Will Shai Gilgeous-Alexander be playing more back to backs going forward?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had himself a breakout season with the OKC Thunder this year. As the rising star continues to grow into his own as a franchise cornerstone, SGA is due to see more opportunities to shine.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has undoubtedly been one of the most exciting young players to follow this season. Emerging as a franchise player for the OKC Thunder, Shai has also grown in stature as a leader.
The guard was due to have his breakout season last year itself but unfortunate run-ins with injuries saw him sidelined for a significant chunk of the year.
However, excellence was practically inevitable for the young guard as he burst onto the scene. By virtue of being a lot more available this season, SGA also earned his first All-Star selection.
Although he has been healthy for the most part, an abdominal injury in late February raised some concerns for OKC. This resulted in the decision to keep him sidelined for back-to-back fixtures.
But this could be subject to change as per head coach Mike Daigneault. Considering OKC's current position in the West (36-36, seventh) and Shai's consistent performance, Daigneault said:
"The back-to-backs are more on the table now than they’ve been."
He also added:
"We didn’t know when we put this plan in place how he was gonna respond, and based on how we’ve managed it and how he’s managed it, he’s responded well, especially right after games, which is most important for back-to-backs. We’re open-minded to it, but we haven’t played one yet."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Playing Back-To-Backs 'More On The Table Now' basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/270880…
OKC will face two back-to-back fixtures in the remaining 10 regular-season games. With the first set coming up on Thursday and Friday night, we look forward to seeing what Shai brings to the table in LA.
Also Check Out: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's unique NBA record which puts him in Wilt Chamberlain's company: All you need to know
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been on fire
The OKC Thunder youngster has garnered a lot of attention for his tremendous offensive ability. Since returning from his five-game absence after an abdominal injury, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been on fire.
The guard has put up some ridiculous scoring numbers in the seven games he has played in since coming back from injury. With four 35+ point scoring performances, Shai has also put up two 30+ scoring nights. Surprisingly, his lowest scoring performance in this stretch was the 29 he put up against the Toronto Raptors.
To add emphasis upon his brilliance, the Thunder have gone 6-1 in the games Shai has been available for. With a 1-1 record in games without him in this span, OKC as a whole has done a great job as of late.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 in the win vs the Clippers!
SGA's last 7 Games
31 PTS, W
40 PTS, W
29 PTS, L
35 PTS, W
35 PTS, W
33 PTS, W
38 PTS, W
https://t.co/BR38EhiSR6
It is no surprise that SGA's recent performances have fuelled the Thunder's rise up the ranks in the West. With an opportunity to make an appearance in the playoffs, Shai and the OKC Thunder will look to build upon their current momentum.