{"id":1530,"date":"2025-01-05T18:33:47","date_gmt":"2025-01-05T22:33:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/mvp-hopeful-shai-gilgeous-alexander-leads-thunders-electrifying-surge\/"},"modified":"2025-01-05T18:33:50","modified_gmt":"2025-01-05T22:33:50","slug":"mvp-hopeful-shai-gilgeous-alexander-leads-thunders-electrifying-surge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/mvp-hopeful-shai-gilgeous-alexander-leads-thunders-electrifying-surge\/","title":{"rendered":"MVP Hopeful Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Leads Thunder’s Electrifying Surge"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hello, I\u2019m Dan Gartland. It seems many are quite upset with the SEC’s recent performance in the playoff.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s new in today\u2019s SI:AM:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Notre Dame\u2019s victory<\/u>
Important CFP insights<\/u>
25 MLB narratives to follow in 2025<\/u><\/p>\n

SGA for MVP<\/h2>\n

The Oklahoma City Thunder may not top the NBA standings (that distinction belongs to the Cleveland Cavaliers), but they’re currently the league’s most formidable team.<\/p>\n

With a recent victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, the Thunder secured their 13th consecutive win, marking the NBA\u2019s second-longest streak this season after the Cavaliers\u2019 15-game unbeaten run. Now at a record of 28\u20135, they trail just one game behind the Cavs for the league\u2019s best record and are significantly ahead of any other team in the Western Conference, with no other Western team having fewer than 11 losses.<\/p>\n

To the more casual NBA fans, it might be surprising to hear of the Thunder\u2019s success, especially since the last major news about them was their star Chet Holmgren’s sidelining due to a broken hip in November. This incident seemingly threatened to compromise their season. Last year, Holmgren was pivotal in the Thunder securing the Western Conference’s top record, tied with the Denver Nuggets, and their playoff berth after a four-year hiatus. He was second only to Victor Wembanyama for the Rookie of the Year title and was the first rookie since Karl-Anthony Towns in 2015\u201316 to start all 82 games.<\/p>\n

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Order Now. SIP February Sportsperson. Get Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year issue. dark<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Despite Holmgren\u2019s absence, the Thunder have not only managed to keep afloat but have excelled, largely thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander\u2019s outstanding performances. Before Holmgren\u2019s injury, SGA was averaging 26.1 points per game from 18.9 shots. In the 23 games since, his average has surged to 33.4 points on 21.7 shots. More than just stepping up in Holmgren\u2019s absence, Gilgeous-Alexander has improved his game across the board.<\/p>\n

Taking on more of the offensive load hasn\u2019t diminished Gilgeous-Alexander\u2019s efficiency. In fact, he\u2019s shooting better now than he was earlier in the season. His shooting percentage has risen from .487 to .543, and his three-point shooting has improved from .264 to .383. Additionally, he\u2019s committing fewer turnovers and has increased his averages in steals and blocks from earlier in the season when Holmgren was active.<\/p>\n

This season, Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as the NBA\u2019s most consistent scorer, surpassing even Giannis Antetokounmpo, who leads the league in points per game but has missed six games. SGA leads the league with 1,029 total points, over 100 points ahead of the next closest player (De\u2019Aaron Fox has 910). He\u2019s scored at least 20 points in 32 of his 33 games this season, with a season low of 18 points on Oct. 30. Since then, he\u2019s scored 20 or more points in 29 consecutive games. Since his trade to the Thunder in 2019, there have been 10 such streaks<\/u> by all NBA players, but he is the only one to have achieved this three times during that period. The only others with multiple 20+ point streaks of 29 games or more are Joel Embiid (both during his 2022\u201323 MVP season) and LeBron James.<\/p>\n

Yet, the key to the Thunder\u2019s success this season lies in their defense. They lead the NBA across several defensive metrics including points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, opponents\u2019 field goal percentage, and turnovers forced. Gilgeous-Alexander also stands out defensively, topping the league in three advanced defensive metrics: defensive rating, defensive win shares, and defensive box plus\/minus. When you have a player averaging over 30 points per game and also being the top defensive guard, you have an MVP candidate.<\/p>\n

Of course, Gilgeous-Alexander isn\u2019t the only Thunder player contributing significantly. Jalen Williams, who is second in the NBA in defensive win shares, is averaging a career-high 20.9 points per game after a standout sophomore season. Isaiah Hartenstein, a key offseason acquisition from the New York Knicks, has filled in admirably in the starting center role in Holmgren\u2019s absence, averaging 12.2 rebounds per game, which would place him fifth in the league if he qualified for the leaderboards (Hartenstein missed the first 15 games of the season with a fractured hand). The focus on defense is evident as, along with Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Luguentz Dort, and Isaiah Joe all rank in the top 20 in defensive rating league-wide.<\/p>\n

Holmgren is nearing his return to play. He was seen at Tuesday\u2019s game without crutches for the first time since his injury, although coach Mark Daigneault remained tight-lipped on the specifics<\/u> of his recovery. His return will bolster a Thunder defense already ranked as the most stringent in the league. With Holmgren back, pairing him with Gilgeous-Alexander could solidify the Thunder\u2019s claim as the NBA\u2019s top team.<\/p>\n

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