Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, heading to records and MVP of the NBA finals
The leader of the Thunder stands out after the first two games of the NBA finals, leaving Jordan, LeBron and others in the record book.
“The old works, Juan”says the ‘Tano’ Favalli safe in the eternal. The Hector Germán Oesterheld’s cartoon phrase, illustrated by Francisco Solano López, reinstated in the collective conversation by the Bruno Stagnaro series that stars Ricardo Darín, can be applied to countless situations. Why not, then, to the finals of the NBA?
“The old works, Shai”Mark Daigneault, coach of the Thunderto Gilgeous-Alexanderthe MVP of the regular season and great figure of Oklahoma City in the playoffs.
It is that the Canadian, contrary to the times in the NBA, uses classic resources to attack and achieve extraordinary results. Shai improved his three -point launch, but he is not a triple specialist. Moreover, he is far from being his first offensive weapon. The medium distance shot and the penetrations to the hoop are their favorite tools.
Thus, at the beginning of the series against Indiana Pacers, SGA made the 72 -point record figure. No one in history had noted both in the first two games and debutant in some NBA finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander was the top scorer of the two finals of the finals so far, with 38 and 34 points respectively. He scored only 4 triples in 10 attempts (40%), a very good effectiveness with very few releases for the current basketball. He chose, as in the whole season, two -point shots from areas where he feels more comfortable and is even more effective: he succeeded 21 of 41 in doubles (51%).
In the last 10 postseason, 21 times one player tried at least 100 half -rank shots. Gilgeous-Alexander is the only one who did it in these playoffs and is on his way to being the fourth opportunity when someone turns at least 50% of such releases in that period of time together with Kevin Durant (2018 and 2021) and Jamal Murray (2023).
The old works, Shai.
SGA is undoubtedly the main protagonist of this NBA season. The most relevant thing is that he holds in the playoffs the very high level he showed in the regular season. He already won the MVP of the Western Conference Finals against Minnesota Timberwolves and goes in search of the Best Player of the NBA finals.
Shai is the first player to average at least 35 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the first two games of some NBA finals from LeBron James in 2018.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, protagonist of a collective construction of Thunder
“No one is saved alone,” Oesterheld explained in an interview after the publication of the comic.
“No one is saved alone,” Daigneault could have told Shai after the first game, in which the Canadian forced some situations in attack to take pitches.
In game 2, Gilgeous-Alexander was less individualistic and found more, and better, his teammates: He delivered 8 assists against 3 of the first. In addition, it generated more faults that were sent to the free throw line, site from where it is practically infallible (7 of 8 in game 1, 11 of 12 in 2).
The Thunder has a collective commitment to the defense that overwhelms its rivals: it already registers 12 games with 10 or more robberies, the team that achieved it in more meetings in some playoffs, matching the brand of Portland Trail Blazers in 1977 since the robberies are officially registered (1973-1974).
And SGA is not only a scorer, but an important part of that system.
Gilgeous-Alexander is the fourth player with at least 3,000 points and 150 ball robberies in a campaign (including regular season and playoffs), along with Michael Jordan (he did it in 10 seasons), Kobe Bryant (2005-2006) and James Harden (2018-2019).
Shai, as Juan except in the Eternaluta, is the protagonist of the finishes of the NBA and goes to achieve his goal.
