Game 53: Oklahoma City Thunder (35-16) vs. Dallas Mavericks (29-23)

[Mavs2021]

I know PJs contribution wasn’t as obvious as Gafford’s, but like Derek lively, Gafford’s role is really straightforward and easy to jump into, whereas PJ is going to take a while to get acclimated.

However, I think he made a pretty big difference in terms of boxing out, rebounding, attacking closeouts, defending and just generally being a long, quick presence out there.

He had 14/5 on 60% shooting, +28 and was 5/6 inside the 3pt line and people thought he was so-so. Scary to think what will happen, if he plays well.

Grant Williams can play in China for the next decade and he will never go 5/6 inside the 3pt line.

Washington´s ability to attack close-outs from the SF/PF position has been missing from this team forever. It hurts the opposing defenses so much, when there is a 3rd guy that can punish all the defensive focus teams put on Luka/Kyrie by actually driving into all the acres of space behind the double teams.