The OKC Thunder’s spectacular win over the New York Knicks is highlighted by two massive individual performances. Three takeaways offer insight.
As the iconic Empire State of Mind song goes “there’s nothing you can’t do, now you’re in New York…big lights will inspire you.” For the OKC Thunder, it couldn’t be more true. They sure were inspired defeating a superb New York Knicks team.
The Knicks came into the match as one of the hottest teams in the East, having won three in a row and five out of their first eight games. OKC is on a mission to once again exceed expectations even if it seems like there are none. And we are here for the ride.
Perhaps the best way to describe the game is through a marvelous alley-oop from University of Kentucky alumni Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Hamidou Diallo in the final moments of the match. It was selected as the most amazing moment of the game and was pure pizzazz.
https://twitter.com/okcthunder/status/1347738584074260482
Just thinking about the plethora of extremely gifted players the OKC Thunder has is unbelievably exciting.
Three takeaways from the OKC Thunder’s victory over the Knicks:
No. 1) Hamidou Diallo explodes in an impressive all-round display
Diallo was phenomenal in a return to his home city. We all know his potency, punch, and ability to go full throttle at the basket. But against the Knicks, he confirmed so much more.
The 22-year-old had his greatest game of the early season, bursting onto the court to score 23 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a beautiful 3-pointer. He achieved this all in 29 minutes on the court.
This is the type of play we love to see from Hami. Coming off the bench, he’s had a great start to the season. In this match, he showed his versatility and growth to expand his game, leading by example for his rookie teammates.
Enjoy this highlight below, and try not to jump off your seat or go crazy. It’s just not possible.
➡️ RIM | @hamidoudiallo pic.twitter.com/jvz3R6EyFB
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 9, 2021
It’s fantastic to see a young player distinguish himself and absolutely shine under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. There are a lot of youngsters you have a good feeling about. You know that with more time and an opportunity to mold into a suitable role, that they can unlock their talents and full potential.
We can see that from Hami. It’s still early days but I believe that if he continues to play like this, he can be a legitimate second option behind SGA. Or he can play a role similar to what Dennis Schroder did last season putting up extraordinary numbers off the bench.
No. 2) SGA moving mountains
There are a million reasons why the name Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be heard for a very long time and echoed through halls, workplaces, homes, and arenas. He’s a star and arguably a bonafide superstar in the making.
Like many people, I cannot wait to see SGA become an All-Star and love seeing him get the recognition he deserves.
In a game where Diallo was on fire, SGA was sublime in his own way. After a slow start, he came back to record 25 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists shooting 64 percent from the field. In the 3-point shooting department, he could not miss making a trio of treys.
The Canadian maestro dominated in almost every category, also adding a block to his overflowing stat sheet.
A couple of things suggested by both the media and fans for improvement from the Thunder leader is his consistent distribution and more accurate shooting from range. Playing against the Knicks, he proved that he can excel at this.
No. 3) Winning is in the OKC Thunder’s DNA
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Win or tank? That was the question everyone was mulling over in the offseason. Fans debated over who was going to ride with a tanking team but also at the prospect of witnessing the gradual rise of this rebuilding squad.
The thing is from only eight games so far and four wins against teams who in quote marks “should’ve” won, there is a pattern we keep seeing but keep denying.
WINNING IS PART OF WHO OKC IS! And in any season, you just can’t stop that. This win over the Knicks was one of the most entertaining Thunder games to watch thus far.
It may be too early to say that OKC is gonna win more in 2021 than lose, but the signs are there. They showed against the Knicks that they are competitive and determined to always go out to play their best basketball despite being young, less experienced, or small.
I mean, what is tanking anyway? I’ll save that for another story.
But lastly, I want to say that no matter how this season pans out or if the Thunder are winning, let’s all enjoy it.