The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder opened their Western Convention first-round sequence with a 119-84 win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, controlling Sport 1 from begin to end at Paycom Middle. Head coach Mark Daigneault highlighted protection, execution, and self-discipline as the muse of the efficiency.
Daigneault emphasised Oklahoma Metropolis’s paint safety and general defensive construction after limiting Phoenix’s inside scoring alternatives.
“Yeah, I imply they’re a very good bounce taking pictures group, so I might count on them to make extra of the open ones as we undergo the sequence. I didn’t assume they shot it nice tonight relative to how they usually do, however I did assume we had been on it. We took lots of the simple stuff away, made them earn the whole lot, and once you try this, you give your self an opportunity to have an evening like tonight the place the bounce pictures don’t go in as a result of they’re over contested. So I believed usually we had been fairly good.”
He additionally pointed to the Thunder’s offensive self-discipline towards Phoenix strain, noting how execution formed the sport circulate.
“Yeah, I believed we had been good execution. Good power within the actions, good tempo in an opportunistic method, however not reckless. And simply executed within the half court docket, acquired ourselves benefits, made the correct performs. I believed the unselfishness tonight actually popped. And so we simply wager on good pictures. And performed fairly effectively on that finish as effectively.”
A key second-quarter lineup shift additionally helped prolong the lead, with Daigneault praising the group’s impression on each ends.
“Yeah, these guys had been nice. They went in there, prolonged the lead. I believed JWill’s first half minutes had been significantly impactful, particularly on the glass. The rebounding, that is the perfect crashing group within the league. They don’t get probably the most offensive rebounds, however they go greater than anyone.”
He continued by stressing rebounding self-discipline and second-chance prevention as a deciding issue early.
“I believed on the finish of the primary half that reared its head just a little bit. They acquired on the glass, they acquired further possessions. I feel that they had 14 second likelihood factors at halftime. However previous to that, JWill actually patrolled it with the defensive rebounding down there.”
Daigneault additionally highlighted defensive self-discipline on the level of assault towards Phoenix’s perimeter scorers and careworn the necessity for constant execution.
“You bought to be actually good on the level of assault after which good within the assist after which good flying out of it. So we did that on sufficient possessions tonight, however like I mentioned, I might count on them to shoot it higher on a number of the open ones.”
He added that emotional management and competitiveness had been key as Phoenix tried early aggression.
“We’re aggressive. It’s emotional within the playoffs. Everyone desires to win. You simply acquired to be sure you channel that in the correct path. And I believed we did a pleasant job there.”
The Thunder now flip their consideration to Sport 2 on Wednesday, with Daigneault stressing that the sequence continues to be in its early phases regardless of the sturdy opening assertion.
