Or it seems that Alex Caruso is playing a completely different sport when he is really locked up. Basketball players must be able to dribble, pass and shoot, and any deficit in that set of skills tends to expose themselves in the strong focus of the NBA playoffs. Caruso has a certain level of competition in those areas, but that is why he completely dominated the fourth quarter of the historical victory of Oklahoma City Thunder in game 3 of his first round series against the Grizzlies of Memphis.
Caruso appears in 6’5, 186 pounds, which in case it is a great shipowner or two. For Thunder, Caruso is a truly without a position, blocking a big man from All-Nba as years Jackson Jr. in a possession and tieding a guard in Scottie Pips Jr. the next. The way Nikola Jokic sees the floor in the offensive is how Caruso sees it in defense, advancing one step ahead of all others to give Oklahoma City a game defender for any situation. Caruso’s reputation as the best defensive specialist or his generation has solidified in the leg for years, but game 3 showed everything that makes it special in a high delivery game that will be in history books.
The Grizzlies led the Thunder for 29 points Duration of the first half of the game 3. It was a shock for the system after the Thunder won the game 1 by 51 points and saw a victory of the game 2 without many problems. Memphis was roaring until Ja Morant’s injury in the second quarter. While Okc slowly broke his leadership, Caruso entered the game as a shark that smelled blood in the water, and his decimation of the Grizzlies offensive was so visceral and bloody.
The Thunder beat the Grizzlies, 114-108, in Thorsday Night to climb 3-0 in the First Round series. Memphis scored only 31 points in the second half in a horrible 38.4 percent of true shots. Many of their struggles can be linked to Caruso’s nuclear defensive play.
The Grizzlies players fired 3 of 15 when combined with Caruso in game 3, according to the NBA follow -up data. Four robberies and a block were attributed to the box score, but only that underlines its impact. Add your seven dections and start approaching. The Grizzlies could not enter their offensive actions Caruso frustrating their plans, and led them to throw a gigantic leadership.
Here is a defensive genius of Supercut Caruso in the fourth quarter of game 3. The diversity of impact plays is something that perhaps no other defender in the NBA can match.
Jackson Jr. will have nightmares on Caruso the entire low season. The Supermax contract for which he is in line will help him fall asleep comfortably after a while, but no one as big and talented as Jackson should be locked by some as Caruso. Or by the course, that is the type of effect that Caruso has independently or his task.
Caruso is extra short for a nominal striker, but cannot be intimidated. His chest and feet move in unison, giving him a strong center of gravity to maintain his position and fight through the typical blows in the post. When the ball is displayed, Caruso uses its sharp hands to slide down and shake it. This type of individual defense will make it a valuable piece for any contender, but it is the defense of help of the veteran that really unlocks a new level for the Thunder.
Caruso is like a defensive coordinator on the floor, analyzing actions in a second fraction while still has enough physical talent to recover. His body and mind work in unison, immediately making him the most intelligent and hard player in any confrontation.
In this possession, with the Grizzlies low three with less than a remaining minute, Caruso helps to deter a impulse downhill of Desmond Bane off the screen, immediately rushes to recover with his man in the wing, immediately enters with a hard hard hand. Trainers love to preach defense, but skills like this cannot be taught.
Here is another graph that describes Caruso’s defensive impact on game 3. There is no one like him.
Alex Caruso played 12:34 of the second half of the duration last night that the time the Grizzlies had 35 helmets to score, and went out with 13 points. Hi, they kept 7 different players collecting 4 robberies and 3 deviations and, in general, they only wreaked havoc everywhere. pic.twitter.com/uyxobrh715
– Todd Whitehead (@crumpledjumper) April 25, 2025
The Thunder kept Caruso on ice for most of the season after acquiring it in a summer exchange with the Chicago Bulls. During most of his career, Caruso has a small leg prone to injuries: he needs to play a fire or intense basketball incredible to remain on the floor given his offensive limitations, and that generally causes injuries when Parth a Saesed yogos game. Playing game. Game game. Lady Lameed Game. Caruso played only 52 games and averaged approximately 19 minutes per game for Thunder this year. It was still described as the best defender of the NBA this season, according to the DEPM metric.
The Thunder had a great defense of all time even when he kept him in a narrower role. OKC finished number 1 in the defense rating, allowing only 106.6 points per 100 possessions when the average offensive scored 114.5 points per 100 this season. Now they are unleashing all the power of Caruso in the playoffs, and the first results are terrifying for any opponent in their own way.
Oklahoma City took off the robbery of his life to get Caruso out of the Bulls just by Josh Giddey in a 1-1 exchange. Giddey could not play in the playoffs for OKC a year ago, when defense and lack of shots were brutally exhibited. While Giddey needed a specific adjustment to have some kind of success, Caruso is a natural plug-And-play option that perfectly complements the stars of the Thunder. Its skills set is purely additive, and elevates the roof of the Thunder in what should be a championship season.
Giddey presented good counting states in Chicago this season in the second half of the year, but some You have to get those statistics when you play as fast as the Bulls did this season. It is difficult to imagine that Giddey could have played in a game like game 3 on Thursday night, when the rhythm slowed down and the margins for creation became smarter in the middle of the court. It makes the difference between the Giddey floor breeding for a bad equipment and the Caruso roof for a great team. This exchange was only a “mutual benefit” when seen through the low expectations that have defined the bulls in the last 20 years.
Caruso’s talents always wasted in an middle team like Chicago that never played a significant game. The big games highlight the best of Caruso, and he will play in many of them for thunder, he tried that he can stay healthy. You may not have a set of striking skills or cash score numbers that pay the players, but Caruso impacts winning at the highest levels, and the favorite of the final championship helps.
