Mark Daigneault backs one of his OKC Thunder players in any and all facets of the game.
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets to go up 3-2 in their second-round series. The Thunder are now one win away from reaching their first Western Conference Finals since 2016.
This series has proven that to find playoff success, it is not enough to have superstars. If anything, it’s your supporting cast that makes the difference.
Alex Caruso’s championship experience has generated a lot of chatter among fans. Along with him, Cason Wallace has earned the praise of Kendrick Perkins, among many others.
But there is yet another Thunder star that is earning a lot of praise from his head coach. Mark Daigneault took time to single him out in a positive way.
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Mark Daigneault spoke after the game about Lu Dort and his performance in Game 5. He admitted that the player’s performances don’t come as a surprise to him.
If anything, Daigneault claimed that when it comes to big game situations, he knows better than to bet against Lu Dort.
“I don’t bet against Lu. There’s just a special thing about him. He’s always going to stand back up. He’s not perfect. But he’s always going to respond and always going to compete.”
“You can always count on him to do that. It’s that simple. There’s just a special thing about him. I don’t like betting against that guy.”
Dort was brilliant in his role for the Thunder, scoring 12 points on some brilliant efficiency from the field and beyond the arc.
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Lu Dort has built a great reputation for himself as a defender. In fact, at one point this season, he was in contention for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
But in these playoffs, he has transformed himself into a reliable 3-&-D wing. Dort is averaging at least two three-pointers made per game in the playoffs.
His efficiency from beyond the arc is a little poor right now. But given how shot efficiency reduces across the board for every player in the playoffs, the Thunder will live with this.
The hope is that tonight’s performance can help him improve his shot selection. The Thunder need the shooting from range from their supporting cast.
