Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Anthony Edwards: Western Conference Finals

T-Wolves vs Thunder – Western Conference Finals Preview

Let’s start with the obvious — Game 1 is already in the books. 

I’m writing this right after the first game, and man… OKC sent a message.
Shai dropped 31, Jalen Williams was smooth as ever, and Chet held his ground.

Minnesota looked solid early, but once Thunder tightened up in the second half, it was a wrap.
The final score? 114–88. Yeah, that kind of night. 

Now that we’ve seen the tone of this series, Let’s talk matchups, momentum, and what both teams need to adjust going forward.

SGA vs Anthony Edwards – Who Controls the Tempo?

This matchup isn’t just about two athletic guards — it’s a battle between rhythm and chaos.

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is calculated, smooth, surgical.
  He picks his spots, gets to his midrange without wasting motion, and always plays at his own pace.
  In Game 1, he had 31 points, 0 turnovers, and completely controlled the tempo after halftime.

• Anthony Edwards, on the other hand, is pure explosion.
  He’ll hit you with a stepback three, then dunk on your big man in the same possession.
  But in Game 1, OKC’s defensive schemes forced him into tough shots — he finished with 18 points, and only 5 in the second half.

If Edwards can't break free from Lu Dort and the Thunder traps,
this matchup could tilt heavily in SGA’s favor — again.

Chet vs Gobert – Youthful Skill vs Veteran Muscle

If you love big man basketball, this series has something for you — but Game 1 showed that the edge might not go where you'd expect.

• Rudy Gobert came in with the experience, the Defensive Player of the Year reputation, and the paint presence.
  But in Game 1, he struggled to stay in rhythm defensively.
  OKC pulled him out of the paint with pick-and-pop sets, and his slow closeouts were punished.

• Chet Holmgren, meanwhile, didn’t try to overpower Gobert —
  he played smart:
  – spaced the floor
  – hit key midrange shots
  – blocked shots without fouling
  – and quietly finished with 15 points and solid rim protection

Gobert might still dominate certain stretches,
but if Chet continues to stretch him out and move the ball quickly,
it could tilt the big man matchup in OKC’s favor — not on strength, but on IQ and adaptability.

Coaching Battle: Daigneault vs Finch – Tactical Brains or Stuck Systems?

One thing became clear after Game 1 — Mark Daigneault is playing chess, and Chris Finch might still be setting up the board.

• Daigneault made key adjustments at halftime:
  – switched defensive matchups
  – put Caruso and Dort in better help positions
  – staggered lineups to punish Wolves’ bench
  Result? A +26 second half.
  OKC didn’t just play harder — they played smarter.

• Chris Finch, meanwhile, stuck with his usual rotations too long.
  – Gobert and KAT on the floor together in a fast-paced OKC game? Didn’t work.
  – No real answer for SGA’s ISO game
  – And the offense looked predictable when Edwards got doubled

If Finch doesn’t adapt quickly, this series might spiral —
because OKC’s staff clearly came in with a Plan A, B, and probably C.

Game 1 was a clear message from OKC — and especially from Shai.
But series don’t end after one blowout.
If Edwards responds, and Finch adjusts, we might still get fireworks.

What do you think?
Let me know who takes Game 2.

– Fufu