here, but the Thunder without Lu Dort’s defense this season are now more than ever going to be dependent on J-Dub and DEFENSE DOES WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS especially for a team which depends mightily on defensive created transition baskets.
So without Lu Dort’s defensive minutes that means J-Dub, Caruso, Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, and perhaps Brooks Barnhizer are going to have be the brunt of the Thunder’s defense outside of the paint.
With all do respect to the kid from Duke who paints his fingernails, Jared McCain’s role is that of an offensive player who monetizes minutes off the bench into points. Jared McCain is an offensive player, it’s up to him this season if he wants to play enough defense for Mike J to call him a two-way player.
I don’t think all these white kids on the internet doing podcasts need to overthink this with math formulas’ theorems, and metrics. This is easy. Sam Presti needs J-Dub to be healthy, return to form, and be the best two-way Robin to Batman in the NBA this season if the Thunder want to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
I’ll deal with Chet Holmgren once we get into the season. I don’t feel any need at this point to trample the young man. His lack of performance versus Wemby spoke for itself in the Western Conference Finals.
First thing first is J-Dub getting healthy and coming out of the gates strong in October.
We’ll deal with Chet’s new role later.
Eternal love always.
MJ Yoganandan.