OKC's 5-guard defense is unreal

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This detailed film breakdown & scouting report explores the Oklahoma City Thunder's super small ball (micro ball) defense, and how Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace are forcing turnovers at an historic rate.
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#ThinkingBasketball

[@masonwicks7348]

it’s a great day when thinking basketball is back

[@taptiotrevizo9415]

How to enjoy the NBA.

[@friction5001]

Fr

[@Frodo132]

Waiting for Awful Coaching to mention Thinking Basketball in his video again soon 😂

[@dillatronic4757]

That's so underrated comment.

[@polishdude5070]

We are so back

[@nessy3098]

9/11

[@jayquelan6132]

​@nessy3098 OMG man, no way you went there, great stuff 😂😂👍😉😄😄😊

[@JDenn901]

Stop saying this cringe ahh shxt 😂😂

[@LoveLovesBills]

🤣🤣🥲🥲😍

[@trentjackson8204]

ON GOD shit makes me wanna shed a tear

[@pipohemm8726]

That 3rd quarter was insane. Dort, Caruso and Wallace shouldnt be allowed on the same team defensively.

[@CaseyLynn-i7u]

I'd almost move Wallace to the started two and bring Dort in on the second unit. The second unit is a nasty Dort/Caruso at guard with whoever you want to mix and match with them. Not the Dort is bad in any way. Wallace just gives you more on the offensive end without losing a ton of defense not have Dort out there. Dort still gets his minutes Just as a second unit guy and someone you bring in so someone else can rest or in foul trouble. Defender are always better around 30 minutes a game. They are fresh.

[@jacobfuc827]

@@CaseyLynn-i7uthe second unit needs offense? Put all the offensive players in and it will be stagnant when they are out the rotation is perfect now

[@chagatainouveau]

Been looking for a breakdown of OKC's defense for a while. It's almost comical how good they are on defense.

[@MoralesCorner]

How could a basketball team playing defense be comical ?

[@chagatainouveau]

@MoralesCorner Because they are so much better than anyone else that it is almost like a non-sequitur which is usually found humorous because it sharply defies expectation. Hope this is a satisfactory answer.

[@firstnamelastname6148]

are you retardedd ​@@MoralesCorner

[@senLuno]

@@chagatainouveau okc pride we stand on that defense around here

[@jeffsquires1717]

@@MoralesCorner Probably because they fouled like 4 times in the first 2 minutes in this clip lmao

[@henryaggerate9669]

Note: Isaiah Hartenstein is coming back in December.

[@deondrecarter153]

JWill too

[@tusharbhudia9421]

I Hart had the 2nd best defensive FG% reduction on/off. Chet was 5th. Wemby was somehow in the bottom half on the statistic tho. Maybe the spurs have horrific defence elsewhere or he doesn't contest and is going too much for flashy blocks

[@dbeast03]

​​@tusharbhudia9421 I'm inclined to blame that deficiency for Wemby on team defense, but this year will give a better idea

[@jojoprocess2820]

​@@tusharbhudia9421maybe actually watch the games? Or at least look at all the stats (spurs were all time bad defensively with wemby off the court and above average with him)

[@TheGreatJakester]

GUILTY

[@RTNBA2K]

I f**king love this OKC team. Makes me wanna cry

[@jasonwolfe3252]

They will win a chip within the next 3 years

[@willwon8962]

An OKC-Cavs finals would be fun to watch! Enough with Boston. The Celtics' algorithmic offense is so boring to watch. They play like an AI simulation.

[@Matzes]

You gonna cry about some dudes playing ball?

[@Mr.Byrnes]

@@Matzesgrow up

[@shadagan2779]

@@Matzes its an exaggeration chimp

[@ryszardsikora6894]

That one play by Chet is absolutely insane, one of the best defensive plays I've seen in my life

[@DubCmusicTV]

he is smarter than Wemby. Wemby has just better tools/potential.

