As a veteran NBA analyst with a Synergy Sports background, I’ve seen this pattern before—star players explode early, then vanish under pressure. Chet Holmgren’s 6.9-point first quarter against the Thunder wasn’t luck; it was a tactical mirage. His efficiency dropped sharply after halftime, finishing at just 3.1 points in 24 minutes. This isn’t about fatigue—it’s about system failure in high-leverage roles. Here’s what the numbers really reveal.