Through three games of the Western Conference Semifinals, the Oklahoma City Thunder found themselves down 2-1 to the Denver Nuggets. After losing two thrillers in Games 1 and 3, the Thunder were on the ropes, and they responded, in large part, due to the play of their best player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander started the series struggling to find his shot, shooting 49.1% from the field and 28.6% from deep. This was largely due to the zone defense coverage the Nuggets employed against the Thunder.
This coverage, aimed at getting the ball out of SGA’s hands, often showed a plethora of help defenders on his drives and clogged the middle of the floor, as seen below.
Shai’s Adjustment
In Games 4 through 7, Gilgeous-Alexander adjusted to the physicality of the defenders. These adjustments propelled him to shoot 55.8% from the field and 37.5% from deep, while averaging 30.8 points per game over the last four games in the series.
OKC won three of the four final games in the series.
The Thunder frequently screened the top of the zone to give Gilgeous-Alexander space to get downhill. Once he gained a step on the perimeter defender, he was able to operate in the middle of the lane, drawing fouls or knocking down tough shots.
On the possession below, late in Game 7, he did both. The Thunder screened Christian Braun away from Gilgeous-Alexander, and while the Nuggets attempted to hedge the screen with Michael Porter Jr., Braun was late to recover, so SGA got the first step.
In Game 7, the Nuggets struggled to send help defenders to Gilgeous-Alexander, as players like Jalen Williams began to heat up from deep.
Shai’s Isolation Attack
Even with Denver’s zone designed to eliminate isolation opportunities for Gilgeous-Alexander, he was still able to generate some by attacking early off the catch.
On this possession during game 6, he attacks Braun off the catch and spins towards the middle of the floor before Murray can provide help defense, and knocks down a tough jumper.
Through the final four games of the series, the MVP favorite shot 61.6% from the midrange.
Most of these shots came in the form of step-back jumpers or fadeaways over the outstretched arms of defenders. Nearly all of them were unassisted.
The Thunder offense hit rough patches throughout this series, but SGA’s shot-making managed to keep them afloat.
On a similar possession here, Gilgeous-Alexander recognizes the mismatch with Julian Strawther guarding him. He quickly attacks and gets to his spot to knock down a tough fadeaway jumper.
Looking Forward to the Conference Finals
It’s likely the Minnesota Timberwolves will employ a similar defensive strategy to the Denver Nuggets.
The key difference is that the Timberwolves have lengthy perimeter defenders such as Nickeil Alexander-Walker, along with three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in the paint.
Much of the Thunder’s offensive success in the conference finals may come down to whether or not they can hit perimeter jumpers. If they do, Minnesota will be less likely to help aggressively, and Gilgeous-Alexander will have more space in the lane to operate.
Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals tips off Tuesday, May 20, at 7:30 p.m. CT in Oklahoma City.
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