The Oklahoma City Thunder's season will reach its climax in the coming days, but they will have to start their season without Isaiah Hartenstein, who suffered a left hand injury during the preseason.

The team, one season removed from a 57-win season that earned it first place in the Western Conference standings, added Hartenstein and Alex Caruso, which should help propel the Thunder as contenders.

Just before the start of the NBA regular season, Thunder star center Chet Holmgren spoke about his connection with Hartenstein and how they will adjust during her absence.

“He is his own player… but there are aspects of what we do that are largely due to him being here. “We’re not going to throw it all away and then pick it up again when he comes back,” Holmgren explained.

The Thunder are very process-oriented. It's no wonder the schedule won't change much, especially when Oklahoma City head coach Mark Daigneault talks about piling up good days.

Holmgren, a 7-foot player with a unique skill set coupled with his size, will share the court with Hartenstein, and his role will change at any time depending on the personnel on the court.

The Thunder open their season with a big task and face Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Against a big squad like Jokic, Oklahoma City would like to have Hartenstein available. The Thunder star center explained that guarding Jokic will be a team effort.

“It's not about preparing. It's more of a thing that we're preparing. He's a really good player and there's no protection for him. There is no one-on-one matchup for him. “They have a whole team guarding him,” Holmgren explained.

While guarding Jokic is a team effort, having Hartenstein backing up the elite center would allow Holmgren to play defense like a safety in football, roaming around and clogging up lanes as a disruptor.

If Oklahoma City starts the season without Hartenstein, it will be different, but nothing they aren't used to a season ago.