After a breeze of a win in the first round (a four-game sweep of the Zion Williamson-less New Orleans Pelicans), the Western Conference’s top seeded Oklahoma City Thunder will be tested in the second round by an MVP candidate and one of the best scorers and playmakers in the NBA.
Like Luka Doncic (33.9/9.8 assists/9.2 rebounds/49%), the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30.1/6.2 assists/5.5 rebounds/54%) is an MVP candidate. Gilgeous-Alexander has a very good chance of becoming just the second Canadian (Steve Nash) to win the award later this spring by virtue of his numbers and the fact that the Thunder finished the regular season as the number one seed in the conference. SGA also joined exclusive company this season, joining Michael Jordan as the only players in the league history to have over 35 30-point games in the first 50 games of the season, since 1976-1977. SGA had 37 of them in the first 50 games this season. Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the more patient players in the game, never in a hurry and always getting to his spots, which no doubt speaks to his efficiency. At 6 foot, 6 inches, he has the length advantage on many points guards, and can score from all three levels.
On the other side is also Kyrie Irving, a former champion and multiple-time all-star who one day will join the hallowed halls of Springfield as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Lauded as one of the most skilled players to play the game, Irving can get his shot off from any spot and against anyone, with a slick handle, feathery jump shot and all-time finishing ability.
The Thunder’s all-league defender Lu Dort is likely to get the assignment on Doncic, Dort a strong defender who limited Brandon Ingram to just 19-of-58 shooting in round one. That will leave Gilgeous-Alexander, an adept ball stealer, to guard Irving. Gilgeous-Alexander’s length is a defensive asset for him. Irving shot 50 percent in the regular season and averaged 25.6 points, and has increased that to 26.5 points on 51 percent in the postseason. Included in that average is 31 points in Game 1 and 30 in Game 6 (28 in the second half), and a 40-point outburst in Game 4.
The Mavericks got more athletic in their trades for PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, something that will bode well for them in this series. The Thunder’s Jalen Williams (19.4 points, 54 percent from the field, 43 percent from three) is a budding star, and Washington’s athleticism will help in trying to curtail him. Chet Holmgren and Daniel Gafford is a big time matchup. Gafford is an athletic rebounder and shot blocker (2.1 per game), who will need to be at his best to counter Holmgren, who is a matchup problem for anyone in the league. Dereck Lively II will also provide valuable minutes off the bench in guarding Holmgren.
Holmgren (16.5/7.9/2.3 blocks) at 7 foot 1 and with his ability to play on the perimeter is a matchup problem for all. He plays with an attitude and tenacity that isn’t befitting of his frame.
The Mavericks could see Tim Hardaway Jr. return from injury, as he practiced on Sunday. Hardaway Jr. is a three-point shooter with defensive capabilities who will help greatly in this series. Dante Exum provides another athletic guard off the bench, and Josh Green can knock down shots.
Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe are factors off the bench for the Thunder - Wallace a defender and Joe another knockdown shooter. Veteran Gordon Hayward comes off the bench for the Thunder but does not see many minutes.
The Thunder took three of our four regular season matchups, the only loss being 146-111 in February. In that loss, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 while Doncic and Irving combined for 57 points. In one of the victories, they did not have Gilgeous-Alexander and the Mavericks did not have Irving. In March, in a 126-119 win, Doncic did not play, and on the final day of the regular season, Irving and Doncic did not suit up in a 135-86 Maverick loss as playoff seeding had already been determined for the Mavericks.
The real treat is that these games in this series will be the first times all year that the teams have played each other with their regular lineups. It has the potential to be the best series’ of the postseason. A great young team that is hungry against a team that boasts two of the game’s best scorers and also has title aspirations. The loss of Maxi Kleber will hurt the Mavericks, but if they can get Hardaway Jr. back it will help offset the production. This is a series that could go either way, but the Thunder, the younger team whom people are doubting because of such youth and inexperience in the playoffs, don’t seem to know any better when it comes to being aware that they have the youngest starting five in the NBA. Because it is also one of the best, which the regular season proved. In Doncic and Irving, the Mavericks have a superstar and a former superstar who is hungry for another championship and wants to prove to everyone that he is still a top player in the game. In a tough, grind it out series that will have its share of highlight moments, the Thunder make their way to the Western Conference Finals. Thunder in 7.
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