Through the first two games of the Western Conference Finals, beloved OKC Thunder veteran Alex Caruso has been nothing short of outstanding.
His heroics have warranted the utmost praise from fans and pundits alike, opening the door for all-time conversations about role players.
Caruso has been the poster boy for a larger trend that's been taking shape in Oklahoma City for the past two rounds now, and it's been masking a gaping hole in the lineup, one that Thunder fans haven't seen all year.
Lately, it's been the Thunder's role players who have saved superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
To start the series, Caruso and his fellow role players have created a non-SGA-led juggernaut that has torn through the San Antonio defense. Caruso himself has averaged 24.0 points while shooting a ridiculous 61.1 percent from three-point range.
He has done everything from guarding Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama to being the number one scoring option when SGA sees double teams.
As a result of Caruso and others, the Thunder have built up a 107-28 bench scoring advantage through two games.
Their efforts have served to spell the most unexpected of struggles.
Thunder bench doing its best to cover for superstar
Over the past series and a half, SGA has put up a sliver of the production fans are used to seeing out of him. He has seen more double teams, resulting in fewer shot opportunities, while his efficiency has also taken a nosedive.
Since the start of the Western Conference Semifinals, the MVP has shot just 44.4 percent from the floor and 28.0 percent from three-point land.
Even more troubling, the Thunder have been a worse team when the ball has been in his hands.
In the pair of matchups against San Antonio, OKC is averaging 1.21 points per play on 51.0 percent shooting when SGA gets double-teamed and is forced to move the ball. On plays he sees single coverage, his team is averaging just 0.93 points on 42.0 percent shooting.
Spurs next move is crystal clear after Thunder victory
As dangerous as Shai is as an offensive player, the Spurs may have no choice but to let their guards deal with him one-on-one. Caruso's elite level of play in tense moments is nothing new, and the rest of OKC's bench has followed suit.
It's clear the Spurs cannot go blow for blow with the Thunder's unmatched depth. They may have no other choice but to force Shai to keep the ball and take more ill-advised shots.
His shot selection has been suspect at best, and the Spurs may have taken notice late in Game 2.
After a promising start to the contest, he resorted to throwing up catch-and-shoot three-balls on numerous occasions. He shot two of eight in the fourth quarter with just six points.
San Antonio's double teams will be a storyline to watch in Game 3 on Friday night, and Shai's response to the opposition's defensive strategy could very well determine the game's outcome.
One thing is certain, though: the reigning two-time MVP will need to find his form soon, otherwise his shortcomings could be the reason they lose the series.
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