If Thunder can keep their margin of victory (17.4) for the remainder of the season, they might surpass the 1971-72 Lakers (12.28), 1970-71 Bucks (12.26) and 1995-96 Bulls (12.24) as probably the most dominant regular-season staff in NBA historical past.
Thoughts you, this yr’s Warriors (17.29), Celtics (14) and Cavaliers (13.13) are additionally drubbing opponents by file margins. Final yr’s Celtics (11.34) personal the fifth-largest factors differential in historical past for a full season, falling wanting the 2016-17 Warriors (11.63).
The scary factor for the remainder of the league is OKC is off to a rollicking begin with out the companies of its large offseason pickup, Isaiah Hartenstein, who fractured his left hand within the preseason. With the German anticipated to return in early December, the Thunder will solely develop stronger, particularly on the defensive aspect of the ball.
And protection has been the staff’s greatest calling card up to now. OKC is holding opponents to simply 95.9 factors per sport, practically 14 factors fewer than elite defensive groups such because the Celtics (109.6) and Cavaliers (109.1).
Second-year heart Chet Holmgren has been integral to the impeccable protection, as evidenced by the Thunder permitting solely 42.9 paint factors per sport. Nevertheless, their perimeter protection, spearheaded by Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, has been equally spectacular.
Throughout Monday’s version of “NBA At present” on ESPN, Kendrick Perkins declared that the Thunder had already separated themselves from the remainder of the pack within the West and have been primed to satisfy the Celtics within the 2025 NBA Finals.
“They’re clearly the very best staff within the Western Convention,” Perkins mentioned. “I’ve by no means seen a bunch of younger guys with outdated souls like they do. They’re the true definition of shedding your self within the staff. In the event that they proceed to maintain this up, which I imagine they are going to, they’re gonna be within the NBA Finals enjoying the Boston Celtics.”
Final yr, the Thunder grew to become the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA historical past however fell to the Mavericks within the second spherical of the playoffs. This yr, they appear primed to take an enormous step towards the last word aim.
