The Thunder won a pivotal Game 5 in Oklahoma to take a 3-2 series lead and proved they were ready for the moment. After that, the only question that remained was whether they could close the deal and eliminate the Nuggets. The good news was that they get two tries at it, with one being at home for a Game 7. The Nuggets were able to win Game 6 and force the two best words in the NBA, “Game 7.” The Nuggets received help from their role players, and the Thunder are seeking the same support at home in Game 7. Isaiah Joe could be the answer the Thunder need in Game 7 to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016.
Joe played well for the Thunder during the regular season and had a career year. He averaged 10.2 points per game while shooting 41.2% from three. Unfortunately for the Thunder, this has not translated to postseason success, as he is averaging just 5.3 points per game while shooting 36.4% from three-point range. Furthermore, in this series against the Nuggets, he is averaging 3.2 points per game while shooting 28.6% from three. However, Isaiah Joe can be a game-changer for the Thunder in Game 7.
Isaiah Joe Could Be The Unsung Hero For The Thunder in Game 7
Joe Can Help Open Other Things Up For The Thunder
When Joe is making shots from beyond the arc, the Thunder become essentially unbeatable. He has had multiple games this season making four or more threes, and they will need it on Sunday in Game 7. All season, NBA teams have run zone against the Thunder to stop them from driving to the basket. The Thunder have struggled against the zone all year, as it forces them to shoot outside shots. This has been present in the Nuggets series as the Thunder’s offense has struggled immensely against this zone, slowing the Thunder’s high-powered offense.
The best way to beat a zone is to make open three-point shots. The only blowout victory in this series came in Game 2 when the Thunder won by 43 points. The biggest reason for that was that the Thunder made their outside shots, shooting 44.4% from three-point range in that game, and Joe was the driving force behind that, going 4-4 from three. If he can make his outside shots in Game 7, it could force the Nuggets out of the zone, and that will open driving lanes for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams to exploit. It will also open up back-door cuts that the Thunder have been lethal with all year, thanks to the addition of Isaiah Hartenstein.
He is The Thunder’s Best Pure Shooter
The same thing that doomed the Thunder last year is dooming them again with their inability to make outside shots. The Thunder are shooting just 32.6% from three-point range in the Nuggets series. The good news is the Nuggets aren’t much better off at just 33.2%. This has got to change, especially if the Thunder win Game 7 and get to the Western Conference Finals, as the Timberwolves will do the same thing that the Nuggets did against them and run zone. Joe is the Thunder’s best shooter, and him averaging just 8.8 minutes in this series is not good.
Joe needs more playing time, as he is one of the few Thunder role players who can flat out change a game. He had four outings with at least eight made threes this season, and once his shot is falling, it helps the other Thunder role players to shoot with immense confidence as well. In addition, even if his shot isn’t falling, his gravity as a three-point shooter can stretch out the zone just enough to open up the mid-range shot even more for Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams to attack.
Role Players Play Better at Home
The biggest cliche in basketball is that role players play better at home. This was very evident in Game 6 for Denver when Julian Strawther and Christian Braun combined for 38 points, shooting 6-10 from three. The Thunder will be looking for the same type of impact in Game 7 from their role players as the Nuggets did last game. If they can get production from their role players, the Thunder should win this game pretty convincingly. However, if they don’t, it will be another close game where the Thunder will have to make clutch shots when the pressure is at an all-time high.
The Last Word on Isaiah Joe and Game 7
Finally, the Thunder need to play Joe more in Game 7. He is the Thunder’s best three-point shooter, and he can open up a lot of things for the Thunder’s offense that haven’t been there all series. The stars of this game should hopefully show up, and the winner of Game 7 could very well be determined by which team’s role players play better. The path to the NBA Finals is right there for the Thunder to take, but they need to go out and earn it. If they are unable to and get eliminated again in the second round, it could become the biggest disappointment in franchise history.
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