The OKC Thunder may have found themselves setting yet another NBA record during their blowout victory over the Bulls on Monday evening, but even a historic win couldn't help mask the struggles of stud big man Chet Holmgren.
Directly following a lackluster 4-point and 4-turnover performance on 22.2 percent shooting from the field during Oklahoma City's March 27 matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, the 22-year-old found himself floundering yet again against Chicago on Monday night, as he wrapped up his 25 minutes of action with just 5 points and 3 turnovers on an abysmal 28.6 percent shooting.
Since returning from his multi-month, injury-induced hiatus on February 7, Holmgren has shown flashes of his early-season level of play. To start the year, the sophomore found himself posting 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks on 51.9 percent shooting from the field and 40.0 percent shooting from deep through nine fully healthy games.
While his 23-point, 15-rebound performance against the Celtics on March 12 and 18-point, 10-rebound efforts against the Kings on March 25 were certainly encouraging, coach Mark Daigneault believes this recent cold stretch has shed light on the reality that the youngster may not be exactly where fans and pundits had hoped.
Thunder coach gets honest about Chet Holmgren being out of 'rhythm'
During a media session at Tuesday's practice, the headman acknowledged that, at this point in the season, Holmgren finding his rhythm on the floor is "critical" considering the amount of time he's missed and with the playoffs just a few weeks away.
However, in his assessment of the Thunder big's recent play, he made it a point to stress that finding it organically rather than by force is truly the only approach they can take.
"You gotta take it as it comes, and you gotta take it step by step... He's not fully himself yet, and he's missed some time, even here recently, with a couple of maintenance things. You can't force rhythm. It's like, you're at a wedding, and it's like [saying] 'Dance better!' That's not going to help. You just gotta let him dance to the music," Daigneault said.
Missing three straight months was always bound to impact the big man's groove on the court in one way or another once he returned to action. However, add this to the fact that he sustained an injury that no other player in NBA history has, and what Holmgren is going through is truly unprecedented.
Nevertheless, with widespread concerns regarding the firepower the Thunder possess outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, particularly on offense, coupled with their title aspirations, seeing the 7-footer struggle to this extent at this stage of the campaign is a tad concerning from the outside perspective.
Over these final seven games, the hope is Holmgren will be able to find the type of rhythm he's proven capable of playing with when healthy and head into the playoffs with momentum on his side.