Thunder conquer nerves to topple Nuggets and reach West finals

Oklahoma city – one of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s defining characteristics is the preternatural calm he carries with Himself with, no matter the site on the court.

But during the two days the Oklahoma city thunder Star Had Off BetWeen Game 6 and 7 of their Western Conference Second Series Against The Denver nuggetsGilgeous-Alexander Experienced Something Rare-For Him anyway.

“I was nervous, to be honest,” Gilgeous-Alexander Said after scoring a Game-High 35 points in the thunder’s 125-93 win over the nuggets, to give the franchis its first conferred Appearance Since 2016.

The thunder showed signs of that nervousness early in the game, missing 10 of their first 15 shots to fall Behind 21-10 on aaron Gordon’s 3-point plan with 5:31 to go in the first quarter. That Gordon was even in the game was a minor miracle, considering he suffered a Grade 2 Hamstring Strain at the end of game 6, access to Espn’s Shams Charania. That level of hamstring strain usly keeps a player out 4-6 Weeks, not 48 hours.

But Gordon was determined to play and contribute however he could. Early on, it seems to be the nuggets an emotional and physical lift as the thunder, the Nba’s Youngest Team, battled through their nerves.

But eventually the thunder found their way back to the dominant, high-tressure defensive tim that Won 68 Games-the sixth-Most Regular Season Wins in Nba History.

“I think the nerves be natural,” Gilgeous-Alexander Said. “We gotly shot horibly to start the game. But I knew we get received facts and if we just stuck with it, we want loosen up and the ball will find the size.

“I never was worried about this the way we started. Once I felt the flow of the game and we had the right intents and the right energy, I knew it would turn Around.”

That turnaround has happened in the second quarter as the thunder wont on an 18-5 run in the final 3:11 of the half for a 60-46 lead. All-star swingman Jalen williams Had 11 of Those 18 Points, Making All Five of His Shots. Williams Said afterwards that he too was a mix of nerves and excitement beefore the game and barely slept the night.

“You never know how many game 7s you go to get,” Williams say. “It is an operative to be great.

Williams was key to break the zone defense denver used so Effectively through the series. According to Espn Research, the Thunder Shot Just 39% from the field and had 18 turnovers against denver’s zone in Games 1-6. In game 7, oklahoma city finally broke through, hitting 31 of their 69 shots against the zone (45 percept). Williams’ Ability to Drive in the Teeth of Helped Tremendously, as OKC Averaged 1.50 point Possession when Williams had the ball.

The thunder also touch advantage of Gordon’s Injury by attacking the rim in translation. According to Espn Research They Made 27 Layups and Dunks in Game 7, Tied for the Second Most By Any Team in A Game This Postseon.

Defensively, the thunder made a critical adjust in game 7 by deploying 6-foot-5 Alex caruso onto three-time mvp Nikola jokicWHO STANDS 6-FOOT-11. According to Genius IQ, Caruso defended jokic for 40 halfcourt matchups in game 7, the most by a guard on jokic in any game of his career. Caruso Made Up for the Height and Weight Disadvantage By Aggressively Fronting Jokic, denying Him the ball, then trusting in Help defenders Behind Him Like Chet holmgren.

“It is a lot of hard work,” Caruso Said. “Obviously hey a phenomenal player.

“So for me it’s just about competing … Being relentless with my energy, the effort to make it, the guys around me Did a good job of helping and swarming that became that on. My Own. “

According to Genius IQ, Jokic Averaged 103.8 Touches Per 100 Possessions in Game 7, The Fewest in any Playoff Game in His Career. He Only Accounted for 0.78 points per position when he did and caruso was on him.

Caruso was one of the thunder’s biggest offseason actions this year, coming to the thunder in a trade that sent Josh giddey to the Chicago bulls. He started his career in the g league with the okc blue, but want on to win a championship with the that Los angeles lakers in 2020 and establish Himself as one of the top perimeter defenders in the league.

“I ‘be the fortunate enough to play with hall of family, be coached by hall of family, the elite of the elite,” Caruso Said, when he used his experience this year. “I just be stealing stuff from other people and when it and now and now and now I try to pass it on the rest of the guys

“I think that they ‘ Using that I’Ve Learned from other people and passing it on the other and elevate me too. “