Tag: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Dennis Schroder has to continue scoring well for Thunder

The Thunder need Dennis Schroder to continue scoring at a solid rate this season.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder has been a solid scorer throughout his career, yet he has not been an efficient bucket getter.

Schroder has only shot at least 45% from the field one season, and that was when he posted the second-highest scoring average of his career.

In his second season with the Thunder, Schroder has continued to show he can score, albeit on mediocre efficiency. He’s averaged 15.4 points per game on 43.9% shooting.

But on Friday night the Thunder needed all of Schroder’s team-high 25 points, even if he got them on a season-high 24 field goal attempts. The Thunder won 109-104 over the New Orleans Pelicans. With the win, the Thunder move to 7-11 on the season.

When Schroder scores 20 or more points, the Thunder are 3-3. A rebuilding team, the Thunder usually look for either Schroder, Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to score.

Those four are the top four scorers on the team, with Gilgeous-Alexander leading the team in points per game (18.3).

It also helps that Schroder ranks second on the team in assists. He’s helping to initiate offense in multiple ways for a team that ranks 20th in points per game and 24th in assists.

Schroder isn’t the most efficient scorer, but he has games where he helps produce wins. With the NBA ruled by a bevy of dominant guards and wings, having Schroder contribute in the way he does will be important as the Thunder look to develop in a first year of a rebuild.

The Thunder will play the Pelicans on Sunday in New Orleans at 5 p.m. EST.

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3 things to watch in Thunder’s game against New Orleans Pelicans

The Thunder will look to bounce back from their loss Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers

The Oklahoma City Thunder gave up a season-high 136 points in their loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, marking their fourth loss in the last five games.

At 6-11 this season, the Thunder are in a rebuild, but they have had some bright spots. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has shown promise as a second-year guard, averaging a career-high in points (18.8) and rebounds (5.1). Chris Paul has posted some of the best 3-point shooting numbers of his career.

The Thunder will play the New Orleans Pelicans at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Friday at 8 p.m. EST.

Defensive Communication

Each of the Trail Blazers’ starters scored in double figures Wednesday, with Damian Lillard scoring a team-high 27 points.

The Thunder didn’t defend the 3-point line well, as the Blazers shot 46.7% from deep. Paul spoke on how the Thunder’s defensive communication has to improve.

“We gotta be better, we gotta be better,” Paul said, per Fox Sports Oklahoma. “We gotta communicate better. I think early in the game, I was late on all my rotations, but we gotta be better. And if we get better defensively, I think we’ll start seeing different results.”

Friday’s game will mark the second meeting between the Thunder and the Pelicans. The Thunder won the first game 115-104 in the season series Nov. 2. That game was a quality one defensively for OKC, as it held New Orleans to 42.6% shooting from the field.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander needs a scoring boost

Gilgeous-Alexander started his second year with a jolt, as he averaged 21.0 points per game in the first 10 games of the season.

The past five games, though, Gilgeous-Alexander has been in a minor slump, averaging 14.8 points. Gilgeous-Alexander’s 3-point shooting numbers have been down as well. The first 10 games, he shot 40.9% from the 3-point line. In the previous five, he’s shot 35.7%.

With Gilgeous-Alexander still being a young player, he’s going to have slumps like the one he’s in now. Point guard is arguably the hardest position in the league to consistently perform at a high level on both ends of the floor.

For Gilgeous-Alexander, this game against the Pelicans might give him the scoring boost he needs. The first time these two teams played this season, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 23 points and shot 3-of-5 from the 3-point line. The performance was one of nine times this season that he scored 20 or more points.

The Thunder need better 3-point shooting

The Thunder started the season shooting well, but in this recent stretch, they’ve struggled to make shots from behind the arc.

In their past five games, they’ve shot 35% or better from the 3-point line once. That was in a 130-127 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. During their most recent win, a victory over the Golden State Warriors, the Thunder shot 34.4% from the 3-point line.

