3 Thunder players that must see more action during final stretch of season

2. Bismack Biyombo

One of the biggest reasons why the Thunder aren't being viewed as a favorite to win the NBA Finals this season is due, in large, to their lack of strength, size, and overall physicality.

Outside of starting pivot Chet Holmgren, OKC rosters only one other full-scale player measuring in at 6-foot-10 or taller and have five frontcourt players in total who are 6-foot-8 or taller.

To many, this is a huge concern heading into a playoff run that will likely see the team squaring off against opponents with dominant big men like Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Because of this, coach Daigneault must consider digging deeper into his collection of big men during these last two months of the season to get them ready for what is hoped to be a long and prosperous playoff run, and the player who should be a strong candidate to see more action moving forward is Bismack Biyombo.

Signed back in early February, the veteran center is perhaps the most physically menacing big man the Thunder currently have under contract, at least from a defensive standpoint.

Despite measuring in at a Josh Giddey-level 6-foot-8, the Biyombo weighs in at a sturdy 255 pounds and sports a ridiculous 7-foot-6 wingspan. While he may not be an elite force, the 31-year-old is a sound defensive talent who has made a career for himself as a menacing rim-protector.

Throughout his 13-year career the big man boasts an average of 3.3 blocks and a defensive rating of 107 per 100 possessions. Earlier this season, Biyombo proved he's still a competent frontcourt contributor while playing with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he logged averages of 5.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks while converting on a highly efficient 56.3 percent of his shot attempts.

Over the next several weeks, the Thunder should strongly consider integrating the veteran into a more consistent role within the rotation and to try and utilize him when playing against more big man-oriented teams in an effort to see what he may provide against Los Angeles, Minnesota, or whichever lower-seeded team they may have to face on their quest to banner number one.