Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell are both out for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 7 contest against the San Antonio Spurs. With them out, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needs Jared McCain more than ever. He’s been one of the Thunder’s best sources of offense outside of Gilgeous-Alexander this series, and they’ll need him to deliver once again in Game 7.
It seems likely that McCain will start alongside Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt, as he has been doing, but the Thunder need offense. They need McCain to score the ball. They need him to be what Williams and Mitchell can’t be, and what Chet Holmgren hasn’t been so far this series.
McCain has to be an elite offensive player in Game 7.
SGA needs Jared McCain to ball out on offense in Game 7
OKC has struggled to generate consistent offense this series. The Spurs’ defense has been absolutely lethal, and it has affected almost everyone on the Thunder roster.
Obviously, it’s all spearheaded by Victor Wembanyama, who has been elite on that end. His mere presence is enough to alter the Thunder’s ability to create quality looks.
But it hasn’t just been Wembanyama. Guys like Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Dylan Harper have done a great job of getting into the Thunder’s space and making life hard on them.
In Game 7, the Thunder need to get past it. They need to find a way to get around the Spurs’ elite defense and create good shots. And it can’t be Gilgeous-Alexander on his own. He needs help.
Williams won’t be there to help him. Neither will Mitchell. And though he could still turn it around, Holmgren has been rough on offense this series.
That leaves McCain. He’s had some huge games that have lifted the Thunder to important wins this series, and in Game 7, OKC is going to need him to do just that once again.
McCain is going to have to make his threes. He’ll have to create shots off the dribble. He’ll have to get inside and create offense for others. He’s going to have to do more than he otherwise would.
Because OKC is hurt. The Thunder are down two of their top scoring options. And there is no more season after Game 7 unless they find a way to win. And for that, they’ll need McCain.
Gilgeous-Alexander is going to have to spearhead the offense, but he needs support. He needs someone behind him to help him create. That guy will have to be McCain.
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