NBA Finals Drama: Top Fixes the Thunder Must Make for Game 2!

OKLAHOMA CITY — Roughly an hour after the Pacers clinched a narrow 111-110 victory over the Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Thunder players navigated through the corridors to the media room, struggling to articulate their thoughts on the game’s outcome. “To be honest,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander confessed, “I’m not quite sure what went wrong.” Isaiah Hartenstein looked introspectively, remarking, “It might sound odd, but it felt less like they won and more like we lost it ourselves.” Jalen Williams summed it up simply: “It’s just disappointing. I’m at a loss for words.”

In reviewing the tape from Game 1, the Thunder will see several positives. They forced the Pacers into 25 turnovers and dominated the scoring in the paint 46-34, as well as outpacing Indiana in transition. They maintained a lead for nearly the entire game, often by double digits. However, they only managed to score 11 points from those 25 turnovers and forced only six in the latter half. They were outrebounded significantly, 43-29. Indiana shot impressively, hitting high 40s percentages both from the field (47.6%) and beyond the arc (46.2%). In contrast, Oklahoma City failed to shoot 40% in either category.

“The key factor was their resilience,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “They’re a formidable team that has pulled off many unlikely wins. They play with tremendous heart, continually pushing back and making crucial plays and shots. They earned their one-point victory.”

As the Thunder dissect their performance, they realize that enhancements must start from within. While creating turnovers is beneficial, capitalizing on them is crucial. The Thunder caused 19 turnovers in the first half but converted them into only nine points. They held a 12-point lead at the break, which could have been much larger. “We didn’t take full advantage of many favorable situations,” Daigneault acknowledged. Historically, only a few teams have won a game after committing 25 turnovers, and even fewer have done so when their opponents commit just seven.

“Perhaps we should have been more aggressive in driving to the basket during transitions instead of setting up plays,” Alex Caruso suggested. “However, it’s also a testament to our defense that we were able to create so many turnovers. It’s a highlight we can take pride in, even if we may not reach that number every game.”

Improving scoring in the paint is another area for refinement. The Thunder spent a lot of time in the paint in Game 1 but struggled to convert consistently. According to NBA.com, they made 47.6% of their shots from within five feet, but this percentage plummeted to 27.3% for shots taken from five to nine feet out. “We were a bit careless on some attempts,” Daigneault noted. “There were times when we got jammed up or didn’t finish plays. We don’t need to be perfect, but we do need to learn from these moments.”

The Thunder altered their starting lineup for Game 1, replacing Hartenstein with Cason Wallace to better counter the Pacers’ smaller lineup. This strategy did not pay off as Indiana exploited mismatches effectively, particularly with Pascal Siakam in the paint. The Pacers also upped their game from the three-point line, creating a 21-point advantage over the Thunder. Oklahoma City was especially weak defending corner shots: Indiana made 10 of 16 from the corners, including an almost perfect 8 of 10 from the left corner.

“We need to cut out the easy shots that come from us not rotating quickly enough or not being properly matched up in transition,” Caruso added. “Credit to them, they sank important shots.”

Then, there’s Gilgeous-Alexander. His Game 1 performance was statistically strong: 38 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals. However, his aggressiveness might have been a double-edged sword. He took 12 shots in the first quarter, primarily jumpers, and although he scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, he finished the period with a minus-9. Overall, he attempted 30 shots, matching his playoff high. In a crucial moment, he was unable to get past Andrew Nembhard, his former teammate from Canada’s national team, who forced him into a challenging fadeaway jumper.

Despite the setback, the Thunder remain calm. They have experienced similar situations, notably losing Game 1 of the conference semifinals against Denver in a manner reminiscent of this game. “It’s eerily similar,” Caruso remarked. They bounced back to win the next game by 43 points. When asked about the parallels, players acknowledged the resemblance. “It’s frustrating to dominate a game only to lose like this,” Hartenstein expressed.

Gilgeous-Alexander remained optimistic, “We’ve been down before after Game 1. Each time, we’ve come back stronger. That’s the plan now – to learn from this and improve,” he said.

Wiser, too. The Thunder were well aware of the Pacers’ tenacity, having seen them overcome the Bucks, shock the Cavaliers, and secure two victories at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. Now, having experienced it firsthand, they are determined to avoid a repeat.