Shai Gilgeous-Alexander issues stern challenge to Thunder after Game 3 loss to Mavericks
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hints at what the Thunder can do to improve after losing Game 3 to the Mavericks.
According to Nick Gallo of Bally Sports Oklahoma, Gilgeous-Alexander wants the Thunder to play smarter but also more aggressively. With Game 3 being so close, this tip might make all the difference going ahead.
“Make more intelligent and decisive attacks. Their bigs and wings are both of good size. being both astute and forceful.
Game 3 was a tight contest from the beginning. The Thunder only lost 105-101 so it’s not like they were blown out of the water. Making some small changes could go a long way in Oklahoma City’s chances in the postseason. Especially against the Mavericks.
It’s nice to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander send a message to his teammates though. He’s stepped right into a leadership position, and many people think he was a better candidate for MVP than Nikola Jokic. The Thunder have a promising future despite being a young club. However, they will need to overcome the obstacle that the Mavericks pose.
With 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists on Saturday, Gilgeous-Alexander was almost a one-man show. In the meantime, Isaiah Joe, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren scored 42 points apiece. However, it was insufficient to defeat Dallas in the closing moments.
On Monday, May 13, the Thunder will play the fourth game in hopes of tying the series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his colleagues could be able to regain home-court advantage if they take a day off before that game.
Why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserved MVP
Nikola Jokic took home the MVP award for the third time in his career. He balled out during the regular season and hopes to lead the Denver Nuggets to its second NBA Championship in back-to-back years. However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up ridiculous numbers himself and many believe he was more deserving of the award.
The Thunder superstar finished the regular season averaging 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. He also led Oklahoma City to the No. 1 seed of the Western Conference after being the best player on the roster. The Thunder might have finished last in the 2024 NBA playoffs without him, and they probably wouldn’t have even been in the running for the first seed.
Most of the time, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander turned out to be a difference maker. He was among the top scorers in the league. Add that to the fact that the Thunder secured the top seed, and you have a compelling argument for why Gilgeous-Alexander should have won MVP over Jokic.
Perhaps these two will play each other in the NBA Playoffs’ third round. However, in order to win their respective playoff series, the Thunder and Nuggets must both overcome a 1-2 deficit.
