If there were any lingering questions about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP credentials, the Oklahoma City Thunder star guard has a perfect stage to silence critics in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
The Thunder welcome the Denver Nuggets to OKC for Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal tonight, featuring a showdown between Gilgeous-Alexander and his primary competition for the league's most prestigious individual award.
Gilgeous-Alexander has already demonstrated his dominance against Denver this season, posting impressive scoring outputs of 25, 28, 28, and 40 points in their regular-season matchups. He also distributed the ball effectively in those contests, recording 5, 6, 7, and 8 assists respectively.
Expect the Nuggets to prioritize containing SGA in their defensive gameplan. Denver will likely employ various defensive schemes to force the ball out of his hands, similar to their approach against Kawhi Leonard in their opening series against the Clippers. Preventing Gilgeous-Alexander from penetrating the paint will be crucial, which could lead to more kick-out passes to open shooters.
This defensive focus may actually boost SGA's playmaking numbers. He led Oklahoma City with 12.3 potential assists per game against Memphis in the first round, demonstrating his vision and willingness to create for teammates when defenses collapse.
According to Statbet analysis, SGA's expanded playmaking role could be the key factor in this series, as Denver's defense will force him to showcase his complete offensive arsenal rather than just his scoring prowess.
The Thunder enter this contest with fresher legs, having dispatched the Grizzlies more efficiently than Denver's grueling seven-game battle with the Clippers. This fatigue factor could play into Oklahoma City's favor, potentially limiting the minutes required from their star guard if they build a substantial lead.
As the spotlight intensifies in this round of the playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander has the perfect opportunity to strengthen his MVP case against one of the league's elite teams and his direct competition for the award.