Though the Thunder are below .500, they’ve been able to stay in games for the most part. Their largest loss was when the Indiana Pacers beat them 111-85. OKC also posted its third-lowest 3-point shooting numbers of the season during that game, shooting at a 24.0% clip from deep.

The Thunder have been able to compete in part because of their 3-point shooting. Paul is one of their best shooters, as he’s shooting 39.2% from the 3-point line. Danilo Gallinari leads the team in 3-point percentage, shooting 40.4%.

OKC had success shooting threes the first time it played the Pelicans this season.

The Thunder shot 40.5% from the 3-point line during that game, and it’s one of six times this season they’ve shot 40% or better from beyond the arc.

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Report: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander commits to Canada for 2020 Olympics

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would bring quality guard play to Team Canada in next summer’s Olympics.

Canada has produced some of the NBA’s best international talent, along with countries in Europe as well as Australia.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the best Canadian-born players in the NBA. With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics a year away, Gilgeous-Alexander announced Tuesday on Twitter his commitment to Canada.

Along with Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray also said Tuesday on Twitter he was committed to playing for Canada.

Per Josh Lewenberg of The Sports Network, New York Knicks rookie R.J. Barrett announced his commitment Wednesday.

A second-year player out of Kentucky, Gilgeous-Alexander would bring quality guard play to Canada. With himself, Murray and Barrett, Canada would boast some of the best guard depth in the Olympics. New Orleans Pelicans rookie guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker also announced his commitment Tuesday.

Canada, along with countries such as Australia and Serbia, has the potential to present Team USA with some problems. The world is filled with great basketball players, and the talent pool for next year’s Olympics will perhaps be the deepest and best it has ever been.

Gilgeous-Alexander is having a good start to his sophomore season. He leads the Thunder in scoring, and he’s averaging career-highs in points (19.3), rebounds (5.3) and 3-point percentage (40.3%).

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Doc Rivers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be a ‘superstar’

The Clippers coach sees big things in the future for the Oklahoma City guard.

Long before Thunder fans got a glimpse of the player that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could be, Doc Rivers already knew what he had.

Gilgeous-Alexander had to wait 10 games until earning his first start during his rookie season with the Clippers. From there, he never looked back.

SGA turned in a second-team All-Rookie year, playing in all 82 games while averaging 10.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. He set the franchise record for points by a rookie in a playoff game with 25 in a Game 4 win over the Warriors in the first round.

That’s what it was so hurt so much for Los Angeles to give him up in the trade for Paul George.

According to The Athletic, Doc Rivers and the Clippers were “heartbroken” when the Thunder asked for SGA to be included in the deal.

“It’s tough because he’s such a great kid,” Rivers said. “It’s the price of doing business in the NBA. It’s a trade you have to do, right? But, you know, as excited as I was when we knew that the whole deal was going through, when Lawrence (Frank) told me that Shai’s name was still in it, you were sad, disappointed. He’s such a good kid. 

Per Jovan Buha, Rivers believes that Gilgeous-Alexander is going to be “a superstar”. Those sentiments are echoed by his former teammate, Lou Williams. 

“I think Shai is gonna be a star,” Williams said. “I’m just happy for him that he’s finally striding. He’s made so many jumps just over the summer working on his game, working on his body. You can see the difference in how he’s played. He’s grown. I’m so happy for him.” 

Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t have his best game in a Thunder uniform during his return to Los Angeles Monday. He scored 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting in Oklahoma City’s 90-88 loss to the Clippers.

But his start to the season has been better than most expected. He’s leading the team in scoring at 19.7 points per game while hitting 45.9% of his shots from the floor.

The Thunder believe that with time, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can be a franchise player in the NBA.

Doc Rivers certainly thinks so.

Paul George scores dagger to drop Thunder 90-88

The former Oklahoma City star hit a go-ahead-three with 25 seconds remaining to lift the Clippers over the Thunder on Monday night.

Paul George once again came up big when his team needed him the most. Unfortunately for the Thunder, that team is no longer Oklahoma City.

The former Thunder center drilled a go-ahead three-pointer with 25 seconds left in the game to lift the Clippers to a 90-88 victory over OKC late Monday night.

