Author: Skyler Hogan
Well, it's that time of year again and no, I’m not talking about the holidays. We are talking about potentially the greatest gift Adam Silver has given to the league, the NBA Cup. Semi-finals have been won and lost, an epic final matchup between the Thunder and Bucks is set for Tuesday. Before that, we’re looking at the final 4 teams and assessing what those who came up short can learn and how those moving on can best prepare for the final game. So sit back, be grateful that exams are finally over (or almost over), and enjoy as we break down the winners and losers of the in-season tournaments Final Four.
Image: Opta Analyst
CAME UP SHORT
ATLANTA HAWKS
Ladies and gentlemen, I am officially declaring myself a Dyson Daniels superfan. The Dejounte Murray trade which was clowned at the time, ended up with the Hawks landing one of the most exciting defensive players on the planet. Dyson has become a defensive superstar, averaging a jaw-dropping 3 steals with impeccable timing and pressure on the ball. It’s not just The Great Barrier Thief though, the entire Hawks lineup has been putting fantastic effort into their defence this season, even infamous turnstile Trae Young. Although Trae is a respected star on the offensive end, I still feel he is underappreciated. The Hawks' offence flows well due to his superb abilities at the point guard position. Despite a slip in efficiency, he can still make tough shots and averages a ridiculous 12 assists per game. With Risacher continuing to develop and their pieces from the Murray trade overachieving in every aspect, the Hawks shouldn’t feel bad whatsoever about their semi-final loss to the Bucks. The future is bright in Atlanta.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
Like the Hawks, the Houston Rockets are another overachieving team with a lot of promise, but their loss to the Thunder sure was a tough one. Their defence was enough to freeze the Thunder early in the game, but it couldn’t hold them back forever as the Rockets were dominated in the second half. Despite getting off to their best start since the 2017-2018 season on the back of a phenomenal defensive system by Ime Udoka, the Rockets have some serious offensive woes that were on full display against OKC. The elephant in the room is their combined 7-27 from 3 in this game, a reflection of their overall struggle to shoot from deep. They currently hold the 3rd worst 3-point percentage in the league this season, simply unacceptable for a team looking to win more than a few play-in games come April. Additionally, Houston's 18 offensive rebounds were converted into just 19 points, a clear picture of their offensive problems. I don’t mean to sound too negative, there is a lot to be excited about with this young Rockets team. The people upstairs should be aggressive at the trade deadline in acquiring some pieces that can lift Houston's offence to the level of their stellar defence.
MOVING ONWARDS
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Is it ridiculous to say that Giannis Antetokounmpo has become an underrated player in today's NBA? Or have we just become so used to his unreal dominance that it no longer appears spectacular? Either way, he has been playing some of the best basketball of his career this year and brought his absolute best against the Hawks. The Greek Freak played some of his best ball of the season in the team's most important game yet, dropping 32/14/9/1/4 on 70% TS. After a dismal 2-8 start to the season which saw the team involved in fraudulent contender conversations and rumours of a Giannis trade, the Bucks have truly turned their season around. Going 10-2 in their last 12 games and powering through to the NBA Cup finals is a great return to form.
How The Bucks Should Prepare:
The Thunder’s ball movement is devastating. Their offence starts with superstar point guard SGA, who continuously draws attention, all while knowing exactly where his open teammates will be. With their pick and roll orchestrated by Hartenstein who masterfully creates mismatches for lobs, to several respectable shooters who are willing to make extra passes, this team is extremely creative and dynamic. The Bucks will need to keep their heads on a swivel and emphasize proper decision-making to even begin to handle the fluidity of the Thunder’s offence. A big mistake the Rockets made was going under ball screens with Jalen Williams, allowing open looks to a 38.5% 3-point shooter which gave OKC a lot of momentum. Milwaukee should instead be hedging with their center so the on-ball defender can go over and contest these shots. Offensively, it’s always going to be tough playing against a defence this historically great. They will need Damian Lillard at his best and will need to play a physical brand of basketball as OKC has been holding opponents to a league-worst 30.9% from 3. They’ll also need to create a lot of their shots as OKC has the best coverage against pick-and-roll in the league. Luckily for the Bucks, they have one of the most physically dominant players in league history leading the charge and lots of size. This game should be a gritty battle, look for the Bucks to be aggressive early.
OKC THUNDER
This may just be the most fun team in the entire league. It’s not just that the young OKC Thunder have phenomenal chemistry and several compelling to-watch playstyles on display, but this team is also TERRIFYINGLY good. Not to repeat the words of a million other NBA journalists but this team shouldn’t be close to as good as they are, however, they seem like the only foe with any chance in the NBA Finals against the monstrous Boston Celtics. SGA is again a frontrunner for MVP, averaging 30.2 points, 6.3 assists and 1.8 steals a night. Shai has noticeably increased his confidence in his 3-point shot while still shooting a blistering 59.1% from within the arc on field goals that are unassisted 77.9% of the time. The team hasn’t missed a step since Chet Holmgren went down, with Isaiah Hartenstein providing a sturdy defensive anchor in his absence. When Chet comes back, I truly don’t know who can compete with this absurdly incredible Thunder team.
How The Thunder Should Prepare:
Containing Giannis is more a matter of prayer than strategy. Simply put, there may be no player more dangerous than Giannis coming down the lane with a full head of steam. Often we see teams wall off the paint with multiple bodies to counter him, but Giannis has been doing a great job finding the resulting open man. The physicality of Hartenstein will be crucial in attempting to slow down Giannis. Other Thunder defenders will need to stay in the gaps and use their length to neutralize kickout attempts. Crashing the boards will be crucial, OKC is 2nd in the league in extra chance points compared to Milwaukee’s 27th and they’ll need all the second chances they can get with Giannis terrorizing the paint. Luckily for the Thunder, a middle school basketball team coached by the math teacher would still have a coaching advantage against Doc Rivers, and there are several defensive weaknesses they can exploit. The Bucks tend to be clueless in transition, often not knowing exactly who to guard. Additionally, they are frequently late to switch on pick and rolls, which can open up space for someone like JDub to get a 3 off or SGA to work his way into a sweet spot. Taking notice of when the Bucks are confused on defence and quickly capitalizing will be instrumental to a Thunder W.
FINAL PREDICTION
Two teams hungry for a win will take the floor Tuesday night to compete for a chance at in-season glory. The Milwaukee Bucks want to continue this hot stretch and leave the abysmal start of the season behind them, while the ravenous OKC Thunder want to continue to show they are here, they are the real deal, and they aren’t going anywhere. Overall, despite what I’m sure will be a monstrous performance from Giannis and a bit of Darvin Ham wizardry (he is somehow still undefeated in NBA Cup play), I believe the Thunder will overcome the Bucks in one of the most must-watch games of the year.