The predictability of their offense has been one of the biggest criticisms leveled at the Oklahoma City Thunder in recent seasons. While Jalen Williams\u2019s emergence has opened the door to more scoring options and the additions of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso help address other gaps, the coaching staff has given their biggest star some extra homework.<\/p>\n
Head coach Mike Daigneault has asked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to make the outside shot a regular part of his game to expand his offensive repertoire. With this, the guard<\/em> is now in his fifth consecutive season as the player who drives to the rim the most (drives<\/em>)<\/a> and only James Harden is running more isolation plays<\/a>. That\u2019s why the Thunder want him to extend his range and become a weapon from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really fun,\u201d Gilgeous-Alexander said, according to reporter Marc J. Spears. \u201cThe process of improving and adding something is the best feeling for me. When all is said and done, I want to be a basketball player with no holes in my game.\u201d<\/p>\n So far, Shai is sticking to the plan: he\u2019s attempting 6.3 three-pointers per game, a career high. Still, he\u2019s converting only two of those attempts, which keeps his long-range accuracy at a modest 32.6%. This season, the Canadian international has topped double digits in three-point attempts in four games. On November 19 against the San Antonio Spurs, he sank five, though his personal record goes back to February 24, 2021, when he hit six, also against the Texas franchise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"