Before the NBA Cup tournament semifinals, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder were 24-1 and had many fans and experts believing they could break the regular-season record for wins, set by the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
However, after losing to the San Antonio Spurs for the third time this season on Christmas Day, the conversation has quickly shifted, as the Thunder have struggled to contain the young star power. San Antonio has been led by the 7'5" French superstar Victor Wembanyama, who has gotten the best of OKC's seven-footer, Chet Holmgren, in the three matchups.
On Friday, ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins let it be known how he feels about the difference in play between the two giants.
"I gotta get on Chet (Holmgren) for a minute. He's playing soft in this matchup. Victor Wembanyama wants the smoke, he's ducking that smoke right now....Chet gotta come with it next time they play the Spurs, it might be in the postseason, but he gotta come with it, because right now the Spurs are pucking the Thunder and making them look soft," Perkins said on ESPN's 'Get Up'.
It is hard to disagree with Perkins' point when considering the players' stats against each other across the three games. Holmgren has averaged only 11.1 points per game, 7.3 rebounds, and one assist.
Wembanyama, on the other hand, has nearly averaged 20 points per game with 17.7, while grabbing 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists, while also disrupting the rhythm of SGA and the Thunder on defense.
More NBA News:
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- Jalen Williams believes more reps will help solve the Thunder's back-to-back issues
- San Antonio's balanced attack is turning heads during win streak
- Anthony Davis injury update is bad news for Dallas Mavericks on Christmas