Four more teams have joined the Oklahoma City Thunder by advancing to the second round of the NBA Playoffs. However, the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers series has stretched out to Game 6, which will be played on May 1st. The winner will take on the Thunder; currently, the Nuggets are up 3-2. The Thunder were excellent in their first-round matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, but Oklahoma can still make improvements. One of the bright spots in that series was Alex Caruso, raising the question of whether he should start for the Thunder in the second round. Should Alex Caruso Start For The Thunder in the Second Round? The Numbers Caruso averaged 7.1 points while shooting 44.6% from the field and 35.3% from three this season. In addition, he posted 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.2 stocks per game. While his offense stayed relatively the same in the playoffs, his defense improved drastically. Caruso’s numbers rose to 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 3.1 stocks per game. The Case For Alex Caruso Against the Grizzlies, the Thunder went with their double-big lineup with Isaiah Hartenstein starting. They did this to match the size of Memphis; however, while this lineup was successful, there are limitations. It caused OKC to start games a little slower than they would have liked. Ultimately, if Caruso starts, it would allow the Thunder to play five-out on offense with more space for players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams to drive to the basket more. In addition, while Caruso is not the passer that Hartenstein is, he is still a good connecting piece. Furthermore, the significant improvements come on defense, as the Thunder can switch everything with Caruso in the starting five instead of Hartenstein. In addition, the team would have two elite perimeter defenders on the court, Caruso and Luguentz Dort. This lineup can set the tone for a game early and help the Thunder get ahead. The Case Against Alex Caruso One disadvantage of Caruso starting is rebounding, as this takes away size in the frontcourt. Last year, the Thunder were a bad rebounding team, which cost them in the playoffs. This season, they have gotten better in that department because of Hartenstein. Taking the big man out of the starting five would exploit one of their weaknesses, and they can only do it against a team that doesn’t have a lot of size. Also, OKC’s closing lineup had Caruso in it; if he starts, he may be unable to close games out. He exerts tons of energy when playing, especially on defense. Because of that, he can’t play for long stretches. The Thunder would much rather have a fresher Caruso in closing time when it matters than a little more tired Caruso to try and close a game or series out. Finally, he is one of those players that you want coming off the bench to bring that energy and passion to the second unit. What The Thunder Most Likely Will Do While having Caruso start for the Thunder would be great, it most likely won’t be the case. Oklahoma City’s starters will depend on who they are playing. If they face the Nuggets, Hartenstein should start. However, if the Clippers can come back and win the series, the Thunder will likely have a different starting five. The Last Word on Why Caruso Should Start The Thunder are looking to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2016. With how well Caruso played in round one, there is a legitimate argument for why he should start in round two. However, there are more benefits to bringing him off the bench. Caruso will likely never start for the Thunder in these playoffs unless an injury happens, but he will always be the closer. For now, the Thunder are awaiting their second-round opponent and will look to achieve their goal of winning the NBA Finals.