Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has powered the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to inside 4 wins of an NBA championship by revolutionizing scoring contained in the three-point line, in line with new NBA pose-tracking information evaluation.
The 26-year-old guard scored simply 72 of his 476 postseason factors from three-point vary, as a substitute counting on driving layups and midrange jumpers. In opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves within the Western Convention Finals, 46 of his 53 subject objectives got here contained in the arc.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the NBA with over 20 drives per recreation through the common season, practically three greater than second-place Jalen Brunson. He accrued 48 driving shot makes an attempt alone through the five-game convention finals collection.
The Thunder star transformed 53 % of his league-leading 109 makes an attempt from 8-16 ft through the postseason. His 127 two-point jumpers characterize 36.7 % of his complete subject aim makes an attempt, in comparison with simply 11.6 % league-wide.
Gilgeous-Alexander completed the season with a league-high 302 driving layups, outpacing Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 290. He additionally led the NBA by changing 7.9 free throws per recreation by means of his aggressive attacking model.
The Indiana Pacers face the problem of containing the league’s finest attacking guard when the Finals start. Throughout two regular-season matchups, Indiana allowed Gilgeous-Alexander over 20 factors on drives alone regardless of utilizing Andrew Nembhard as his major defender.
Minnesota’s solely Western Convention Finals victory got here once they restricted Gilgeous-Alexander to 6 driving makes an attempt and 14 complete factors in Sport 3.