I think the OKC team that won last year caught some very bad breaks and still won ahead of schedule. The Gordon and Hali game winning shots and coaching blunders. Bad breaks. This year they're more experienced and deeper than they were last year. AJ Mitchell is another key player coming off the bench. Young fresh legs.
Remember the 2000 Lakers was pushed to 7 games against the Blazers, and the next year they only lost 1 game in the entire playoffs. The 2002 Lakers was pushed to 7 games plus overtime against the Kings. The 1998 Bulls went 7 against the Pacers. The 2018 Warriors should have lost to the Rockets. Don't be fooled by the game 7s OKC faced last year. This year I believe they will be far more dominant in the playoffs.
SGA gets a foul call if the defender's shadow comes near him… And Dort, Caruso and, Wallace get away with felonies on defense. I've never seen such a paradox of officiating in basketball. They're awful to watch. It's bizarre
You always gotta compete. Remember, free agents are watching your team. “If i went there, we’d be better.” If im Wemby and I know my team isn’t even TRYING to do better because they don’t think we can beat another team, I’m pissed.
Half the Thunder roster are unknown guys, of course i know who they are but the average person couldn't tell you who these guys are. The Thunder are a young boring group of corn balls as the kids say. Even the Spurs from the 2012-2016 era you knew who they were, even the warriors but this Thunder team are so good and no one really cares. Clippers should be ashamed of themselves for trading picks this far out for a Pauul George that didn't get you anything.
If we work hard enough to convince people all over the world to bet on Thunder to win the championship, Vegas might ask the ref to protect Jokic just enough to help Nuggets to beat them in 7
I don’t think they can stay this good for many more years because of the CBA except for the fact that the fucking flippers gift wrapped them multiple top picks. But they’ve come a long way from being a perpetual farm team. Now they are harvesting. Good for them.
If GM's have learned anything from the Thunder, you DON'T make the Giannis type move in favor of your young core. Think what they just did with Shai JDub and Chet with proper role players. You work out talent around the edges in the beginning years, develop an identity, then just be extremely lucky and extremely good ez (the league is cooked).
4:11 it may be over a decade before they fall off because of all their picks and young stars, and the fact that those players can be traded for picks makes it last even longer. OKC's top ten players by minutes are all 27 or younger.
Their loss was on the 2nd night of a back to back with JDub, Holmgren, Dort and Caruso out. It was their 3rd game in 4 days.
Regarding salaries and the cap. I believe Caruso and Hartenstein have bird rights. The 2nd apron penalties do not prevent them from keeping this same roster at all. Besides the tax the other penalties do not prevent a team that wants to keep the same roster from moving forward. There is no hard cap. If the owners want to pay the penalties to keep producing championships they can. From a business standpoint it could be worth it. This is not a situation where they have to figure out what to do with Hartenstein, Dort or any of the other players anytime soon. Their biggest problem is what to do with this years draft picks.
Lakers can get good fast after Lebron's gone. Giannis on the right team can compete. Denver is close now maybe? Houston needs more shooting but close. Spurs are getting there. Detroit is working on it. Celtics are no slouches with Tatum back.
When they got Caruso and Ihart i proclaimed this the best roster ever and likely the best team ever. Didnt just start happening. These teams should definitely be playing for the future if u dont have Wemby,Luka or Joker on ur team
Pacers went 7 with them, and was competitive even after Tyrese went out. So they can be beat. I don’t think they are quite as dominant as the KD warriors.
The only thing that can brake them at this point is… chemistry.. they currently seem to have a very good overall team chemistry, have not seen any drama from them (which is quite rare..) which is also the reason for the success, but probably once some of the guys start being frustrated with their role, start wanting out… that's when it might fall apart – that's the usual downfall of having too much talent.
OKC formula= 1. hoard draft pics by taking on other teams mistakes for pics 2. dont trade your future for max players at the end of their career 3. Develop your youth 4. Play everybody on the team and go deep into your bench. 5. always have fresh legs on the court and require every player to play defense 6. lock up your superstars while they are young the minute they become eligible for a max contract. 7. only trade players when it is absolutely necessary which generates familiarity and chemistry. 8. Dont be a scumbag and try to cheat the salary cap
45 Comments
I think the OKC team that won last year caught some very bad breaks and still won ahead of schedule. The Gordon and Hali game winning shots and coaching blunders. Bad breaks. This year they're more experienced and deeper than they were last year. AJ Mitchell is another key player coming off the bench. Young fresh legs.
Remember the 2000 Lakers was pushed to 7 games against the Blazers, and the next year they only lost 1 game in the entire playoffs. The 2002 Lakers was pushed to 7 games plus overtime against the Kings. The 1998 Bulls went 7 against the Pacers. The 2018 Warriors should have lost to the Rockets. Don't be fooled by the game 7s OKC faced last year. This year I believe they will be far more dominant in the playoffs.
This OKC team is not the same as last year, these guys tasted blood and now they know how to hunt. Think about it
SGA gets a foul call if the defender's shadow comes near him… And Dort, Caruso and, Wallace get away with felonies on defense. I've never seen such a paradox of officiating in basketball. They're awful to watch. It's bizarre
WCF gonna be an OKC intersquad game.
This never would have happened if Kawhi didn't leave the Raptors
every game is 8v5, so of course they're unstoppable
The funny part about this situation is how all last year everyone was all "Oh, there's such great parity in the league now".
