Chet Holmgren shines and the Thunder show how to stop the Denver Nuggets

Diego Jiménez Rubio | Fri, 10/25/2024 - 16:32

Chet Holmgren in 2024. Photo: gettyimages

There are games that can mark an entire season, and the one that marked the debut of Oklahoma City Thunder against the Denver Nuggets could be one of them. The way Shai and Holmgren shone was scandalous, but even more impressive was the team chemistry shown by a Thunder team capable of finding the ideal way to stop the Denver Nuggets.

An unparalleled collective effort and an unusual fluidity on both sides of the court. That's the only way to define what Oklahoma City Thunder did in the season's first encounter. While they were already seen as championship contenders and seemed to be above the Denver Nuggets, the way they overcame the champions from two seasons ago was impressive. Chet Holmgren appears ready to take a step forward offensively, without betraying his tendency to share the ball.

Last season they gave us great moments after the games. The chemistry and good vibes from the OKC team are top-notch.

Today Shai introduces you to the young guys, and like raising a curtain at the end of a play, they introduce you to Caruso.pic.twitter.com/SIucoqw6z8
— Losilla (@Losilla_) October 25, 2024

However, the most significant aspect was the tough defense they played against Nikola Jokic, forcing the Serbian to overexert himself with constant help defense and turnovers. The loss of reliable players in the Colorado squad has led to Christian Braun being a player to float off of, leaving him free, facilitating the two-on-one against the Serbian center. This tactic was executed masterfully by Oklahoma City Thunder and could set the trend for the rest of the teams.

Today you will see a lot about Chet Holmgren's impressive debut. Specifically, with this double action.

Block on Jokic (no small feat) and then sprints down the court like a gazelle to finish with the dunk.

But, was Chet superior to the Joker? Let's see⬇️pic.twitter.com/oFcHIZU3zb
— Losilla (@Losilla_) October 25, 2024