With the Oklahoma City Thunder holding a commanding 10-point lead with under four minutes remaining in Game 1 of their second-round clash against the Denver Nuggets, it seemed like they were on track to register a comfortable victory. However, an ill-timed fouling strategy and missed clutch free throws from Chet Holmgren turned the tide, culminating in a gut-wrenching home loss.
Moreover, a lackluster defensive effort saw Aaron Gordon's three-pointer silence the Paycom Center. Still, for Stephen A. Smith , one player should bear the brunt of the game: Jalen Williams , who remained one of the most inefficient players on the floor on Monday night.
While Alex Caruso showed his experience by notching 20 points and registering four steals in 26 minutes off the bench, similar expectations were also set for "J-Dub" to finally showcase his worth on the big stage against a more experienced opponent. Expected to be the ideal "Robin" to Shai Gilgeous Alexander's "Batman," Williams failed miserably as he shot 5-of-20 from the field, including 2-of-9 from beyond the arc.
Speaking on ESPN's "First Take," Stephen A. emphasized how it is time for Jalen to live up to his sky-high potential in such high-stakes scenarios. That means that he is not only registering 20-ish points in every game but also being lethal on the offensive end, so teams have to devise plans to stop him similarly to how they throw the kitchen sink at SGA.
"How many times have you both heard me say my concern about OKC is Jalen Williams? They got rebounded 63-43 because Jokic and Aaron Gordon played bullyball, and we know that. Chet Holmgren choked at the free-throw line, but he's a good player, I like him, tremendous potential. He choked at the free-throw line, ain't no other way to slice that, " Smith said. "You think I'm going to forget to bring up Jalen Williams? Did we not say SGA is gonna need some help, in order to win a series like this? You know, they struggle offensively. Guess what, your struggles are alleviated if Jalen Williams shows up to help SGA, and 5-for-20 ain't acceptable."
Considering that OKC had 12 steals and 11 blocks in the series opener, it is clear that the Thunder looked solid defensively. Furthermore, it was proof that they were ready to grind it out in a physical, high-energy series.
However, playoff basketball isn't just about effort. It's also about execution. With Shai facing increased double-teams in upcoming games, Chet and Jalen will need to step up as the supporting stars who validate OKC's championship ambitions with him.
An early loss might serve as a timely reminder that the Thunder cannot afford to keep things loose at any point if they are aspiring for the Larry O'Brien trophy. Nonetheless, at least now they're aware of what they need to do in Game 2 to level the series, as entering Denver on a 0-2 deficit could be a near-impossible hole to come out of.
