Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault shared insights ahead of Game 5 in the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. After a 111-104 win in Game 4, the series is tied 2-2, setting up a decisive matchup Monday night at the Paycom Center.
Daigneault emphasized the team’s defensive approach, saying, “None of our adjustments are really personnel specific against this team. You have to defend them as a whole and as a unit.” He pointed to limiting the effectiveness of stars like Pascal Siakam as a collective effort, not focused on individual players.
Reflecting on the intensity of the series, Daigneault said, “We appreciate the opportunity to play this deep into the season. If you’re playing this deep, your opponent is going to be really good. We’re zoomed in on making the next best decision and winning the next possession.”
Daigneault also explained the rationale behind recent lineup changes. After Game 4, he said, “The initial thought had its desired effect in terms of starts we were able to get off of. Your starting lineup is the first rotation decision you make, and it has domino effects. We move things around to stay unpredictable and scrape for every advantage in close games.”
On managing player minutes, particularly for Alex Caruso, Daigneault noted, “This is the time you’ve got to do everything you can to win. The extra rest between games helps players recover and be as fresh as possible going into the next game.”
The coach praised the competitive mindset of younger players, stating, “They’re unbelievable competitors who grow through their experiences. We embrace challenges and keep our foot on the gas whether we’re doing well or need to bounce back.”
Regarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s growth as a playmaker, Daigneault said, “He kept showing the ability to take more of a load, and his impact kept increasing. He had a big Game 4, not only in scoring but creating simple plays to put teammates in advantage.”
Daigneault also mentioned the supportive presence of veteran Coach Max in the visiting team section, adding, “He’ll pop me with some advice from time to time, and I take note. We want this to be a great basketball environment for anyone here.”
Game 5 will be a pivotal moment, as historically the winner of a tied NBA Finals series holds a 73% chance to claim the championship. Oklahoma City aims to control the game and avoid relying on late comebacks, as Daigneault stated, “We have to approach this like a loss and make critical adjustments if we want to control Game 5.”
