You may’t cease him. You may solely hope to include him.
These are phrases the Indiana Pacers ought to reside by as they put together for the NBA Finals in opposition to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. SGA, contemporary off his first MVP award, was an unstoppable pressure throughout the common season, averaging a league-best 32.7 factors. Within the playoffs, he’s averaging 29.8 factors, third greatest within the league.
Making an attempt to corral SGA for doubtlessly seven video games is tough, but it surely’s not unattainable. Taking part in tight protection in opposition to stars is one thing the Pacers are conversant in this postseason. Indiana has already defeated Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.4 PPG throughout common season), New York’s Jalen Brunson (26 PPG) and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell (24 PPG). Every was among the many top-16 scorers within the league this season.
However the 6-foot-6 Gilgeous-Alexander presents a matchup nightmare for guards. What can Indiana do to sluggish him? Briefly, combine it up and make him uncomfortable beginning with Sport 1 Thursday in Oklahoma Metropolis (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
Who will defend SGA?
Andrew Nembhard drew excessive reward for his protection on Brunson in Sport 6 of the Jap Convention Finals. In line with Caitlin Cooper of Basketball, She Wrote, Nembhard defended Brunson for 55 match-ups, giving up simply 9.1 participant factors per 100 match-ups, a superb outcome.
This isn’t to say Nembhard was blanketing Brunson for your complete sequence. Cooper additionally cited that he defended Brunson for 49 match-ups, permitting 51.0 participant factors per 100 match-ups, within the first 5 video games of the sequence.
Aaron Nesmith will most probably draw SGA essentially the most together with Nembhard, however Nesmith was hampered by accidents late within the Jap Convention Finals, forcing Indiana to show to Nembhard.
How ought to Indy defend him?
How does Indiana steadiness aggressive protection with out fouling? That may make or break the sequence for the Pacers. The rationale Nembhard was so efficient in Sport 6 is that he had six steals and Brunson solely tried two free throws — nicely beneath his common of seven.8 makes an attempt per recreation throughout the postseason.
Gilgeous-Alexander has a fast first step and is sort of unstoppable if the principle defender is left on an island to protect him. The Pacers should throw a number of defenders at him, be bodily with him off screens and attempt to pressure him to surrender the ball.
Too typically within the Western Convention Finals the Minnesota Timberwolves left a single defender on SGA, permitting him to simply run his man into screens. The outcome: 30.8 factors per recreation within the five-game sequence on 42.9% capturing from the ground.
Even worse, Minnesota despatched Gilgeous-Alexander to the road practically 12 instances per recreation. He made 40-of-47 makes an attempt within the sequence (85.1 p.c). Indiana can’t permit that.
Does containing SGA imply the Pacers win the sequence?
Not essentially. If Indiana bottles up Gilgeous-Alexander, he is nonetheless a superb passer. He averaged 8.3 assists within the Western Convention Finals and OKC has weapons everywhere in the ground.
Nonetheless, within the common season and playoffs, SGA has been held to fewer than 20 factors 4 instances. OKC is 2-2 in these video games, together with a 1-2 document within the postseason. In all 4 video games, the important thing to limiting his manufacturing was protecting him off the free-throw line. He shot simply 18 free throws mixed in these video games.
OKC is simply too good to fold simply ought to Indiana execute its defensive recreation plan to perfection in opposition to the league MVP. Nonetheless, if the Pacers’ protection within the sequence is something just like the close-out Sport 6 of the Jap Convention Finals in opposition to New York, Indianapolis is perhaps holding a parade in June.
