Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Faces Unusual Slump Despite OKC’s Dominance Over Lakers in NBA Playoffs

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is enduring one of his weakest series in recent memory against the Los Angeles Lakers, yet OKC is on the verge of completing a sweep.

The Oklahoma City Thunder hold a comfortable 3-0 lead in the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers and have the opportunity to achieve their second sweep of the postseason in Game 4 early Tuesday morning. The Thunder have lived up to their favorite status so far, consistently executing their game plan. Ironically, their superstar, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is experiencing one of his less productive recent series.

The NBA adage, ‘Everyone can beat us, except him,’ is not merely a saying but a defensive philosophy commonly employed in the league. Coaches often implement this strategy in the final seconds of close games or during crucial playoff moments when a single possession can determine victory or defeat.

The objective is to specifically neutralize the opponent’s best player. Legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dirk Nowitzki have been subjected to this strategy countless times. Players of this caliber are considered ‘closers,’ having earned a reputation for their ability to single-handedly decide games – and this strategy aims to prevent exactly that.

The underlying idea is to focus relentlessly on the star player. They are often double-teamed or even triple-teamed, forcing them into difficult, contested shots under maximum pressure or prompting them to pass to teammates who may not be ready in such situations due to inexperience. The fundamental defensive principle is: if this player still manages to beat us, we accept it.

Lakers’ Defense Nearly Takes SGA Out of the Game

This approach can be applied not only to individual plays but also to entire games or series. This strategy is clearly evident in the current series between the Lakers and the Thunder. Lakers head coach JJ Redick is visibly focused on consistently disrupting Gilgeous-Alexander’s rhythm, adhering to the motto: ‘Everyone can beat us, just not SGA.’

The plan is showing results, at least when looking solely at SGA’s output. The Canadian is having a series that can be described as almost catastrophic by his standards. His statistics have significantly declined compared to the regular season and the previous round. In the prior round against the Phoenix Suns, he averaged 33.7 points per game, whereas against the Lakers, he is averaging only around 21 points – nearly 13 points less on average. His field goal percentage has dropped from 55 percent to 44 percent, and his turnovers have even increased from 2.3 to around four per game.

However, in the modern NBA understanding, a superstar can never be completely stopped, only contained. In this sense, the Lakers are maximizing their game plan against SGA.

Mark Daigneault: ‘They are doubling him as aggressively as almost any team’

In Game 1, the strategy was clearly discernible: Gilgeous-Alexander was consistently double-teamed early to disrupt his offensive flow. In one-on-one defense, Marcus Smart, the Defensive Player of the Year in 2021-22, is tasked with applying constant pressure, leaving the reigning MVP with very little room to operate. Once SGA crosses half-court, a second defender often awaits, forcing him into quick decisions and resulting in multiple turnovers. He committed seven turnovers in Game 1 alone.

Double-teaming is also consistently employed in pick-and-rolls. To escape this pressure, OKC adapted by moving the screens further out towards half-court to give Gilgeous-Alexander more space. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old appears uncharacteristically hesitant. He took only 15 shots in Game 1, and in Game 2 – where the Lakers’ defense provoked his fourth foul early, causing him to miss a significant portion of the third quarter – he attempted a mere 13 shots. Despite shooting relatively well in the first two games (8/15 FG and 7/13 FG), he had an off night in Game 3, making only seven of his 20 attempts. ‘They are doubling him as aggressively as almost any team we’ve seen, and very consistently. He’s continuing to find the right mix of aggressiveness, initiating his actions early, and involving his teammates in his game,’ said OKC head coach Mark Daigneault about his superstar, remaining calm.

Despite the intense defensive focus on SGA, the Lakers, as a whole, are stagnating – perhaps even regressing. They have largely neutralized SGA and are still on the verge of being eliminated in just four games. It’s like a bottomless pit: as soon as one problem is solved, another emerges.

OKC Needs Just One More Win for the Sweep

The open spaces created by the consistent focus on SGA are being exploited with ruthless efficiency. Oklahoma City is operating offensively with impressive effectiveness: 49.4 percent from the field in Game 1, 55.6 percent in Game 2, and 56.4 percent in Game 3. Ajay Mitchell stands out, setting a new playoff career-high with 24 points in Game 3. Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and the bench unit, including Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and Jared McCain, are also delivering consistently. The second unit alone contributed 48 of the team’s total 125 points in Game 2.

While the Lakers keep pace for extended periods, they regularly fall behind in the fourth quarter as soon as OKC slightly increases the tempo. The results reflect this: Game 1 was won by Oklahoma City by 18 points, Game 2 by the same margin, and Game 3 by a decisive 23 points.

Therefore, the massive defensive attention and declining numbers for Gilgeous-Alexander have a positive side: while he is being contained, the rest of the team can step up – and that’s exactly what OKC is doing impressively right now. With a 3-0 lead, their advancement to the Conference Finals is practically assured, as no team in NBA history has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit. The opportunity to complete the sweep arises in Game 4 in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Stats Against the Los Angeles Lakers

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