1 Stud, 3 duds from OKC Thunder’s Game 2 loss vs Mavericks

Duds: Josh Giddey. Chet Holmgren, Gordon Hayward

A lot was expected from these three ballers.

Josh Giddey played so well in the last two months of the season that he somehow returned to the franchise cornerstone conversations; Chet Holmgren has been a consistent contributor and disruptor on defense throughout; And veteran Gordon Hayward was a former All-Star who was expected to help stabilize the squad for stretches. 

In Game 2, Giddey played 11 minutes and was a -20. Holmgren scored 11 on 4-of-12 shooting from the field. Hayward, meanwhile, barely saw action, clocking in at only five minutes spent on the court.

Simply put, the Thunder need much more than what they received from this trio moving forward.

Holmgren should be able to dominate on the offensive end with his shooting touch and finishing, while Hayward should be the spark the Thunder need off the bench in the middle quarters. 

As for Giddey, he should at least be a decent point-of-attack defender who moves his feet well against shifty drivers. The Thunder cannot afford for him to be a cone on defense. 

He only played a career-low 11 minutes and was not fielded at the start of the second half for a reason. Giddey should hold himself well in defense, or else his performances would certainly drag him out of the court in the playoffs. 

The Game 2 loss revealed a lot in the Thunder. How they answer this adversity should define them the rest of the way.