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Thunder’s Mark Daigneault keeps it 100 about Jared McCain’s shooting slump
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- Thunder’s Mark Daigneault keeps it 100 about Jared McCain’s shooting slump
Thunder's Mark Daigneault keeps it 100 about Jared McCain's shooting slump appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain went 0-for-16 from beyond the 3-point arc in his previous three outings, a fact head coach Mark Daigneault discussed ahead of their rematch against the Cleveland Cavs. Amid a shooting slump, the Thunder exercised McCain's fourth-year option on his contract , showing commitment to the third-year guard.
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For Daigneault, McCain's game extends well beyond shooting , as he relayed during his pregame media availability.
"That's the trick with those guys that are great shooters. If their impact starts and ends with their shooting, then it's very difficult to play them through a slump because if they're not delivering on the shots, there's no reason to have them out there. That's why having a well-rounded floor game, and being able to play both ends of the floor, is so important. And he's doing that right now, and has done that for a while. He's built a lot of trust in that way."
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Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault also revealed how Jared McCain's approach reminded him of Isaiah Joe's role.
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"Defensively, he's feisty, he's rebounding the ball, he can take more primary matchups than we probably imagined when we traded for him — just on effort and execution, and that's what buys you more minutes and more opportunities to let the shot come around," Daigneault added. "I used to talk about that all the time with Isaiah Joe. In terms of his floor game, and seeing him as a basketball player, and not just a shooter, that's how I see Jared. He's a basketball player — he's not just a scorer or a shooter.
McCain finished with seven points, nine rebounds, and two assists in the Thunder's 117-112 win against the Cavs on Monday. After missing a three-game road trip with a sprained right ankle, Alex Caruso returns for the Thunder in their rematch against the Cavs at the Paycom Center.
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