If the Oklahoma City Thunder want to take down the San Antonio Spurs in this year’s Western Conference finals, they need Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to turn into prime Kobe Bryant. Unafraid to challenge double-teams. Quick enough to beat them before they come. Smart enough to get his shot up before the Spurs forced him to pass.
In Game 1, the Spurs sent a ton of pressure at Gilgeous-Alexander. As a result, he was inefficient, and he passed the ball a lot. He ended the night with just 24 points in a double-overtime game. However, he dished out 12 assists. OKC ended up losing the game, and now, the Thunder are down 0-1.
Gilgeous-Alexander needs to be at his best for the Thunder to win, and that could involve him forcing the issue even more than he did in Game 1.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needs a Kobe Bryant mentality
For what it’s worth, Gilgeous-Alexander took plenty of shots in Game 1. The unfortunate part was his efficiency. He shot just 7-of-23 from the floor and 2-of-7 from beyond the three-point arc.
During his NBA career, Bryant became known for taking shots regardless of the defense. He passed more than he got credit for, but he was great at finding his spots even when the defense tried to push him away from it.
When the Spurs sent doubles at Gilgeous-Alexander on Monday night, for the most part, he made the right play. That’s part of the reason he ended the game with 12 assists.
But it wasn’t good enough. The Thunder still lost. And OKC probably won’t be able to depend on Alex Caruso for the level of production he churned out in Game 1.
Caruso finished the game with a ridiculous 31 points, shooting an impressive 11-of-19 from the field and 8-of-14 from beyond the three-point arc.
For as great a player as Caruso is, if the Thunder’s game plan is to rely on him to make eight three-pointers every single game, they could be in for a brutal wake-up call.
Chet Holmgren needs to be better. The Thunder’s role players have to score more. But more than anything else, OKC needs Gilgeous-Alexander to be the best version of himself.
And the best version of Gilgeous-Alexander is one who scores the ball at an elite level. That’s what the Thunder are going to need from him.
Double-teams or no double-teams, Gilgeous-Alexander needs to score. And that could require him to channel his inner Bryant.
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