OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – FEBRUARY 10: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the … [+]
Since returning from a nearly three-month absence due to injury, Chet Holmgren has elevated the Oklahoma City Thunder in a big way. As OKC continues to hold the best record in the NBA, the team is on a six-game winning streak with a 43-9 mark.
This Thunder roster was phenomenal even when Holmgren was sidelined, but this team is now playing at an entirely new level with him back in the fold. Oklahoma City has won both games he’s played in this month by an average of 24 points. As he ramps up toward a full workload, Holmgren is getting back into game shape and has been given an opportunity to get quality game reps before another break, with NBA All-Star Weekend approaching.
Holmgren has eased his way back into the offense early on, attempting just 15 shots from the floor since his return. As the season goes on, he will continue to increase his offensive volume and return to being the team’s second or third scoring option. Holmgren’s defensive impact has taken no time to reintegrate into Oklahoma City’s gameplan as he works towards returning to that offensive role.
What has always made Holmgren so unique is his ability to impact the game in ways that don’t appear on the stat sheet. The 7-footer completely changes how teams approach their offensive attack. He also forces turnovers he doesn’t get credit for and hinders shots around the rim that aren’t blocks, but equally as effective. To further quantify that point, Holmgren’s box plus/minus through his first two games back from injury is a cumulative +27 in 47 minutes.
As many things as Holmgren does on the court that don’t get credit on the stat sheet, he’s equally as impressive with the metrics measured on the box score. In these first 47 minutes of action since returning to the lineup, he’s logged nine total blocks. That’s 4.5 blocks per contest, which is incredible production. That’s exactly why he was in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year race before going down early in the season.
Not only has Holmgren proven to be impactful as an individual defender since his return, but he amplifies those around him on that end. With the Thunder’s perimeter defenders knowing he’s protecting the paint behind them, they’re able to play more aggressively, knowing there’s a safety net in place. The best players in the league are those who can not only make their presence felt on the court but also enhance the productivity of those around them.
Between now and the end of the season, the primary objective will be getting Holmgren back into premier shape, rebuilding chemistry with teammates and staying healthy. The Thunder is highly likely to earn the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, so dominating regular season games isn’t the top priority. As such, don’t be surprised if Holmgren continues to have more rest games than he typically would or if coach Mark Daigneault works him into various unique lineups to collect data points.
Oklahoma City should be thrilled that Holmgren is back, especially with what he’s shown in his first two games on the court.
