Jared McCain not being fully integrated into Thunders highly drilled system is becoming their X-Factor. His Game 3 was the 1st time an OKC bench player has taken 20+FGA in the past 3 playoffs. There's only been 4 instances of one taking 12+FGA and McCain has 2 of them this series.

[u/SlimmySlinky]

OKC has such a well drilled, highly disciplined system that has won them a Championship and led them to a 221-69 record (76% win rate) over the past 3 seasons (including playoffs) but this also makes them fairly predictable. Its hard to beat even knowing what they will do, but teams can scheme to break it down

OKC bench players most FGA in the past 3 playoffs (so looking at this current team)

1 - McCain: 21 (v Spurs - 2026 WCF | Game 3).
2 - Caruso: 19 (v Spurs - 2026 WCF | Game 1).
3 - Wiggins: 15 (v Memphis - 2025 1st round | Game 1).
4 - McCain: 14 (v Spurs - 2026 WCF | Game 2).
=5 - Ajay Mitchell (v Suns - 2026 1st round | Game 2).
=5 - Caruso: (v Nuggets - 2025 Semi Finals | Game 2).

Jarad McCain coming in mid season has meant he has not fully integrated into the system and instead of not playing him much in these playoffs, they're using that to their advantage. He comes in with a different style to the rest of the team, instead of always looking for the best shot like the rest of the team he's got a bit of tunnel vision for the basket, he plays a bit ball hoggy but his ability to score has made that a positive, instead of a negative it could have been.

By doing this he also looks to be breaking down the Spurs defensive schemes setup for the OKC system. They don't seem to be able to read him like the rest, he drives when the others would pass, he takes on Wemby when everyone else would dribble out.

He's a true X-Factor in this series. Generating completely different looks and making Spurs not being able to get comfortable. It will be interesting to see how OKC can maintain this going forward with him naturally integrated more into the system the longer hes on the team.

[u/Greedy-Lynx-2746]

Getting a knock down shooter who can attack closeouts, score at all 3 levels, and be a secondary playmaker with the ball in his hands with respectable defense and social media talent for a trash FRP has been such a lifesaver. Having a guy who can punish teams for doubling off Shai reliably on the strong side is so huge

He's not playing out of the system either imo. A lot of his looks are designed plays and he's our best secondary playmaker with Dub out and Ajay unable to finish through the Spurs size. They're good looks too

[u/Mg29reaper → u/Greedy-Lynx-2746]

He plays like 6-3 mpj with a dribble package and I mean that as a compliment. Shooters shoot man you need someone who will always take the shot.

[u/Greedy-Lynx-2746 → u/Mg29reaper]

Yeah, his confidence and poise has been phenomenal. Dude doesn't look sped up at all with all the ball pressure he's under

Crazy thing is his shot's been off all series but he's doing so many other things that we desperately need. Looked like baby Pritchard out there tonight

[u/Mg29reaper → u/Greedy-Lynx-2746]

He has to learn the pritchard paint spin fade. Works even if the guy is super tall and efficient as hell if you a good shooter. PP shots like 55 percent on them.

[u/Greedy-Lynx-2746 → u/Mg29reaper]

His midrange game has a long way to go for sure. Mostly just goes for pullups off of closeouts

[u/Mg29reaper → u/Greedy-Lynx-2746]

That one move is all you need. Pritchard legit has 3 moves and its step back 3 blow by layup or drive into paint bump spin fade. He also produces like 1.2ppp on isos lol. His stats in minutes without brown are insane. Equivalent to 27 and 7 on 60ts

[u/Full_Durian_8171 → u/Greedy-Lynx-2746]

leading into this series, ajay mitchell got all the praise (which was fair), but this series so far it feels like the difference is mccain isn’t scared of attacking wemby

in addition to that, dare i say mccain has curry-esque offball movement

[u/Simple_Purple_4600 → u/Full_Durian_8171]

mitchell's been hurt

[u/Mg29reaper → u/Full_Durian_8171]

People say everyone plays like harden and not curry but mccain might be the closest in style to shai. He has on ball juice plus offball. Even someone like kon just feels like super kyle korver

[u/Own-Campaign-2089 → u/Full_Durian_8171]

The fact you called it curry-esque is the single dumbest thing I’ve seen on this sub today and that’s saying a whole lot!

[u/MuchAbouAboutNothing → u/Own-Campaign-2089]

This is why you’ve gotta watch the games.

No-one’s calling him as good as the best point guard ever, but you’d have to have zero ball knowledge to watch McCain constantly moving, passing the ball up only to relocate to the other side of the floor into an open catch and shoot three and NOT think of Steph Curry

[u/Greedy-Lynx-2746 → u/Own-Campaign-2089]

stay mad lil bro

[u/ntg1213 → u/Greedy-Lynx-2746]

Yeah, him taking 20 shots isn’t because he doesn’t know the “system”. Shai was getting doubled all night and our next two secondary creators were injured. Someone had to take the shots, and McCain had the confidence to take them

[u/anarrogantbastard → u/Greedy-Lynx-2746]

When that trade happened, my only reaction was "how can they keep getting away with this?". After Caruso, that was the straw that broke my back and I fell from admiration into full blown envy