Ousman Deing is awesome and he never gets a chance to play since he's like 14th on depth chart 🤦
The 2016 Warriors went 73-9 and didn't win the title
You always gotta compete. Remember, free agents are watching your team. “If i went there, we’d be better.” If im Wemby and I know my team isn’t even TRYING to do better because they don’t think we can beat another team, I’m pissed.
Half the Thunder roster are unknown guys, of course i know who they are but the average person couldn't tell you who these guys are. The Thunder are a young boring group of corn balls as the kids say. Even the Spurs from the 2012-2016 era you knew who they were, even the warriors but this Thunder team are so good and no one really cares. Clippers should be ashamed of themselves for trading picks this far out for a Pauul George that didn't get you anything.
The first guy that should get a statue in OKC should be Sam Presti
If we work hard enough to convince people all over the world to bet on Thunder to win the championship, Vegas might ask the ref to protect Jokic just enough to help Nuggets to beat them in 7
Both Denver and the Pacers brought them to 7 games. Why wouldn't anyone try and hang up their hat?
The spurs have no justification to do any sort of tanking with drafting luck they have had.
I don’t think they can stay this good for many more years because of the CBA except for the fact that the fucking flippers gift wrapped them multiple top picks. But they’ve come a long way from being a perpetual farm team. Now they are harvesting. Good for them.
These guys have a tough squad.
If GM's have learned anything from the Thunder, you DON'T make the Giannis type move in favor of your young core. Think what they just did with Shai JDub and Chet with proper role players. You work out talent around the edges in the beginning years, develop an identity, then just be extremely lucky and extremely good ez (the league is cooked).
4:11 it may be over a decade before they fall off because of all their picks and young stars, and the fact that those players can be traded for picks makes it last even longer. OKC's top ten players by minutes are all 27 or younger.
Their loss was on the 2nd night of a back to back with JDub, Holmgren, Dort and Caruso out. It was their 3rd game in 4 days.
Regarding salaries and the cap. I believe Caruso and Hartenstein have bird rights. The 2nd apron penalties do not prevent them from keeping this same roster at all. Besides the tax the other penalties do not prevent a team that wants to keep the same roster from moving forward. There is no hard cap. If the owners want to pay the penalties to keep producing championships they can. From a business standpoint it could be worth it. This is not a situation where they have to figure out what to do with Hartenstein, Dort or any of the other players anytime soon. Their biggest problem is what to do with this years draft picks.
You caveat was Dub wasn't healthy… Remember that Chet was coming off of what was thought to be a season-ending hip surgery too. They're just great.
Lakers can get good fast after Lebron's gone. Giannis on the right team can compete. Denver is close now maybe? Houston needs more shooting but close. Spurs are getting there. Detroit is working on it. Celtics are no slouches with Tatum back.
What happens when they start flipping guys like Caruso or Hartenstein for more picks?
Thunder fan here people also forget we have topic and sorber two lottery picks that havent even played a single second😂😂
Teams in the east jockey for position to reach the finals only to lose to okc in 5 games.
I bet you still think the lakers are better huh lol
Whats not "fair" is not being able to watch OkC every game eventhough i live in Oklahoma. Fairness doesnt exist.
As a Pistons fan, let's just get to the Finals! That would be the win for the next few years.
i have to thank you 3 big brother team help OKC now .
so thank you LAC 2026 top3 pick and LAC swap pick 2027 might be top 10 pick again lol
2028 Swap pick with Dallas might be tank end of this season
2029 pick from DEN when all top3 den end of contact joker is getting old 32 year old then lol
thank you thank you than you 3 times hahaha
If you're running out of breath you're talking too fast dude
If they go 74-8 and the lakers bump them off the playoffs and even win the chip that would be MF insane haha.
When they got Caruso and Ihart i proclaimed this the best roster ever and likely the best team ever. Didnt just start happening. These teams should definitely be playing for the future if u dont have Wemby,Luka or Joker on ur team
Yep let's all stop trying against a team that beat the Indiana Pacers in seven games (after Haliburton went down w injury) that makes so much sense.
A largely homegrown dynasty is actually refreshing (yes I know they didn’t draft Shai but they were the ones who saw his potential)
convinced teams throwing games
I'm glad for OKC but they will make the NBA boring if no one can stop them.
Pacers went 7 with them, and was competitive even after Tyrese went out. So they can be beat. I don’t think they are quite as dominant as the KD warriors.
OKC IS SAVING THE NBA
I don’t even think they’re trying, if your starters or SGA is sitting the fourth they are just that good.
THE Clippers blessed The OKC
0:48 Notes for my bag work
I think Pg is not getting enough credit for single-handedly making OKC this good 😂
If Wemby or Jokic want a claim at being the GOAT in the future, they need to beat this team.
The only thing that can brake them at this point is… chemistry.. they currently seem to have a very good overall team chemistry, have not seen any drama from them (which is quite rare..) which is also the reason for the success, but probably once some of the guys start being frustrated with their role, start wanting out… that's when it might fall apart – that's the usual downfall of having too much talent.
OKC formula=
1. hoard draft pics by taking on other teams mistakes for pics
2. dont trade your future for max players at the end of their career
3. Develop your youth
4. Play everybody on the team and go deep into your bench.
5. always have fresh legs on the court and require every player to play defense
6. lock up your superstars while they are young the minute they become eligible for a max contract.
7. only trade players when it is absolutely necessary which generates familiarity and chemistry.
8. Dont be a scumbag and try to cheat the salary cap