[@benlazzopina-wy9om]

@@DubCmusicTV he's also surrounded by all-defensive talent and isnt put in nearly as many tough situations

[@aflobwelrooms]

Which one 😂

[@SCUMMY4205]

I've been a fan of OKC since I hopped on the bandwagon in 2012. Had amazing years but never was able to get over the hurdle back into the Finals. But this year feels like it did in 2012. I really think this OKC team can go to the Finals and possibly even become the NBA Champions. I know we're only 5 games into the gear and a lot can happen between November and April. But I haven't been this excited about a season probably since 2016-17 when KD left. Only reason I was so excited about that season was the extra spice added to the OKC vs GS rivalry and of course I knew Westbrook was about to go berserk (had no idea he'd go off the way he did though). All that to say this team is special. The defense has been incredible to watch AND we haven't even seen Hartenstein take the floor yet.

[@nickW0RLD]

i'm with you this year it's gonna be the best

[@t4d0W]

One thing I'm possibly expecting this season from OKC is Chet showing more flashes as a big man playmaker. Or possibly breaking out as one.

[@aarongrabel4201]

By far my favorite basketball channel on KZbin

[@jdh9676]

Okc is so good at this kind of stuff when casually watching a game and distracted by other things going on around me? I can't even tell who's on the court, really. And idc. Are those their starters? Bench guys? Is that Wiggins I see or Cason? Doesn't seem to matter and I couldn't care less. They all play the same way. One goes out, here comes another. They should just do away with numbers and names. Great defense doesn't have a face and everyone is the star. I also appreciate how Presti understands the KIND of defense it takes to win games with in todays league. Its a different kind of animal. Some say "Well he just copied the Celtics blueprint." Well if he did? Who better to copy? Great work.

[@J-Hue]

80% of their rotation right now being about 3 inches apart while their defense is swarming doesn't help either in being able to tell who's who. Their defense is fun to watch operate.

[@ishyameru6232]

He didn't copy Boston but like Boston Presti is building toward the future of basketball rather than the past

[@hestilllives192]

Who copied who? OKC had SGA/Dort/JDub/Chet already before Boston traded for Jrue and Porzingis, and that group without Chet was already putting the league on notice in 22/23. I think Boston just saw how successful that group was and said "lets put together the All-Star version of that". Boy did they, and good on Boston for that. Boston just feels like who this OKC team will be in 3-4 years, only with a deeper and better bench already.

[@TheTDA]

Great reflections 💯

[@leoreoibardo9294]

aside from centers, they are all guards yet they compare them to celtics. celtics have all the sizes from guards to bigger forwards to centers. cetlics duo are both forwards, bigger and stronger than okc's rosters who are like all skinny like a boyband.

[@thesphyrth]

Putting 5 Guards with high defensive IQ might be another game-breaking concept.

[@GOATiology]

OKC is already a terror. I’m seeing the next dominant dynasty of our time pending. Glad to have you back man!

[@Jeremy-ot6pb]

dynasty is a crazy overhype. they haven't made it past the 2nd round or even signed jdub and chet to real contracts yet this team is gonna be in luxury tax hell especially with a BACKUP center on a 30 million a year contract. half their team is on rookie contracts and they're already above the luxury tax just imagine once they give chet and jdub max rookie extensions

[@GOATiology]

@ I’d rather have the headache of how to deal with too much talent than comfortably managing mediocrity. But you’re right. Navigating the 2nd apron is going to be tough

[@popupheadlights]

​@Jeremy-ot6pb they're actually 10 million under the luxury tax this year chet and Jalen are gunna be big costs regardless but we do got alot of good assets to trade and shift around too

[@seaniee]

Imo they dont have enough to win a championship, they remind me of a younger okc ironically. Such insane young talent on such team friendly deals. New cba rules they gonnhave to make a decision in the coming years tho

[@Max-kw2hp]

​@@Jeremy-ot6pb OKC is not in luxury tax. They are over the cap but that's standard. First apron starts at 178 mil and they are at 160. Hartenstein will be in last season of his contract when extension for Chet and J Dub will kick in. They have plenty of picks and can get more if they won't be able to afford extending Wallace. They are in great position but of course dynasty is assigned to achievements not potential.

[@tonydavis6487]

I'm a Mavs fan and I think we have a very solid and very deep team. The one team I'm very worried about in the West, definitely OKC. They are so young, have a ton of draft picks, solid offensive and great defense. They are legit scary and going to be for years to come.

