Thunder will win 70 games, Jokic having GOAT season, NBA Superpower Draft | Nerd Sesh x Hoop Venue
The nerds are joined by Tyler from Hoop Venue to discuss whether or not we are headed for an inevitable de-facto NBA Finals between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s unstoppable OKC Thunder and the impossibly great Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets. They also dive into just how historic this season can be for both OKC and Jokic, then rank the greatest superpowers in the NBA today, discuss the NBA’s most underrated teams (Heat, Pistons, Suns, Hawks) and the most disappointing (Mavericks, Clippers, Magic) before wrapping up by praising the players that have grown on them most.
Timeline:
0:00 Is OKC-Denver inevitable?
19:30 Will OKC win 70+ games
27:11 Is Jokic gonna have the GOAT offensive season?
34:05 Top 5 Superpowers in the NBA Right Now
58:59 Most Underrated Team?
1:43:33 Most Disappointing Team?
2:12:00 Player Who’s Grown On You Most?
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25 Comments
23:07 they were 30% from deep in the playoffs
Denver fan. Couldn't hope for a better rival. see yall in the playoffs <3
everything has gone as well as possible except Braun and Cam can't hit from 3 and are both injured eksde
36:31 i don't see how Bill Russell's rim defense doesn't go here too
36:31 i don't see how Bill Russell's rim defense doesn't go here too
36:31 i don't see how Bill Russell's rim defense doesn't go here too
Cleveland is not that good
OKC will win 70
I loved the superpower discussion, but what I took from it is that superpowers can NEVER be reduced to one thing. They're never a base note, always a chord.
You covered most of these, but just to restate one.
What is Jokic's passing without his shooting, or his paint touch without his passing? Or both without his height?
Even Steph's all time great shot isn't what it is without his handle and driving ability.
The closest you came was Steven Adams' offensive rebounding. But he's the least 'great' of your entire list. Which only really proves my point that a historical 'pure' list would be full of limited specialists like 'Rondo's passing', or 'Ben Simmons' NBA career before Game 6'
Otherwise coaches will just blitz players, or stand off them. This league schemes for and solves one trick ponies for breakfast.
Which is only to say, no need to apologise for lumping in multiple things, because greatness in anything in the NBA requires making opponents conflicted about MINIMUM two things.
I think with shai, boiling down to one trait would be balance. his ability to shift gain leverage and get defenders off their leverage and stay in control is unlike anyone else before him, its all about that crazy balance.
I think whatever it is that's Jokic's superpower is more valuable than Steph's shooting. I think when both their careers are over Jokic will be looked at as the more transcendent and all-time great player. I would say his superpower is his brain. His processing speed. He can read the game faster than anyone and make the right decision every time. It's like everyone around him is in slow motion.
seeing ajay mitchell in these convos rlly hit different, could make a grown man shed a tear. was watching this dude at my alma mater santa barbara hooping out for years with little to no recognition
I don't think OKC cares about the 70 game threshold. The 2016 Warriors won 73 and didn't win a championship.
"It don't mean a thing if you don't get the ring."
Jordan's mentality & competitiveness
My Top 5 Superpowers:
Steph Curry’s Shooting
Michael Jordan’s Body Control
Nikola Jokic’s Processing
Shaquille O’Neal’s Finishing
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Driving
This trio has great chemistry, really fun to listen to
Jokic is also number 1 in steals over the last 5 years. Having to qualify everything with him as yhe best "offensive" season is thoroughly ridiculous. Hes off to the best start ever, EASILY. His literal affect on the SCOREBOARD, which definitely includes both sides, is GOAT right now… in any lineup, with any random assortment of 4 others.
His impact right now has never been touched. You really don't have to qualify it beyond that. Annoying people have been scared into submission on this objective fact.
Top 5 superpowers:
1. Wemby’s defense / rim protection
2. Giannis’ rim pressure
3. Tatum’s high level size & versatility
4. Steph’s shooting gravity
5. Jokic’s processing quality
X consistency
Anthony Davis best handle for a center
Jokic already has the greatest season of all time in 2024-2025. He accounted for 56 points a game (29.6 ppg + 26.4 assist points/game).
Kareem sky hook?
This young thunder team is so good they are scary and they are just going to get better that has to be a nightmare for the rest of the NBA and this team is so deep they could split their roster in half and have two playoff teams
But it seems like everybody forgets about the Thunder's young coach he is the best coach in the league
Mark Williams perimeter defense (as a big man) is a superpower im a big fan of
Wired headphones > Bluetooth headphones
Sometimes i can't with carson's shai glaze. I have listened to you guys and for the last 2 seasons the glaze on shai's overrated PR is such a downgrade on carson's often sharp analysis