5 Key Thunder takeaways from blowout win against Chicago Bulls

The OKC Thunder took care of business against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. They won the game by 19 points despite shooting just 42.1 percent from the field and 20 percent on triples. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an off night, but Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams picked up the slack, as they combined for 45 points, 25 rebounds, and 8 assists. 

Keep reading for five key takeaways from Oklahoma City's victory over Chicago. 

Takeaways from Thunder blowout over Bulls

1. Starting lineup will change

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren are locks to start all games this season. Luguentz Dort seems to be entrenched as well, but the final spot will likely be matchup-dependent. 

Isaiah Joe got the nod in their season opener against Denver. His 3-point shooting perfectly complements the stars, and he could capably guard Christian Braun without becoming a liability. 

However, Chicago’s offensive creation comes from their guard trio of Coby White, Zach LaVine, and Josh Giddey. With no easy assignment for Joe and OKC needing a quicker defender to mark White, the Thunder inserted Cason Wallace into the opening unit. 

Mark Daigneault’s choice also shows that he wants to mostly stagger Dort and Alex Caruso’s minutes. Therefore, look for the fifth starter to be Joe, Wallace, Isaiah Hartenstein, or even Aaron Wiggins based on the matchup. 

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 3-point shooting

The Thunder superstar averaged 3.1 attempts per game from 3-point range over the past two seasons, which is extremely low for an All-NBA guard these days. Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t need a great outside jumper to score, but adding this skill would balance out his arsenal and reduce options for opposing defenses. 

For example, Dallas’ defense last postseason was designed to take away rim attempts from SGA and force him into more of a jump-shot-heavy diet. Boxes-and-elbows, going under screens, not applying aggressive on-ball pressure at the top of the key, etc. -– the Mavericks refused to let SGA attack the basket and instead encouraged pull-up jumpers. 

If he starts to knock down triples at a quality rate, then those options become far less appealing for defenses. 

The first two games of the season have shown SGA’s commitment to launching more threes. He went 2-for-6 against Denver and 2-for-9 versus Chicago. 

For context, Gilgeous-Alexander took over six threes in only 14.6 percent of games last regular season and never had a single game with over nine threes. Get used to more triples from the MVP candidate. 

3. Chet Holmgren’s dominance around the basket

Holmgren is not settling for jumpers and instead has used his length, mobility, and handle to aggressively attack the rim. Lobs, in particular, are becoming a staple of his game. He’s notched 25 and 21 points through two games, and that production includes 0-for-10 shooting on 3-pointers. 

Additionally, the star center’s focus on adding muscle over the offseason is paying off on the glass. He grabbed 14 rebounds against a monster Denver frontcourt and followed that up by snagging a career-high 16 boards Saturday night. Holmgren morphing into an elite rebounder would be a game-changer for the Thunder.  

On the other end, Holmgren's rim protection is absurdly effective. He is truly one of the top defenders in the NBA regardless of age or position.

4. Forced turnovers

This Thunder defense led the league in opponent turnover percentage last season, and they are even deadlier with Caruso instead of Josh Giddey. The offseason acquisition notched a pair of steals and blocks despite playing only 21 minutes. SGA and Wallace combined for seven steals too. 

Overall, the Bulls had 26 turnovers! Factor in the Nuggets’ 15 turnovers, and OKC’s defense is off to an excellent start.

Their rosters have somewhat changed, but it’s worth noting that Chicago and Denver both ranked top-five in fewest turnovers per game last season. 

The Thunder are also doing this without Hartenstein, who finished top-15 in both steal and block percentage. One can’t even imagine the horrors that await opposing offenses once I-Hart makes his debut in roughly a month. 

5. Aaron Wiggins’ finishing 

Finally, the man who saved basketball deserves a shoutout. He’s doing everything for the Thunder off the bench and shooting the lights out. 

His finishing around the basket has been mighty impressive, especially on self-created looks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and J-Dub’s tricks are definitely being absorbed by Wiggins, which should scare the league.