Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Struggles in Game 3 Against the Indiana Pacers
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the star player for the Oklahoma City Thunder and current NBA MVP, faced significant challenges during the fourth quarter of Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. Despite his noticeably reduced performance, he refrained from attributing his struggles to fatigue, reiterating that exhaustion cannot serve as a justification for the decline in his play.
“You have to dig deep,” Gilgeous-Alexander stated during his press engagement at Gainbridge Fieldhouse the following day. “There are only a few games left in the season, which we all prepare for year-round. It’s essential to push through, deliver a strong performance, and aim for victory.”
Performance Overview
In the third game of the playoff series, the 25-year-old concluded with 24 points and four assists, a stark contrast to his prior outstanding display, where he netted 34 points and supplied eight assists during Oklahoma City’s crucial Game 2 victory. Additionally, he recorded six turnovers, the highest he has registered in a single playoff match to date.
During the fourth quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander struggled significantly, scoring only three points and managing just one field goal out of three attempts. This was during a critical moment when the Pacers outscored the Thunder 32-18, giving Indiana a 2-1 lead in the series.
Strategic Defensive Pressure
Andrew Nembhard, a shooting guard for the Pacers and the chief defender tasked with guarding Gilgeous-Alexander, commented on the team’s strategy to disrupt the Thunder’s playmaker.
“Our approach is to put constant pressure on him, and that requires all of us to be cohesive and focused defensively,” Nembhard remarked.
Advanced metrics from GeniusIQ showed that Gilgeous-Alexander was being defended from an average distance of 65.5 feet from the basket, a statistic that marked the furthest defensive engagement he’s experienced throughout his entire career, including both regular and playoff seasons. He brought the ball up the court only 23 times in this game, the second-lowest this postseason.
Throughout the match, the Pacers maintained intense pressure, blitzing him 12 times, the highest frequency he has encountered in playoffs as per ESPN Research. Meanwhile, he also faced a heavy workload on the defensive side, guarding against 22 field goal attempts from his opponents, another record high for playoff games.
Reflections on Fatigue and Performance
Despite the mounting physicality of the game and criticisms directed at him, Gilgeous-Alexander remained steadfast in his belief that fatigue was not a significant factor in his late-game struggles.
“I’m not entirely certain. I wouldn’t say it’s an issue. This is a competitive environment, and I’ve experienced both good and bad performances in comparable situations. It’s all part of the game,” he remarked, shrugging off conjectures regarding exhaustion affecting his performance.
