The NBA Finals have been an emotional roller coaster ride for Thunder fans. Very similar to how the second-round series against the Nuggets went. The Thunder lost on a game-clinching shot in Game 1, but then responded with a blowout Game 2 victory. After that, they lost Game 3 despite having control of most of the game and fell behind 2-1. Game 4s of both series had to be must-win games, and especially this Game 4, which was a massive game for this Thunder team. However, just like against Denver, the Thunder had to make a fourth-quarter comeback to tie the series up 2-2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s MVP, came up huge down the stretch for OKC, scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory. The Thunder are now gearing up for Game 5 of the Finals.
With Game 4 in the books and the series being tied 2-2, Game 5 will be crucial. Whoever can take a commanding 3-2 lead and win Game 5 will be in the driver’s seat to win the title. However, what are the keys for the Thunder for them to be in the best position to win this pivotal Game 5? Let’s dive into those three keys for the Thunder in what they need to do to take a 3-2 series lead over Indiana.
3 Keys For The Thunder to Win Game 5 of The Finals
The Thunder Needs to Shoot Better From Three
The Thunder have shot well enough from three in the first three games; however, in Game 4, they went 3-16 from behind the arc. Even though they still won Game 4, this bad shooting night can’t continue if the Thunder hopes to win the Finals. In addition, the Pacers’ defense in the last two games has given the Thunder a multitude of problems. They have forced the Thunder into a ton of uncharacteristic turnovers, inbounds turnovers, and forced the Thunder to take hard shots. As a result, the Thunder’s offense has struggled in stretches of the game, and in Games 3 and 4, they have a combined total of 27 assists. This is far off from their 38 assists they had combined in the first two games.
However, the best way to get a defense out of their shell, spread them out more, and have less reliance on iso-scoring is to make your shots from behind the arc. Cason Wallace has not made a single three-point shot in the Finals, shooting 0-8 in four games. Jalen Williams is shooting just 21.4% from three in the Finals, and Chet Holmgren has only made 1-11 on his three-point attempts.
However, the Thunder are getting great shooting from the likes of Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins, who are all above 50% from three. Joe and Wiggins don’t play enough consistently to have a bigger impact, which could be an adjustment going forward. Regardless, the Thunder need to shoot better as a team collectively in order to soften up the defense of the Pacers and to have a great chance at winning Game 5.
The Big 3 Have to Show Up
The Big 3 of the Thunder were outstanding together in the Western Conference Finals and a big part of the 4-1 series victory over the Timberwolves. Things were looking up, and people were wondering if this was going to be the next great big three since the Warriors. However, in the Finals, it has been a completely different story as Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams have struggled throughout. Williams has scored well, averaging 22.3 points per game, but his efficiency is way down. Holmgren, on the other hand, is averaging just 13.8 points per game. While his offense is struggling, he is still providing the elite rim-protecting defense, and his defense was huge in Game 4, especially down the stretch.
Gilgeous-Alexander, on the other hand, has been stellar all series and has played like an MVP. However, there have been times were he has looked gassed as the Pacers have made him work extremely hard for everything. As a result, Mark Daigneault made some minor adjustments to that in Game 4 to preserve his energy, and it worked as he came up huge for the Thunder in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, SGA won’t be able to lead them to a championship by himself, and he needs more consistent help from Jalen and Chet in Game 5. If the Thunder can get two games from their big three like they played in the Western Conference Finals, the Thunder will be celebrating an NBA Championship.
The Thunder’s Bench Must Outduel the Pacers’ Bench
Finally, to what could be the biggest X-Factor in Game 5, and who ultimately wins these Finals is whose bench performs the best. The Thunder and Pacers both have a deep and important bench that is crucial to their success, and both have shown up in these playoffs. Ultimately, the Thunder are returning home, and the old saying goes that role players play better at home. The Thunder needs that to be true and have big performances out of their role players from their bench. If Indiana can outperform the Thunder’s bench, it could be trouble for OKC’s hopes to win.
The Last Word
For the third time in two seasons, the Thunder are entering a pivotal Game 5 with the series tied 2-2. In the games before, the Thunder are 1-1 in those games, with the win coming this year against the Nuggets and the loss coming against the Mavericks last year. The Thunder, the Pacers, and everybody know how important this Game is; it is just a matter of which team wants it more. However, if the Thunder can execute on the three things listed above, the Thunder will be in a great position to win the game.
Featured image: © Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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