Mitch Johnson doesn't make any excuses about giving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 12 free throws

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Mitch Johnson doesn't make any excuses about giving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 12 free throws originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not shoot any free throws in the first half of Game 3 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. He managed to go to the charity stripe 12 times in the second half, but the Spurs know it was mostly because of San Antonio's mistakes.

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Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson has no issues with Gilgeous-Alexander's perceived issues with free-throw shooting because he knows his players were the ones making the mistakes. Johnson admits that his players should be smarter on defense.

Mitch Johnson believes the Spurs can do better when guarding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Gilgeous-Alexander has been the best player on the floor for two games now. He is dominating with or without free throws, as he is finding ways to beat his matchup through smart decisions.

The Spurs have tried many ways in defending SGA, as they put Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and even Carter Bryant on him. Any matchup could do well, but Gilgeous-Alexander can find ways to score or at least draw a foul for easy points.

MORE: How Game 3 between the Spurs and the Thunder had historic free-throw numbers

Some people might dub him a free-throw merchant, but that is not at all what Johnson thinks. He and the Spurs know they can be more disciplined when defending SGA, so that is what they want to clean up in Game 4 and beyond.

"I think probably half of them were from undisciplined first off the floor. He got us out of position and took advantage of it. Those 12 free throws helped out a lot, and I can remember at least a few in my head right now that were undisciplined on our end," Johnson said in his post-game press conference after Game 3.

Johnson and the Spurs still have a lot of opportunities to bounce back. However, they must find ways to defend SGA better because he has been superb in Games 2 and 3. They will need better discipline and communication to truly slow him down.

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