[@marcusaurelius5149]

1:17 - Chet moves like a volleyball player. They way he blocks, tips, and follows the ball looks like indoor volleyball. 2:02 - Chet's volleyball skills are on full display with a spike block and then a two handed block at the net.

[@john3497A]

did he play volleyball? lol

[@Yoni123]

Or like a basketball player...

[@Jeffrey-k1w]

Bro OKC is too good, they have amazing players and Sam Presti has like 30 picks to make trades and stuff

[@peewee0224]

That’s the truly disgusting part they have no need for those picks so they can just way overpay for a trade

[@queefinatorgaming]

@@peewee0224 frr and they could literally trade for a superstar and keep every single rotation player😂

[@kennethmonday8382]

Sam presti should be arrested for hoarding truckload of draft picks he literally fleece the clippers.😅😅😅

[@maddoxalucard6587]

They should not trade any of those picks Keep hoarding them This way you can keep your salary down You can replace bench players without having to over pay for players It keeps the core intact Lets them grow and eventually vets will sign through FA

[@t4d0W]

Its also more like what Presti has gotten from those picks. As long as they keep hitting and turning to a 2-way big wing with shooting as their floor, nobody will care to ask what happened to guys OKC drafted in recent years like Poku.

[@orpheos9]

Adding Caruso to this team is filthy.

[@marcuskolade703]

Bro fr... It's super filthy 🤮🤮

[@t4d0W]

Technically the old Bulls pairing of Lonzo/Caruso on the defensive back court was pretty filthy for opposing teams. Just not many teams had the roster to sort of re-create that pairing and even have Caruso defend a 'small' big playing center. Oklahoma City LLB (Long Lean Boiz) seem to fit the bill.

[@JohnDoe-gf5he]

Thank you for covering this team. It is so good, yet feels so underrated. They have an amazing chemistry and they perform incredible for a young team. I am so impressed.

[@NoName-cn3cp]

Spurs fan here. Watching OKCs swarming defense was very impressive. And their depth is daunting. They come at you in waves. They are Finals bound.

[@jacksonminton6513]

If any young kids wanna learn point-of-attack defense, I highly recommend watching how Cason Wallace plays. He does everything right, active hands, anticipating movement, hand offs, and passes, navigating screens. He is really an extremely talented defender and in my opinion is already the thunder’s best point-of-attack perimeter defender. Lu and Caruso are obviously extremely talented on the perimeter, but purely on-ball defense, as a thunder fan, I always want Cason on that matchup.

[@barleymepodcast2301]

The number of times a game I just say, “Jesus Christ” at how relentless they are - man, it’s gotta be aggravating to play them

[@babystacks]

It’s like playing against a hornets nest, they are everywhere

[@Zaob36]

It really is a culmination of the last decade of small ball teams, but I think the biggest reason they're able te get away with it is just the lack of good offensive centers in the league. Some of the biggest offensive players in the game right now are over 6'10 (Jokic, AD, Giannis and Embiid) but none of those teams have a back up big man in that same pocket. Every team with a scoring big just tries to get in a good defensive cheap center to try and keep a positive +- while their best player rests. But if no big man can generate offense off the bench defenses don't need to match that with a big of their own. And the OKCs collection of great wing defenders, who also have different levels of muscularity are able to match any lineup that doesn't have that scoring. Tbh the only team I can think of that won't have issues with this are the Celtics who have strong large players across the lineup and good shooting centers both starting and on the bench

[@t4d0W]

Pretty much it. Smart teams who have been building their rosters with the right players with length in mind can have a 2nd unit of pretty much wing type players with long arms. Sorta reminded me of the Raps years back where Ibaka and Chris Boucher could still get good minutes in the regular season.

[@dominiclee5786]

To summarize this 8:16 video, Josh Giddey doesn't fit into OKC lineup.

[@ninjanigga0]

8:17

[@mnlgabbymnlgabby8366]

Nice breakdown as always this KZbinr need more credits 😊

[@krioni86sa]

perfect summary

[@Philbyyyy]

How's Caruso's shooting this year?

