OKLAHOMA CITY — Nineteen years ago in this same Paycom Center, Louisiana State forward Tyrus Thomas showed up at a Hornets home game wearing a number 12 Tyrus Thomas LSU jersey.
Hornets rookie Chris Paul saw Thomas and turned to teammate J.R. Smith. “J.R., you wouldn’t even wear your own jersey,” Paul cracked.
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We don’t know if Chet Holmgren wears his own jersey out on the town. But we know that Wednesday, at NBA Finals media day, Holmgren took the stage for interviews wearing a cap adorned with a quite familiar likeness. Chet Holmgren.
Uncommon fashion move for an uncommon player.
Thursday, Holmgren played one of his worst games in a Thunder uniform; 23½ minutes, six points, six rebounds, no assists, one blocked shot, 2-of-9 shooting. The Indiana Pacers stormed back from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit and beat the Thunder 111-110 in Game 1.
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Now comes Game 2 Sunday night, and Holmgren addressed the media Saturday with no self-promotion and plenty of admission of what we all know. He’s got to play better.
The Pacers are a deep and versatile team. Indiana is short of stars but long of scorers. If Holmgren and Jalen Williams don’t play well, it might not matter how much Shai Gilgeous-Alexander outshines the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton, at least until the latter’s 20-foot jumper gave Indiana its first lead, 0.3 seconds before the final buzzer.
NBA Finals Pacers Thunder Basketball
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams had 17 points but on 6-of-19 shooting in Game 1 Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers. Julio Cortez, Associated Press
Holmgren, a 7-foot-1 unicorn with excellent ball skills for such a tall lad and uncanny shot-blocking instincts, is considered a future star, and he’s proven to be quite the current player, too, despite just 141 career games, playoffs included.
But Holmgren’s skill and pedigree were not apparent in Game 1.
He scored on a drive 80 seconds into the game, two foul shots early in the second quarter and on a dunk via a Gilgeous-Alexander feed midway through the third quarter. Otherwise, Holmgren missed six shots at or near the rim, including a couple that were blocked, plus he misfired on a corner 3-pointer.
“I feel like I could have slowed down, kind of finished some of those plays at the rim,” Holmgren said. “On the ones that involved help side, just slowing down and understanding where they are is a big thing.
“Some of the one-on-one plays, I wouldn't say so much slowing down as I'd say kind of just being a little bit more under control, I guess. There's different ways to do that. I just got to continue to try to do that.”
Good self-analysis, which might be unexpected from someone wearing himself on his cap. Holmgren seemed rushed, out of sync against the smaller Pacers. Worried so much that Holmgren not once just rose up and tried to shoot over the Pacers. Never did Holmgren try to use size, his greatest strength.
NBA Finals Pacers Thunder Basketball
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren played 23½ minutes, six points, six rebounds, no assists, one blocked shot, 2-of-9 shooting in Game 1. Nate Billings, Associated Press
“Obviously it hurts in a one-point loss,” Holmgren said. “One single difference on one single play could have decided the whole game. Puts a magnifying glass on every single instance in the game. Everybody was feeling that on where they can be better. We have to continue to try to clean those up as the series goes on.”
It didn’t help Holmgren that Williams sputtered most of the night, too. Williams had 17 points but on 6-of-19 shooting. That’s 8-of-28 shooting for SGA’s wingmen. Just one playing well with SGA usually means a Thunder victory. Both playing well usually means a Thunder rout.
Mark Daigneault tried to avoid blame and pointed out the rare status of Williams and Holmgren.
“That wasn't our best game, flat out, with anybody,” the Thunder coach said. “What I will say is like he and Dub (Williams), specifically, obviously they have carved out huge roles on our team. They are a huge reason why we're here. They are in an uncommon position for third-year players.”
How uncommon? The Thunder is attempting to become the first NBA champion since the 2003 Spurs with two of its three leading scorers in their third or less NBA seasons. This is Williams’ third year and Holmgren’s second. The 2003 Spurs were led by Tim Duncan (sixth year), Tony Parker (second year) and Stephen Jackson (third year).
“Usually, delivering in the Finals is not on the curriculum for third-year players, you know, and they have thrust themselves into that situation, which is a credit to them,” Daigneault said of Holmgren and Williams. “And now that they are here, they have to continue to do what they have done all the way through the playoffs, which is go out there, fully compete, learn the lessons and apply it forward.”
NBA Finals Basketball (copy)
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin attacks the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams Thursday. Kyle Terada, Associated Press
Holmgren has been fairly consistent in these playoffs. He had a dud Game 4 in the Denver series (eight points, but 13 rebounds) but otherwise has played well. Williams has had several duds but also some monster games.
“They have done a great job,” Daigneault said. “I think you've seen that over the course of the playoffs. They haven't always played their best game, but they always get themselves ready to play the next one. The last guy I'm worried about that is Chet.”
Holmgren is nothing if not competitive. That we know. Maybe the Pacers have found a curse, though it wasn’t readily apparent in Game 1. Game 2 will tell us a lot more.
Williams didn’t wear a cap sporting his image, but Saturday he called himself “very uncommon.” I took that as a good sign.
NBA Finals Basketball
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, left, addressed the media Saturday with understanding he's got to play better. Julio Cortez, Associated Press
Williams knows his responsibility to this team. He knows the stage. Knows the opportunity.
“I don't ever think that I'm in my third year, because then that allows me to make excuses,” Williams said. “I should just go out there and play. Pressure is a privilege. So I enjoy being counted on and doing that, and I just think I've been counted on since, I feel like, last year, to be totally honest, just in regard to being there for the rest of the guys.”
I wouldn’t worry about Holmgren and Williams bouncing back. If both stink in Game 2? Sure, worry. Knock yourself out. But now, let’s all wear a Holmgren hat and believe that the unicorn is quite uncommon, too.
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berry.tramel@tulsaworld.com
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