As has been the theme all season, the Thunder was in this one at the end.

A pair of ex-Clippers, Danilo Gallinari and Chris Paul, put Oklahoma City ahead with under a minute to play. Gallinari first made a 3 with 52.5 seconds remaining to tie the game at 86, then Paul hit two free-throws at the 31.5 mark to make it 88-86 OKC.

Then came the shot by George.

Paul told reporters, including Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman, after the game he blamed himself for allowing George to take the game-winner.

“If I get through the screen that’s a tougher shot. And you know PG, he makes big shots like that, so that’s on me.”

Paul led the Thunder with 22 points. Three other players were in double-digits; Gallinari scored 14, Dennis Schroder came off the bench to add 12, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chipped in 11.

Both Gallinari and Gilgeous-Alexander were welcomed back warmly and received a tribute video from the Clippers.

Oklahoma City doesn’t have any time to dwell on Monday’s loss. Their West Coast road trip continues Monday night as they return to the Staples Center on Tuesday to take on the Lakers.

Clippers to be without star Kawhi Leonard Monday vs. Thunder

The Los Angeles Clippers will miss forward Kawhi Leonard in a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.

When the Oklahoma City Thunder pay a visit to the star-studded Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, they will be facing them without one of their biggest stars.

While former Thunder star Paul George is scheduled to play for the Clippers, fellow superstar Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out due to a left knee contusion suffered in Wednesday’s loss to the Houston Rockets. Leonard has already missed the previous two games, a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans and a win over the Atlanta Hawks, so this will now be three straight games missed for the Finals MVP.

It is good news for the Thunder that they will now only have to game-plan for George rather than for both superstars.

It’s a homecoming for Thunder second-year guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who will make his return to L.A. after being the starting point guard on their playoff team in 2019, as well as forward Danilo Gallinari, who also was acquired in the George trade.

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Rivers calls Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘the greatest kid’ as former Clippers guard returns to L.A. with Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s former coach spoke highly of the former Clippers guard ahead of the team’s matchup against Oklahoma City Monday.

Doc Rivers has nothing but good things to say about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

On Monday, the former Clippers guard returns to Los Angeles to face the organization that traded him away.

Make no mistake, the blockbuster deal that sent Paul George to L.A. for Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and a boatload of draft picks, so far seems to be working out for both parties. The Clippers landed both George and Kawhi Leonard (even if the two have yet to share the court) and George has looked dominate after returning from off-season shoulder surgery.

Meanwhile, in Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander is the team’s leading scorer and heir-apparent at point guard.

It took a lot to part with George, and Clippers head coach Doc Rivers told media this week he knew what he was giving up in SGA.

“He’s the greatest kid,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said of Gilgeous-Alexander this week. “I don’t know if I’ve had a more favorite young player, like, he’s the best. Just still innocent enough, you know, hopefully that stays.”

According to Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman, those sentiments were echoed by Gilgeous-Alexander’s former teammates as well.

“Everybody loved Shai,” former Clipper and current Hawks guard Tyrone Wallace said. “It was one of those things, I think a lot of fans were kind of upset (that he was traded). And all that type of thing, but I get it’s a business, and that’s how it happens.”

Danilo Gallinari, who has also been a solid addition to the Thunder in the trade for Paul George, played with SGA during his rooking season and, per Lee, has seen tremendous growth in year two.

“It’s been amazing to me being able to see him every day since last year getting better game by game,” Gallinari said, “and all the strides that he made this year is pretty amazing.”

Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will take on George and the Clippers Monday night. Tip-off is at 9:30 C.T.

Three takeaways from Thunder’s 127-119 OT win over Philadelphia

Against the 76ers, Terrance Ferguson scored a season-high 19, the Thunder struggled in the third quarter and OKC hit their free throws.

Oklahoma City beat the 76ers 127-119 in overtime Friday night. It was the Thunder’s first overtime game of the season and a solid win before heading out to the West Coast for a two-game set in Los Angeles against the Clippers and the Lakers.

