Opponents once believed neutralizing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the key to victory. Now, a deep, versatile supporting cast proves the Thunder can dismantle contenders even when their superstar struggles.
On paper, it seems like the formula to beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs felt fairly straightforward in theory: make life miserable for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and force everyone else to beat you.
That formula may no longer exist.
The Thunder 118-100 Game 1 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night might have been one of the most important wins of their season, not because of the margin or the opponent, but because of how it happened. Gilgeous-Alexander was solid, but far from dominant by his standards. He finished with 18 points and 7 turnovers while the Lakers spent the entire night throwing bodies, traps, and physicality at him.
And Oklahoma City still won by 18.
That should be an exciting development for the Thunder and a terrifying one for the rest of the NBA.
In previous years, opponents could at least convince themselves that if they disrupted Gilgeous-Alexander’s rhythm, they had a chance. The Lakers actually did a respectable job there for a game. They pressured him full court, loaded up help defenders in the paint, and forced the ball out of his hands. There were moments where Gilgeous-Alexander looked uncomfortable and frustrated, something that rarely happens.
The problem for Los Angeles was that the Thunder are no longer built like a one-man operation.
Every adjustment the Lakers made toward Gilgeous-Alexander opened opportunities for someone else, and Oklahoma City punished them repeatedly. Chet Holmgren looked every bit like a future superstar with 24 points and 12 rebounds, controlling the game offensively while also anchoring the defense. Ajay Mitchell attacked gaps, the Thunder role players knocked down shots, and Oklahoma City’s bench completely overwhelmed the Lakers’ second unit.
By the second half, the Lakers looked exhausted trying to cover everything.
That is what separates this version of the Thunder from many young contenders of the past. They do not rely on one player having a historic night to dominate a playoff game. Gilgeous-Alexander can have an “off” game by MVP standards, and Oklahoma City can still bury a veteran team featuring LeBron James because of how complete the roster has become.
That reality changes the ceiling of this team entirely.
Championship teams eventually reach a point where they become impossible to scheme against over a seven game series. Take away one option, and another hurts you. Focus too heavily on one star, and the supporting cast punishes the imbalance. The Thunder are beginning to look like they are entering that territory.
The scary part is that this was not even close to Oklahoma City’s best offensive performance.
Gilgeous-Alexander is unlikely to have many more games this postseason where he scores only 18 points while turning the ball over 7 times. Historically, when defenses frustrate him in one game, he usually responds aggressively in the next.
If the Lakers continue selling out to slow him down, they risk opening even more space for Holmgren, Mitchell, and Oklahoma City’s shooters. If they ease up on the pressure, Gilgeous-Alexander is capable of exploding for 35 or 40 points at any moment.
That is the impossible balancing act the Thunder now create for opponents.
What made Tuesday night so impressive was not just that Oklahoma City won. It was the level of control they played with despite their best player not carrying the offense in his usual fashion.
There was no panic. No forcing the issue. No overreaction. The Thunder trusted their depth, their ball movement, and their defense, and eventually the Lakers broke under the pressure.
For the Thunder, that is a massive positive moving forward.
For the rest of the league, it may be the clearest sign yet that Oklahoma City is becoming something much bigger than just a talented young team.