Thunder's Surprising 2-1 Deficit in the NBA Finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder find themselves in an unexpected 2-1 hole against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, and the reasons are glaringly clear.

A Tale of Energy and Exhaustion

In Game 3, the Pacers outplayed the Thunder with relentless energy, hustling, scrapping, and ultimately overpowering Oklahoma City. The difference was evident; the Thunder looked sluggish, akin to a team fatigued from a grueling travel schedule. They struggled to keep pace, failing to secure loose balls and wearing down as the game progressed.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s star, epitomized this struggle. After playing a taxing 42 minutes, he was visibly worn out and even picked up a frustration foul just eight seconds into the game. His lack of aggression, especially early on, raised eyebrows. Instead of demanding the ball, he often pointed to teammates, seemingly conserving energy.

The Real Scourge: Midrange Shooting Woes

While exhaustiveness and defensive pressure from Indiana played pivotal roles, the Thunder's dire midrange shooting has been the critical factor. The team is hitting just 47.4% of their 2-point shots, a shocking drop from their regular-season average of 55.9%. This decline is hurting their overall offensive performance, resulting in a disappointing 113.6 rating for the series.

Despite a respectable three-point shooting rate of 39.8%, the Thunder's struggles closer to the basket are baffling, especially considering they excelled in that area during the regular season and the earlier playoff rounds.

The Players at the Core of the Crisis

The team’s top players have taken a beating in the shooting department. Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, two key contributors, have both been underwhelming in their midrange shots. While Chet Holmgren shines with a modest 52%, the rest are lacking consistency, failing to convert high-percentage shots.

Changing Tactics and the Need for Adjustment

The Pacers’ strategy of pressuring Gilgeous-Alexander and disrupting his flow has added to the Thunder's woes. The Thunder have also fallen short in fast-break points, dropping from an average of 17.2 per game in earlier rounds to just 8.4 in the Finals, which further compromises their scoring.

Looking Ahead to Game 4: Time to Reset

For the Thunder to turn this series around, they must address both their effort levels and midrange shooting. It's crucial that Gilgeous-Alexander finds his rhythm and conserves enough energy for crunch time. With their championship hopes hanging in the balance, the team needs to recalibrate their approach and increase their intensity to avoid going down 3-1.

As they prepare for Game 4, the Thunder can't afford to wait for the law of averages to catch up; they must take action now.