The Indiana Pacers secured Game 1 in the NBA Finals by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110.
It’s a good start, but Pacer still has one task if they want to secure more games and become an NBA champion. Neutralizes OKC main star, Shy Gilgauss Alexander.
In Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points with 46.7% shooting. That’s not a bad number. Especially if he only left the entire game twice.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green will give advice to Pacer on how to handle MVP this season.
Green’s argument is based on his experience in the 2022 NBA Finals, when he and the Warriors managed to limit the two Celtic stars.
Green helped keep Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum at 23.5 and 21.5 points per game, respectively, during that final series.
“When I played Boston in the final a few years ago, I realized something about playing against them. I realized that Jalen Brown could pass, but if I helped him early on, he couldn’t pass,” Green explained on the podcast.
“At the time, he wasn’t strong to make passes if you helped him early, so I’ll help him if he started driving with him.
Green said the Pacers need to force Gilgauss Alexander to force his weaknesses and instruct Pacer to drive to the advantage edge.
Green’s advice is consistent with Gary Payton’s philosophy, which Shy considers to be an overly offensive player. Instead, the team should try to confuse him when he has the ball.
“And I’m Indiana, I think that’s something they need to understand. Get in front of Shay and don’t leave him. Get on your right arm and force him all the way to the edge,” he said.
“You got Miles Turner on the rim, you got Thomas Bryant on the rim, you got Obi Toppin on the rim. Are you going to hit enough layups to beat you?” Green was added.
This strategy makes sense given that Indiana’s interior defense is fixed at Turner and its depths.
Green’s Championship experience provides valuable insight into neutralizing elite scorers at final pressure, and the Pacers may use that advice in their next game.