The Lakers made it clear from the beginning of their second-round playoff series against the Thunder what they would be willing to live with.

What they weren’t willing to live with: Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander going 1-on-1.

Which led to automatic double teams in the first two games of the series in Oklahoma City, getting the ball out of Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands and forcing the other Thunder players to beat them.

The Lakers’ Marcus Smart (left) could help the team by guarding the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 1-on-1. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The problem for the Lakers: The Thunder’s “others” did beat them.

And even in Game 3 , with the Lakers being less aggressive with their defensive coverages against Gilgeous-Alexander on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, it was still the non-Gilgeous-Alexander Thunder players who stepped up in the Thunder’s 23-point win.

Chet Holmgren, the Thunder’s leading scorer for the series, was a difference-maker.…