2 Players the OKC Thunder must cut from playoff rotation

The OKC Thunder had one of the most dominant lineups in the NBA during the 2023-24 regular season. It was their starting five -- more on their starting lineup a bit later.

Moreover, the playoffs are a different game, and sometimes lineups need to be adjusted.

Head coach Mark Daigneault already made one in-game adjustment by opting to start Aaron Wiggins in the second half of Game 2 on Thursday night. With the series shifting to Dallas on Saturday afternoon, it will be interesting if Daigneault pulls Giddey from the starting lineup and replaces him with Wiggins from the jump.

What went wrong in Game 2 for the OKC Thunder?

Several things went wrong in Game 2, from a slow start for OKC to a white-hot shooting showcase from the Dallas Mavericks. Some things went worse with particular players on the hardwood for Oklahoma City.

That is why pivotal lineup adjustments need to be made.

This goes beyond who to remove, or potentially add to the rotation, as this conversation extends into different combinations that should be played together. Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams tandem minutes anyone?

In the past, both former Thunder head coaches (Scott Brooks and Billy Donovan) were hesitant to tweak their lineups. Both Donovan and Brooks were very predictable with their rotational decision-making,

Daigneault, on the other hand, is not afraid to mix things up with his lineups. This is why two particular players must be cut from the rotation for the Thunder to advance to their first Western Conference Finals appearance since the Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook era.