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

1st play was one of the best things i ever seen, like WTH?? That was so cool. Im very envious of players like this, i have the soul of a center in the body of a shrimp. Im so happy the goat is in a strong team, it's the type of team i love the most, their "micro" reminds me Celtics Medium Ball tho. Quite crazy to see a total rebirth of a team, i wonder if they can win a championship now.

[@Max-kw2hp]

You can be a cocktail center piece 😂

[@karlomagnoguadalupe4843]

It's OKC vs Celtics

[@MysteryCompound]

The added versatility when they get Hartenstein, JWill, and Kenrich back is INSANE. They're doing all this with ONE center available. Credit to Dieng, he has stepped up when Chet is off and done quite well defensively and hits his 3s

[@noyce.]

Offense has taken multiple leap for the past 2 decades+ It's nice to see defense continuing to evolving To make a 5guard line-up work, this OKC's chemistry is amazing. Honestly, seeing defenses like this and you go back to the 80s 90s defenses where they can only play man-to-man, doesn't slack off non shooters to help.. one might argue it's WAAAAAAY easier to score in the 80s 90s.

[@X02Overdose]

Ya no lol it was easier to play defense in the 80s/90s, but not score

[@ElijiahCater-xg9dq]

it was definitely easier, illegal defense made it infinitely easier to score. imagine lebron in the iso ball era, he was averaging 30 with teams sending 3 guys all the time, imagine its just one defender on him at all times

[@ElijiahCater-xg9dq]

it was definitely easier, illegal defense made it infinitely easier to score. imagine lebron in the iso ball era, he was averaging 30 with teams sending 3 guys all the time, imagine its just one defender on him at all times

[@ElijiahCater-xg9dq]

it was definitely easier, illegal defense made it infinitely easier to score. imagine lebron in the iso ball era, he was averaging 30 with teams sending 3 guys all the time, imagine its just one defender on him at all times

[@X02Overdose]

@@ElijiahCater-xg9dq illegal defense wasn’t consistently called, and it’s not like every team had sharp shooters to kick it out to if the opposing team sent a double. Todays NBA is tailor made to maximize spacing and offense so if anything It’s easier to iso now

[@johncarolina4950]

As a Dallas fan I wanted to believe they wouldn't take the next step. I knew I was wrong and they would, but this is just the direct opposite of what I wanted to a degree that it's almost funny

[@angryman132]

Everyone should be ​@@bihapi

[@BigAL_9_9]

well you got us last year, but i like our chances this year with Hartenstein

[@constablekennedy7705]

The Thunder are Locking up their Opponents ‘Uso Penitentiary’ Style. 🏀

[@Damasen13]

The micro ball lineup with insane versatility is something that Spo dreams of. Though the quality of players and talent between both teams is night and day.

[@liam2384]

this is what the raptors wanted to turn the team into post kawhi champion run. all credit to okc for drafting and developing

[@abigailmcdowell4248]

It's back! I was waiting for this more than I was waiting for the NBA itself

[@renziair]

Most only sees modern offenses, but this is the staple of modern defense.

[@Hrogthar]

This is a historically great defense. With their offense as good as it is as well, but not needing to be perfect... They can put on 20 point runs in an instant with stops. Very soon, but I think OKC is poised to legitimately beat any team in the playoffs unlucky enough to get them.

[@kingDrAgOnZoRdS]

Lets see if they can maintain this level of intensity

[@Hrogthar]

@@kingDrAgOnZoRdS Young, fresh legs. Youngest team in the NBA still. I think they've got energy to spare, that's what gives them such an advantage.

[@pagman2356]

​@@HrogtharBarring injuries, I think this team is finals-bound.

[@vulture603]

The season doesn't feel real til these videos start coming out

[@eddier1170]

This defense is so good this year I want to watch those possessions more than the offensive end.

[@davidmoreno7525]

Sweet video. OKCs defense has been spectacular, itll be interesting to see if IHarts addition continues the trend where he boosts his team's defensive rating. I'd it does, we're gonna be talking truly historic stuff.

[@Harrowhark009]

Can I just say the "Hope you are having... a great day" hit particularly hard after not hearing it for a while. Glad both the NBA season, and you are back!

