The Oklahoma City Thunder have enjoyed two relatively easy wins in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but as the old saying goes, the series doesn't start until the home team loses.
As the Thunder prepare to travel to the Twin Cities for two games at the Target Center, the team knows that the Wolves won't go down easily, and they are expecting to enter a hostile environment for Game 3 on Saturday.
Thunder forward Chet Holmgren warms up before the start of Game 7 against the Nuggets.
Thunder forward Chet Holmgren warms up before the start of Game 7 against the Nuggets.
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Through the first two games, Chet Homgren has averaged a solid 18.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while recording a block per game and shooting 28.6 percent from deep. His outside shooting and physicality have been his weak points in this series, but he's been otherwise playing well.
He knows that he and the rest of the team will have to make some changes if they want to continue their winning ways.
“They’re gonna have adjustments," said Holmgren after Game 2. "They’re gonna come out swinging. We gotta do the same thing. We gotta bring it.”
Only 7.3 percent of teams have ever come back from a 2-0 deficit, and the Timberwolves have never managed to do it. The Thunder, meanwhile, have never blown a 2-0 lead.
However, Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, and Julius Randle are all capable of getting hot and having massive scoring outbursts, so the Thunder need to stay on their toes and be prepared for anything.
Expect Holmgren to play with more physicality in Game 3, addressing his biggest area of weakness so far.
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