Will LA Lakers keep double-teaming OKC Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 2?

OKLAHOMA CITY – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not put up his usual eye-popping numbers in Game 1 of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s NBA second-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers.

But heading into Game 2 of the series in Oklahoma City on May 7 (May 8, Singapore time), the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player says he would not mind if the Lakers keep throwing constant double teams his way like they did for much of the May 5 game that ended in a 108-90 home victory for the Thunder.

“Ultimately it’s the easiest form of basketball,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

“I’d much rather do that than have to go one-on-one all night over somebody. My teammates on the back end playing four-on-three, it’s what you play for.”

The 27-year-old finished Game 1 with 18 points and seven turnovers.

It marked the first time Gilgeous-Alexander had been held to fewer than 20 points since Game 3 of last season’s Western Conference Finals – a stretch of 81 appearances – so the Lakers’ tactics paid off in that regard.

But when you consider the Thunder still won by 18, how much did it really help?

“We have a lot of guys who can make smart reads,” said Thunder centre Isaiah Hartenstein.

“We feel really comfortable when they’re trapping and just making the right reads out of that. Multiple guys that if we catch it in the pocket, it’s an easy read for us. So it’s just making sure that we give Shai outlets.”

The Thunder also had plenty of success turning offensive rebounds into second-chance points.

“When they play like that, it’s one of the advantages that you have,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.

“They’re throwing two at Shai really early in possessions and, in order to do that, you get two guys on the ball and then you’ve got three guys off of bodies and rotating and that presents rebounding opportunities.

“We need to be aggressive if the ball comes out of traps, in shooting or attacking, and then when we do shoot, we’ve got to chase the ball in those situations because there’s rebounds to be had.”

The Lakers remain without star Luka Doncic, who said on May 6 he continues to improve but declined to put a timeline on his return.

Doncic, who suffered a hamstring injury on April 2 against Oklahoma City, said the initial timeline for his return was eight weeks. That is roughly when the Western Finals will end.

LeBron James said his team must be better offensively after scoring just 90 points – the fewest for Los Angeles in a play-off game since the 2021 first round.

“When you play against great defence, you have to have guys that can attract multiple defenders on the floor at all times,” the 41-year-old said.

“I felt like we had great shots. We missed them. When you’re playing against the world champions, having a guy that averages 34 (points), six (rebounds) and eight or nine (assists), that’s special.

“So we have to be better at finding ways to get to the blender, finding ways to get to the paint.

“We know they’re a paint-swarming team, so we have to be better about getting to the paint, not turning the ball over and shooting with confidence.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick said forward Jarred Vanderbilt is “day to day” after dislocating his right pinky finger in the first half of the May 5 game. The club listed him as doubtful for Game 2.

Meanwhile in play-off action on May 6, Victor Wembanyama scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the hosts San Antonio Spurs dominated the final three quarters on the way to a 133-95 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, levelling the teams’ Western Conference series at one win apiece.

In New York, Jalen Brunson scored eight of his 26 points in the fourth quarter for the Knicks, who took control of their Eastern clash by stopping the Philadelphia 76ers down the stretch to earn a 108-102 win in Game 2 and take a 2-0 lead. REUTERS, AFP