[@americassports]

It's so fun to see great defense being played in the NBA. OKC can change the narrative about quite a few things about the League & building teams etc if they can win a championship.

[@Martillo81015]

Caruso is a game wrecker on defense and will take them to the next level. Probably at least WCF this year. Lakers never should have let him go

[@pault7135]

that caruso trade was next level....perfect...gm is sick

[@oldfrend]

Cs fan, but man i love seeing a bunch of ball hawks getting after it. way too many players don't give a shit about defense, but i love it; stealing cookies, stripping bigs, blind side swats. honestly gets me more hyped than any dunk.

[@waff6ix]

BRO WE *NEEDED* THIS VIDEO🔥🔥💪🏾

[@dsl69]

Honey wake up. New Thinking Basketball has just dropped.

[@waldothewalrus294]

Wake up? It's almost bedtime 😴

[@AlanSmith88888]

They havent even got hartenstein back yet too. As an NYC fan, I can tell you he will elevate them even further

[@MegamanGaming]

OKC is going to be so fun to watch this season. They were great last season. Adding Caruso takes it to another level.

[@dukeshiro]

My favorite channel with a video on my favorite team. Today is a good day.

[@CptIsiah]

You are Back ❤

[@Orions17]

This is the successful version of what I think Toronto and Masai were trying to build a few years back

[@irjake]

1:31 Chet swallowing up Trae looks like a 16 year old guarding his 10 year old brother 😂

[@user-kw7rt9zl4e]

Ayyyooo

[@getstackedxd6231]

Their hand placement is golden holy, they are watching the opponents dribble at times and just putting hand their and stealing it so easily

[@khalabib_stiopic]

It's like having a team full of Michael Jordans, Dennis Rodmans, Penny Hardaways, and Scottie Pippens with a thinner Rik Smits combined with, u said the name, Timmy Duncan #21. The collective spirits of the '04 Pistons and all the Spurs lineups r alive in this team.

[@taptiotrevizo9415]

Thinking Basketball the best NBA content is back baby.

[@hundredpercentjuice]

Just here to say "You're welcome" from Bulls fans. Letting you get rid of Giddy was kind enough, but to give you a player we had lottery pick offers for *chef's kiss*

[@noconsent]

Communication, IQ, athleticism, great coaching and prep, and synergy all work together. OKC fun to watch.

[@aldreenbautista2375]

1. Awareness - They know who to guard and when to guard them. 2. Effort - Mismatches become less of a disadvantage because they stay with whoever plays in front of them and quick enough to go back to their original assignment. 3. Flexibility and unpredictability - The coaching staff is also doing a great job calling the plays. 4. Balanced scoring 5. Young and talented team

[@minhphuoc22]

I'm having fun watching my golden state plays defense this season. But man OKC D has been insane, literally having 4-5 All Def potential.

[@kobekobekobekobekobe]

chet is crazyyyyy with the way he moves to the ball

[@ReCharredSigh]

Don't the Thunder also have Hartenstein? Isn't he injured? So when he comes back, OKC doesn't have to play smallball all the time with those Chet-less lineups.

[@-OAK-]

He is injured until December

[@andrewgatihi2558]

Thinking Basketball is back!

[@PrimationNation]

When people talk about starting 5, I usually just give the best 5 players together. I don’t care about position precisely for this reason. A great coach will make anything work.

[@bennydoingstuff]

Yes more thinking basketball!!!!

[@geechiedan68]

This reminds me of the warriors when David Lee and bogut got hurt at the beginning of the season Kerr started dreymond at the 5 and found their small ball lineup that changed the game....i wonder is the thunder would have found this if the other Williams and Hartenstein don't get hurt.... This lineup is dangerous it's not a lot of teams that has the bigs AND shooting to punish the lack of size

[@t4d0W]

At some point they probably would. OKC was still somewhat 'small' a year ago while playing Chet at the 5. Key bench guys stepping up along with the veteran presence of Caruso definitely helps getting consistent results on micro-line ups especially in the regular season. Plus Hart lineups are going to need minutes to have it potentially ready for the playoffs.

