The Thunder have already held the key to victory this season, and the new "Big Three" of Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet are once again in the spotlight as they sweep the league. This is despite Alexander's points per game average (294 points), rebounds (57) and assists (64 times) The stats haven't changed much from last season, but the qualitative change in the team's overall chemistry has allowed the interior and exterior players to show a more balanced offensive and defensive ability, which has allowed Alexander to not have to do everything. Despite their lack of major tournament experience, they are confident of winning both the playoffs and the finals.
According to the latest rookie rankings on the NBA's official website, the Thunder's 2022 pick Holmgren continues to top the list, followed by the Spurs' No. 1 pick Wembanyama, the Hornets' No. 1 pick Brandon Miller rising to third, and the Heat's No. 18 pick Jaime Harkes Jr. is ranked fourth. So far this season, Chet is averaging 17 points per game6 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocksTwice, excellent performances helped the team reach the mid-season tournament for the first time. Currently, the team sits in second place in the West with a 13-6 record, and last season's defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, can only match it. Chet's talent on the defensive end is that he can cover the entire area beyond the three-point line, and he is very agile on the inside and on his feet, as well as protecting the basket and fighting for rebounds in the backcourt.
On the offensive end, he has few opponents of the same height who can match him, and his superb shooting points and diverse offensive means undoubtedly put a lot of pressure on the defenders. At the same time, Chet's wide vision allows him to pass the ball to the most suitable position in the first place, making the whole team's tactics more diverse. As such, he is considered a strong contender for Rookie of the Year, but inevitably needs to be compared to Wembanyama. Wembanyama has shown his strength and talent this year, and no matter how many drafts he makes, he's still the unshakable champion. This is despite his points per game average (193 points), rebounds (97) and caps (27) stats have steadily suppressed Chet, but the Spurs' recent 14-game losing streak has left people having to question his performance, which doesn't live up to fan expectations.
This situation was not solved by a single title, but stemmed from irrational three-point shooting, Popovich's stubbornness, and the gradual development of the current situation. Popovich's tactical tweaks were a big surprise. After the announcement of the best rookie, Chet has already secured the top spot with a comeback, which makes Wembanyama have to pick himself up and get rid of the shadow of defeat sooner rather than later. Popovich has always been short-tempered, but during the team's losing streak, he was unusually calm and even joked with reporters, a strange behavior that attracted attention. Sources say Popovich's actions are just a trick, and they plan to give Wembanyama more freedom to play a few games.
And against the Timberwolves, who are at the top of the Western Conference today, Popovich directly made lineup adjustments, sending a lineup of Vassell, Keldon, Osman and the Twin Towers. There is no real point guard in this system, and the former No. 1 Sohan is placed on the bench. Such a move has sparked speculation about whether Wembanyama will be relied upon to turn the tide again