Things Thunder Would like to See in OKC's Preseason Finale

As the Oklahoma City Thunder wrap up their preseason schedule, there’s one last opportunity to fine-tune before the real games begin. The Thunder have used these tune-ups to experiment with rotations, test their depth, and give young players a chance to prove themselves. 

But with just one preseason game left, the focus shifts from evaluation to readiness. Here’s what we want to see in the finale.

When the regular season starts, slow first quarters can’t be the norm, especially for a team with championship aspirations. The Thunder stars, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, have had no run together this preseason, and Williams is likely to miss the start of the season, but the final game is the perfect chance to polish the starting unit’s rhythm. Whoever it will be going into the season.

Ideally, we’ll see crisper ball movement, faster defensive rotations, and a tone setting start that carries into the regular season opener.

One area that’s still a work in progress is the offense when Gilgeous-Alexander rests. Too often last year, the Thunder second unit stalled when their MVP sat. 

Preseason has been a valuable laboratory for seeing how Cason Wallace can initiate sets and maintain pace. In this last exhibition, we want to see that second group execute confidently, playing with purpose, not hesitation, to show that Oklahoma City’s offense won’t fall apart when their superstar takes a breather.

Wallace has been one of the brightest spots of the preseason for the Thunder. Showing his defensive tenacity and growing confidence as a ball handler and playmaker. With Jalen Williams and Nikola Topić sidelined for all of the preseason, Wallace has had a larger role than the Thunder possibly expected and he’s handled it well. 

Seeing him continue to be aggressive, push the pace, and make plays for others would be a strong sign that he’s ready for an expanded role once the real games start.

Depth is one of the Thunder’s biggest strengths, but also one of their biggest challenges. There are too many deserving players and not enough minutes. The preseason finale can give us a clearer picture of how the rotation might look on opening night. Even though those things tend to be tentative.

It would be nice to see what could be a tendency from the lineups, even though it will certainly change once Jalen Williams and Nikola Topic return. This is more of a pipe dream, but one can hope. 

Above all, the Thunder need to get through this final game without any setbacks. Preseason results mean little compared to entering the regular season fully healthy. 

With Nikola Topić, Jalen Williams, Kenrich Williams, Ajay Mitchell, and Isaiah Joe already nursing an injury, the last thing Oklahoma City needs is another key contributor going down before things even start to count.

The preseason finale isn’t about the score; it’s about rhythm, readiness, and reassurance. The Thunder have shown flashes of the elite team they can be, and one more strong showing would be the perfect bridge to the regular season tip-off.