It’s hard to imagine any other team taking down the Oklahoma City Thunder with how dominantly they’re outplaying their opponents on the court this season.
Their latest game against the Denver Nuggets secured their status as the giant hurdle other teams in the Western Conference must overcome if they want to make it to this year’s NBA Finals.
One of the biggest reasons for their success is GM Sam Presti’s incredible team-building. Their treasure trove of draft capital has helped them create an excitingly deep roster that ranks fifth among the league’s 30 teams in cap space.
However, one analyst declares that the team’s superstar guard is a huge part behind the narrative of the Thunder being a terrifying team to face in the regular season or the playoffs.
ESPN analyst names Shai Gilgeous-Alenxader as one of the biggest reasons behind the Oklahoma City Thunder’s status as title favorites
ESPN’s Zach Kram wrote a detailed article, listing 22 reasons why the Thunder are an NBA team’s worst nightmare in the regular season and beyond.
While the team’s incredible scoring have done wonders for the team, he highlighted early in the piece how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been a phenomenal player for the on-court successes of Mark Daigneault’s team:
For the fifth season in a row, Gilgeous-Alexander leads the league in drives per game.
And he is not merely a volume driver; he’s also incredibly efficient when he gets downhill. This season, the Thunder are averaging 1.20 points per possession when Gilgeous-Alexander drives and either shoots, commits a turnover or passes to a shooter. According to Second Spectrum, that mark ranks second among 68 players with at least 400 drives, behind only Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant.
He also emphasized his ability to get his teammates involved through his passing as well as his knack for making shots in isolation. He’s the kind of superstar you want with the ball in his hands when the game is on the line during must-win games.
The fact that SGA is only one of the many reasons OKC is a tough opponent to face might make this year’s Western Conference playoffs a bit predictable. However, Thunder fans who are starved of a championship wouldn’t have it any other way.
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