In a pivotal Game 3 of the playoffs, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA MVP, struggled against a relentless Indiana Pacers defense. The game shed some light on a noticeable regression in his game. He committed six turnovers, the most he’s ever had in a playoff game. This downturn came after his impressive showing in Game 2, where he scored 34 points and dished out eight assists.
In Game 3, defenders relentlessly chased Gilgeous-Alexander from an astounding average location of 65.5 feet from the hoop. This is the deepest any defender has gotten to him on both regular season and playoff snaps. Sharpe was effective this season, but the Pacers played a very intelligent strategy that took him out of his comfortable areas. That killed his ability to bring the ball up the floor, something he did just 23 times, his second-lowest in this postseason.
The Pacers’ aggressive on-ball defense was clear as they defensively blitzed Gilgeous-Alexander a whopping 12 times during the course of the game. That was far too much for him to overcome in a playoff game. Her defenders, Indiana’s pressure deflected and harried all night, immediately forcing a turnover with full-court press. On the opposite end of the court, Gilgeous-Alexander had his own.
He defended 22 field goal attempts— a new playoff high for him.
In the fourth, Gilgeous-Alexander scored only three points on 1-of-3 shooting and he tallied zero dimes. His decreased production at this crucial junction had people worried about overuse. Despite his long wait, he rejected suggestion that fatigue played a role in his showing on the court.
“You got to suck it up,” – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
No matter the obstacles in his path, Gilgeous-Alexander came out of Game 3 with 24 points and four assists. Game 2 and Game 3 found the polar opposite. Suddenly, fans and analysts alike started wondering just how the Pacers’ defensive gameplans affected him.
Indianapolis point guard Andrew Nembhard, after the Pacers’ recent win over Oklahoma City, acknowledged their strategy in defending Gilgeous-Alexander. He stated, “The biggest thing is just you’re persistent, trying to make it tough on him. It’s a team job. We all have to be locked in and tied together on that end of the floor to get it done.”
Already, the playoffs have seen so much intensity and emotion! Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are down to a maximum of four games remaining on their season. The pressure is mounting as they desperately attempt to dig themselves out from under Indiana’s playbook of intimidation and tricks. They’ll certainly be looking to get back on track in the next fixture.
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