Here are three takeaways from OKC’s win over Philadelphia:

 

Terrance Ferguson showed out

After missing Tuesday’s loss at Indiana due to personal reasons, Ferguson returned to the starting lineup against Philadelphia.

He scored a season-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, including hitting on five of his seven attempts from beyond the arc. Ferguson had only hit five three-pointers combined in the previous seven games.

After the game, he credited his daughter and Steven Adams for his success.

 

The Thunder’s third-quarter struggles continue

As noted by Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City’s “trend of falling behind” in the third quarter continued once again Friday night against the 76ers.

The Thunder took a 54-59 lead into the half, only to be outscored 34-26 in the third quarter.

Their struggles continued until the 7:20 mark of the 4th quarter when OKC trailed by nine points. From there, the Thunder closed the game on a 22-13 run to end regulation tied at 107.

 

Free throw shooting helped seal the victory

The Thunder aren’t known as automatic from the free-throw line. Far from it.

But when it mattered against Philadelphia, OKC knocked them down.

Oklahoma City was 8-for-8 in overtime from the line. Danilo Gallinari hit all four of his attempts, with both Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander making a pair each.

Both Gallinari (11-for-11) and Paul (12-for-12) were perfect on the night. Per the Thunder, it’s the first time in the organization’s history that two players were perfect from the free-throw line with more than ten attempts each.

As a team, the Thunder shot 85.7% from the line, connecting on 35-of-41 free throws.

Oklahoma City outlasts 76ers 127-119 in overtime

The Thunder outscored Philadelphia 20-12 in overtime, hitting 5-of-7 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

Like many of their games so far this season, the Thunder were in it at the end.

Unlike most of those games, however, on Friday night Oklahoma City outlasted the 76ers 127-119 in overtime to get the win.

The bulk of the scoring came from the starting rotation, led by Danilo Gallinari with a team-high 28.

Three other players were in double-digits: Chris Paul with 27, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander with 24, and Terrance Ferguson, who returned to the starting lineup Friday, adding 19.

Gallinari had a chance to win it at the end of regulation, but his jumper from the top of the key was off the mark. He made up for it by scoring seven of the Thunder’s 20 points in overtime.

Oklahoma City hit five of their seven shots in OT and were a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe.

For the game, OKC shot 53.9% from the field and outscored the 76ers 35 to 15 at the free-throw line.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander attributes humbleness to his mom’s teachings

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had a quality start to his second NBA season.

In a season that’s still young, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as one of the NBA’s top young players.

Gilgeous-Alexander averages 20.1 points a game and leads the Thunder in scoring. He’s second on the team in rebounds behind Steven Adams, and he’s also one of the Thunder’s best 3-point shooters; he’s shooting 40.4% from the 3-point line.

But through all of his success, Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t been arrogant. According to a story from The Oklahoman’s Joe Mussatto, Gilgeous-Alexander attributes his humbleness to his mother, Charmaine Gilgeous.

Gilgeous was an Olympic sprinter, and she competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

Here’s what Gilgeous-Alexander said about what his mom taught him:

“Growing up, with anything we did, she never let us get cocky,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of his mom. “She always told us and showed us to have confidence in ourselves, but never take it overboard. Keep it as confidence.”

Gilgeous-Alexander has taken a leap so far this season. A rookie with the Los Angeles Clippers last season, Gilgeous-Alexander was traded to OKC in the Paul George deal.

Last season, he didn’t take nearly as many shots. Both his field goal attempts and 3-point attempts have gone up. His usage percentage is currently at 25.3%, and last season he finished with an 18.3% usage percentage.

Tied for 25th in the league for points per game, Gilgeous-Alexander is one of three second-year players ranked in the top 25 of the league for scoring, according to NBA.com. Luka Doncic ranks fourth (28.5), and Trae Young ranks seventh (27.3).

With Gilgeous-Alexander being the Thunder’s focal point, he’s primed to continue having a quality sophomore season.

The Thunder will play the Philadelphia 76ers at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Friday night.

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