Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as one of the most dominant forces in the NBA. In addition to producing an MVP-caliber season, he's translated his individual talent to winning, guiding the Oklahoma City Thunder to a franchise record 68 wins.
As the Thunder close in on a successful first-round series, however, Gilgeous-Alexander has yet to look the part of the player he's known to be.
Through three games against the Memphis Grizzlies, Gilgeous-Alexander has yet to shoot at least 40 percent from the field a single time. He's converting shots at uncharacteristically poor rates of 35.3 percent overall and 25.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Thankfully, Gilgeous-Alexander has made it to this level by knowing how to help his team in areas other than scoring—as evidenced by his eight assists in Game 3.
Jalen Williams has been the star thus far, addressing a career narrative by thriving under pressure. Chet Holmgren has looked the All-Star part, as well, averaging 21.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in just 29.0 minutes per game.
Looking past the stars, Oklahoma City has dominated the Grizzlies by embracing its depth and playing as a cohesive unit.
Thunder have gone up 3-0 despite SGA not playing at an MVP level
Holmgren and Williams have been the standout performers offensively, but the Thunder have gone up 3-0 on the Grizzlies through a true team effort. Aaron Wiggins scored a team-high 21 points in Game 1, Alex Caruso has come up with 23 points and seven steals since Game 2, and Isaiah Joe scored 10 points in just 15 minutes in Game 3.
Those numbers are a reflection of the beauty in what Oklahoma City does on both ends of the floor and how it's translated to resounding success—even when Gilgeous-Alexander is struggling with inefficiency.
Isaiah Hartenstein has not only rebounded well, but provided an invaluable change of pace as a playmaker. Luguentz Dort has been a nightmare on defense, helping to contain both Desmond Bane and Ja Morant throughout the series.
Much as Caruso, Joe, and Wiggins have thrived off the bench, Cason Wallace has played 24 minutes in each of his past two games, further solidifying his place as an invaluable two-way contributor.
Once Game 4 rolls around, the pressure will admittedly be on Oklahoma City to eliminate the need for additional wear and tear. The Grizzlies are unlikely to end their season without a fight, and the Thunder must be prepared for a tense battle in Memphis.
The best way for Gilgeous-Alexander to right the individual ship is to give back to the fleet of supporting players who have made his life easier during a relative down period.
By showing out in Game 4, Gilgeous-Alexander can effectively feed two birds with one scone. For one, he can gain positive momentum heading into a potentially explosive series against the Denver Nuggets or LA Clippers. The other accomplishment would be sparing his teammates another game that runs the risk of injury in a series that's already effectively been decided.
Gilgeous-Alexander's teammates aren't looking at him with any ire, but if he wants to thank his fellow Thunder for winning this series while he's finding his form, closing out Game 4 would be the way.