Coaches have had a uniform reaction after playing the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s been testing for them. Pistons’ J.B. Bickerstaff was incensed with the officials. Moreover, even Chris Finch said, “you can’t really touch Shai,”. That’s where the controversy begins. NBA crowds and even players have been frustrated by how often Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets to the line. The Oklahoma City Thunder talisman leads the league in free throw attempts.
Many blame the stellar scoring technician for getting an easy whistle. But how true is it? According to SGA, there’s a logical explanation. He drives the ball the most in the NBA. However, even if he wasn’t, there are two ways of analyzing the ability to get to the line. The good way of seeing it the NBA’s leading scorer has mastered the art of getting defenders off-balance. And that’s what’s helping him bend the game to his will.
“So when you make a guy touch earth and he’s trying to recover it’s easy to pump fake that guy while he’s recovering to get him in the air. It’s easy for him to get that guy to come back and recover and realize he is off balance and his hands are out there. That’s playing the game inside of the game. He’s been able to take advantage of that,” Lou Williams said on Run It Back.
SGA is fouled so often because there’s no counter to his game
“I just seen six clips of guys touching earth. Referees can’t help that.” – @TeamLou23
“He never gets offensive foul calls because he’s got an unbelievable skill to stop and change directions.” – @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/8BUmoWoPen
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 17, 2025
What’s absurd though is how good he has been at doing so. Chandler Parsons could only think of one fitting example. He saw similarities to his former teammate James Harden. With how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is able to manipulate the defenders and the game, Parsons thinks the referees may have to adjust the way they did with the Beard.
“Just like James Harden, the referees had to switch up basically how they called the game when the referee’d James Harden. You’re going to have to start doing that now against SGA because he’s gotten so good and he’s so crafty at getting the whistle. I know they put in the flop fouls but he doesn’t even really flop. Every time he does it there is contact,” Parsons added.
From the time he joined the Rockets, Harden led the league in free throw attempts for eight years. He only missed out once, ranking second in 2013-14. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t sustained his skill for that long. But he’s been an adroit scorer for the past few seasons. And it doesn’t seem like he will slow down anytime soon.
Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stay elite in the playoffs?
After coaches have regularly raised concerns, the eyes are locked in on the Thunder. Particularly, there’s a chance the officials start to hold on to their whistle with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being in the spotlight. Given that physicality is embraced in the postseason, Thunder fans are now wondering does fewer free throws mean SGA loses his revered consistency?
It might seem possible. Officials don’t blow the whistles in the same manner as the regular season. But what if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is so good that he leaves the referees with no choice? That’s what Lou Williams thinks.
“I wouldn’t say dramatically because it turns into a half-court game. Now if we’re still talking SGA specifically the way that he baits guys into fouls that’s not going to change. He’s ripping through, he’s getting guys in the air, he’s getting hits on jump shots. Those things won’t change in playoff basketball,” said the former 6MOTY.
SGA will continue to get foul calls with ease in the NBA Playoffs
“The way that SGA baits guys into fouls won’t change…these teams gotta understand scouting reports and make adjustments.” – Lou Williams@MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/LT8AZTDNXU
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 17, 2025
With the Thunder cornerstone, his way of playing the game is tapping into the flow state. Furthermore, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. The Thunder, although one of the best teams aren’t respected due to their youth. So SGA is on a mission. He commands respect and the way to do that is by staying true to his current trail.
Even with limited free throw attempts, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has recorded great scoring performances time and again. Moreover, he’s a pressurizing defender, giving the Thunder a suffocating defense. So if physicality plays a role in depleting Shai, it will undoubtedly favor the Thunder due to their defensive structure.
Either way it goes, with the Thunder’s vast improvement playing away from home this season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is always going to be in play.
The post Calls Mounts for NBA to Tackle Shai Gilgeous-Alexander With James Harden’s Strategy as Thunder Stir Playoff Anxiety appeared first on EssentiallySports.