What’s critical for Mark Daigneault, Thunder to bounce back vs Spurs in Game 2

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault discussed how to bounce back in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Daigneault discussed the Thunder’s adjustments, including All-Star Chet Holmgren’s offensive performance.

“It’s running better stuff, but also, collectively, having a better intentionality and approach, that’s going to give us more advantages. Put the defense in more dilemmas. He’s 7-1 and skilled,” Daigneault said. “When we do that, he’s going to show up in a big way. But I think it’s more of a reflection of our offense, collectively. We’re going against a great defense that’s, like I said last night, an acquired taste. So, we have to improve as the series goes on, both ends of the floor.

“I thought we did some good things on offense, especially in the second half. We’ve got to be collectively better, and everybody will benefit from that, including him.”

Daigneault is confident Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 24 points on 7-for-23 attempts in Game 1’s 122-115 double-overtime loss to the Spurs, will course-correct the Thunder’s offense.

“The good news is: Shai’s been this player for a long time, and we’ve seen everything, including this,” Daigneault added. “And we have the attacks that we have to use against that. And I thought last night, when we did those well, we got pretty good cracks. When we didn’t, we paid for it. Your margin for error is just really thin against this team. It’s not going to be a masterpiece every single possession, but we have to have more possessions where we put him in space. Put ourselves, whether it’s him or anybody else, at an advantage.”

Mark Daigneault on unlocking Chet Holmgren’s offense in Game 2

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault believes Chet Holmgren will bounce back in Game 2 against the Spurs. However, it will be through a process of correcting the team’s flaws from Game 1 as a cohesive unit, rather than setting up the All-Star forward for unique advantages against the Spurs’ defense.

For Daigneault, Holmgren’s offensive opportunities to thrive against the Spurs will present themselves organically rather than being forced.

“I think the general attacks on the offense will benefit everybody, put everybody at an advantage, including him,” Daigneault said. “The playoffs to this point have been a lot of that for him. He’s been very effective, and I think it’s been downstream of us running a really good offense. It’s not like we’re like pushing buttons for him. It’s more like an identity thing, feeding everybody, and he’s been in the middle of that. So, I think if we play better collectively, he’ll be more involved, and we’ll be able to get more cracks, offensively.”

Daigneault and the Thunder will look to avoid a 0-2 hole.

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