[@_Maxten]

Its funny how this version of microball is like a defensive version of d’antoni

[@christoperrusli168]

Yeah OKC lineup is deadly on defense, its so broken. Just by watching the gameplay i can felt the pressure of their defense is frustrating when playing against them 🔥 But glad the NBA now also prioritize defense, hope the All-Star game also prioritize the defense and competitiveness

[@2hurt2healmedia]

Thanks for this video. Gotta keep my eye on them throughout the season more often.

[@BlackPinkLoverBoy93]

Finally uploading again i miss this

[@Gamer-jv8uv]

Sam Presti has the greatest problem in NBA history where he has a championship caliber roster composed of mostly young, self drafted talent and now he has to worry about how to manage the 31 draft picks he has over the next 6 years

[@ry_an.]

By trading for more talent when this roster as constructed reaches its eventual ceiling

[@bruskydu]

I am still flabbergasted that they basically got Caruso for free. Didn't even need a 1st round pick😂😂

[@Gamer-jv8uv]

@@ry_an. the roster is young, that’s the thing. These dudes are going to continue to improve and then suddenly you have a handful of dudes coming off their rookie deals but all of them deserve an extension. This team’s potential is championship, don’t get it twisted

[@ry_an.]

@@Gamer-jv8uv first you have to reach the conference finals to get to the championship. Guys who don’t deserve big money will get replaced. It’s all in stages. The team is unproven as of this point.

[@brojeffy]

all those teams you mentioned were from the 80s, was there anything about the rules or officiating that made this so common?

[@민준석-k4j]

explanation is perfect and it's so easy to listen to content becuase of great pronunciation to foreigner like me.

[@casualhoops6029]

So happy you’re back

[@pesky19]

he's bacK!

[@dreigivetimpoolmassivewedg7646]

Crusoe has low key rivaled Holiday for best lock down guard for years now. Crazy underrated, winning player.

[@mosm17]

It would be interesting to see how Curry & the Warriors destroyed OKC's defense in the 3rd Quarter.

[@BillLup-eb7lt]

Okc death lineup. Okc looks like best team ever built a dynasty second to none. And all developed in their own system. Nothing but class too and culture. Unlike gsw okc didn’t have to rely on injuring other teams or poaching their best players. Nothing but class. We all know gsw first so called chip was based on injury and a fluke. They injured kawhi zaza gate that was obvious. Kawhi was giving them all they could take and they couldn’t ever get past the clippers either. Until bg was injured, then Kevin Durant was out him and rw would face the spurs yearly in the wcf. I mean seriously you couldn’t possibly think that was a real wcf against harden the solo act that year. Beating a really weak cavs East team 🤣 fluke chip 1 asterisks then you got 70ish wins with some confidence and must have blew the refs because draymond should have been suspended for biting and kicking nuts multiple times. Go watch the games adams was handling draymond and every time okc was about to win and had a clear advantage because adams green would kick him or grab his balls. Ironically that is everyone okc has the lead and then after lose it. Clearly okc was going to win. They were going to sweep I think it is hilarious that they eject draymond in the cavs game but not in okcs game when he clearly should have been ejected in okc everyone knew they wanted that big match up bron bron vs gsw. Really okc won that chip so there is an asterisk on the cavs chip then the stolen durcunt chips those are definitely asterisk chips. You had maybe one non asterisk chips but even then injury plague like the cp3 injury against Houston the Poole chip is the closest you got to a real one and still slightly based on injuries. But we will give curry 1 the Poole year. One day you may get a real dynasty unlikely though because your system lacks development culture and the ability to really draft properly. Enjoy scrubs being okcs punching bag for the next century

[@FilJR99]

Celtics vs Thunder in the finals this season? They look even better than last year.

[@tadantandadan9107]

I love how defense are becoming important and looked at again in the current era and also those players who excel at playing defense getting more recognized. Ever since the Celtics won those changes seemed to involve NBA Teams trying to get some defense minded players in their team.

