Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC Don’t Make Same Mistakes Twice In Playoffs

Even though OKC responded by winning the next two games, they knew they had to stay ahead of Nikola Jokic and his teammates. The Serbian pounced on those jitters and led his team to a Game 6 win. But then, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates figured out how to stop the three-time MVP.

In Game 7, they closed down passing lanes that the Joker usually feasts on. Then they used their two big man rotation along with Alexa Caruso to slow his scoring. Now, with the primary playmaker and scorer struggling, the perimeter players kept the others in check. This way, they could thwart any other player starting a streak and turning the game around.

OKC forced the opponent’s leading scorers into forcing bad shots

The Oklahoma City Thunder have the league’s best defense. It is a testament to the development the team has had under head coach Mark Daigneault. But there were times when that defense struggled, which allowed teams such as the Denver Nuggets and, as was evident in Game 3, the Minnesota Timberwolves.

But the team is also high on learning and understanding how to fix their mistakes. That was evident after OKC put the clamps on both Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. The pair dominated Game 3, and the Thunder probably learnt a thing or two about impacting their shots without fouling.

Both Edwards and Randle ended up combining for just 21 points off 30% shooting, a remarkably low number for them. One look at game footage and it is evident that OKC’s perimeter defenders combined with their big men to force them into late clock dumps, instead of the clean looks they got in Game 3.

Once it became evident that Chet Holmgren could handle Rudy Gobert alone, Daigneault sent out Alex Caruso to keep Randle from scoring. Neutralizing the two best players was the first move that put them in a favorable position to win the West Finals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might be the free-throw merchant, but OKC are foul masters

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been excellent in these West Finals. But along with those performances, he also was labelled the tag of a ‘free-throw merchant’. It is not as if that label has not been bestowed upon him, but this season along with his MVP win, the criticism has been louder.

But does he care, not really. Do his teammates or his coach care, again the same answer. That is because he is just the primary foul baiter on the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team as a whole are masters of foul calls and free throws.

Numbers might not agree to that argument as both sides get nearly enough calls. But it is the manner in which OKC exploits opponent foul calls that helps them succeed. For instance, in the dying seconds of Game 1 of the 2nd round series, OKC and the Denver Nuggets kept sending each other to the foul line.

The tactic worked for the Thunder, as they stood a point ahead of the Nuggets. But two missed free throws from Chet Holmgren and an Aaron Gordon three defeated the purpose. They learnt from that, and executed the tactic to perfection in Game 4 against the Wolves.

This time, SGA and his teammates were much quicker at drawing fouls and sending the Wolves to the line. It made it out to be a straight-cut free throw shootout. Since OKC were in front, and also possess some of the best free throw shooters in the league, they ended up edging the Wolves and will now head back home with the series almost in their bag.

These instances prove that the Oklahoma City Thunder have been meticulous at studying film, identifying their mistakes, taking accountability, and then executing the schemes to perfection. A complete team play that could lead them to the first-ever NBA title in franchise history.