Player of the week, then Player of the month, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has found its cruising speed in recent weeks, and the Thunder back has never appeared so complete in the game, but also leader in attitude. Against the Celtics, he imposed his rhythm in attack, always with his false nonchalance, but also in defense where his scale allows him to deflect passes, intercept and even counter. Jayson Tatum can attest to this… since he got tarred on the board.
At the end, a victory as stunning as it was impressive for the Thunder with an “SGA” at its best level: 33 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 interceptions and 2 blocks. 11 of 23 on shots, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Opposite, there was still Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, the best defensive pair of guards in the NBA.
>> The race for MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes of age
“Above all, I love competition… That’s what motivates me. I like playing against the best to see where I stand, to see how good I really am, and that's all that matters.” he explains. “Boston has accomplished things that we dream of, and there's no way to do that without playing and competing against teams like that. This is why I get up in the morning. That’s why I play basketball, and that’s what tonight was all about.”
By limiting the Celtics to 27 points in the second half, the Thunder clearly sent a message. Even without Alex Caruso or Chet Holmgren, this team is a real winning machine, and it has the leader to take it to the top. And not just in the regular season, and the Canadian insists on that.
“It doesn’t matter who is in front, even if it obviously adds motivation… But in the end, we have the opportunity to measure ourselves, to progress and to see where we are collectively,” concludes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “That’s what this season offers us as an opportunity. That's how we perceive it. »