[@陳子瑄-d9n]

7’4 wemby cannot punish the mismatch in the low post is crazy

[@BenjaminWahl-i8l]

has more blocks then chet

[@andreasmakoben2455]

How can the Thunder compete against LeBron and Anthony Davis? I’m not a Lakers fan, but the Lakers dominated the Thunder last season, winning three out of four games convincingly. AD has been the best player by far to start the season Honestly, the Thunder have been more impressive than I expected this season. However, last year, they had no chance against the Lakers. That's why many professionals and experts pointed out that the Thunder's worst matchup in the playoffs would be against the Lakers. Until I see the Thunder successfully shut down those two in the paint, I won't be completely convinced that they can win the championship. Remember, the playoffs are all about matchups.

[@asergebs4852]

2 things. For one you do realize that hartenstein is coming back right? Also this micro ball lineup is out of necessity because Chet is literally our only healthy big man rn.

[@andreasmakoben2455]

@@asergebs4852 Still doesnt change the fact that Bron and AD killed you last year. I mean a 39 year old Bron game you 40 without trying. AD gave you 27, 12 and 5 on 56% last season in 4 games. Bron gave you 26, 8 and 7 on 59/61/84 You aint beating the lakers in the playoffs buddy.

[@JustTry919]

​@@andreasmakoben2455 lakers last year did not have bron jr tho.

[@retrictumrectus1010]

The Thunder improved both individually and as a team. I am not sure about the Lakers team. Tweaking the Lakers offense to have AD as its centerpiece helped improve that team. Lebron is regressing.

[@rasmusbang6118]

@@andreasmakoben2455 You are talking like OKC hasnt taken a huge leap since last season ://

[@victorminkov5183]

I spend all offseason praying for more thinking basketball videos

[@ayejdoe2167]

Finally a video! Welcome back Ben.

[@LatestSierraLeoneMusic]

Thinking basketball is back

[@juliancanalesphoto]

HE’S BACK GOD BLESS

[@Cobusftwmahoniez]

Nice when the supreme leader of youtube nba channels posts up

[@Seaby41]

Oh how your defense improves when Josh Giddey isn't on the court (as a bonus.. so does your offense)

[@MrKrabs-ho6gz]

Thinking basketball is back!

[@Sillysoft]

2:33 That used to be illegal defense.

[@sidneywhite5162]

Yea bout 30-40 years ago and that rule wasn’t in much other leagues I think

[@SoCalmJoe]

It helps they aren't calling fouls on Chet.

[@idaho5934]

Welcome back Ben.

[@greatheightsu]

Been blown away by how much more confident Chet Holmgren looks this year. All star.

[@stevenbaker153]

I wonder how this micro ball would work against someone like Shaq. What I mean is someone with an elite low post game because what I can see in this video, the bigs are hanging round the 3 point line. I'm not being snarky, its a genuine question

[@trudat849]

Shaq going to eat them alive in the low post on offense, but on defense shaq was not a good perimeter defender therefore stretch 5s would be his weakness. Modern centers HAVE to be able to guard the stretch 4/5.

[@marcosrinconbeneyto9266]

Man. This video is SO beautiful to watch

[@potentfade5664]

I really hope this Thunder team goes far in the playoffs

[@gthedragon17]

It's really amazing how the game changes based on the NBA players available. Bron and KD in their primes would feast on this defense. But right now, there's no more jumbo and ultra-athletic dominant SF who can break this down.

[@deybez5698]

3:08 caruso making calls at the bench defensively 😶‍🌫

[@Jdbsbjcj]

Sam presti is a genius

[@Arrica101]

This 100% proves that the league just refuses to play defense and that offense isnt just "too good". Here is a team that actually plays it and plays it well, proving that the others just can't be bothered

[@daltontysonjr4146]

You have to also think about team styles most of these teams can't play defense like that

[@808bboarder]

Suffocating and active hands. They are tenacious and are very active on the perimeter while having Elite rim protection

[@TheHockeyjock10]

HE’S BACK

[@ItsJADA]

Love OKC all the way in Australia 🇦🇺

[@bmillersince92]

Gonna be crazy when I hart comes back he’s gonna break up some of these awesome line ups but also gonna bring that physicallity in the paint

[@brianjantambispaghubasan6921]

And thet dont even have Isaiah yet, oh man.