01-04-2024, 08:07 AM
The Thunder are a Problem! (Excerpted from The Athletic)
Two months in, the Thunder may be the best team in the NBA, even with last night’s loss in Atlanta. They’re 23-10, one game back of the West-leading Wolves, with no signs of fluke in their DNA. Tuesday’s win over 26-7 Boston was as impressive as an early-season result can be. As Zach Harper wrote in the Bounce yesterday, Oklahoma City is officially a problem.
Two months in, the Thunder may be the best team in the NBA, even with last night’s loss in Atlanta. They’re 23-10, one game back of the West-leading Wolves, with no signs of fluke in their DNA. Tuesday’s win over 26-7 Boston was as impressive as an early-season result can be. As Zach Harper wrote in the Bounce yesterday, Oklahoma City is officially a problem.
To figure out this team, I talked with The Athletic’s Andrew Schlecht:
This team was supposed to be fun and plucky this year. Now they’re fun and really, really good. Why?
Andrew: They are the best shooting team in basketball. In fact, they currently have the highest team free throw percentage in NBA history at 85 percent. They also have the best 3-point percentage in the league this season at 39.3%. They generate such quality looks because they are first in the league in drives at the rim. Pair the stellar shooting with the third-best defense in the league, and they are way ahead of schedule.
We knew Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a superstar. What’s the most surprising aspect otherwise about these guys?
Andrew: Chet Holmgren, just 21, is an instant star. Like former All-Star Blake Griffin, the slim 7-footer got to learn from the sidelines last season due to a Lisfranc injury. He is currently averaging 17 points, seven rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 blocks per game, affecting the game at both ends and from a position of need. It might be as soon as this season that the Thunder have two All-Stars.
The trade deadline looms, and OKC has assets galore. Will they take a big swing?
Andrew: The Thunder are still one of the youngest teams in the NBA. They have no playoff experience. They will likely keep the team as-is, while maybe making a move around the margin. I’d be floored if they made a big move, even though they have 15 first-round picks stockpiled over the next 7 years.