The OKC Thunder Shouldn't Be THIS GOOD...

[@basketballreach]

Who has the best chance to beat the Thunder in a 7 games series? ⬇

[@leosedf]

Bucks

[@basketballreach]

I like this but I'm not 100% sold yet

[@cameronquarles9610]

In West Grizzlies In East Celtics

[@LukeWeyrauch93]

Suns if fully healthy

[@westbrooktheory2.098]

​@@leosedfnot with only Giannis and Lillard

[@Sii000]

OKC fan since 2015 am I can’t be more excited to watch them play

[@basketballreach]

🍿🍿🍿🍿

[@ElijiahCater-xg9dq]

caruso is one of the most valuable players in the league, and teams never try to keep him around. i never understood it

[@jdh9676]

Not true, exactly. Bulls kept him for three seasons but the only thing he was good for in the end was to be abused by the coaching staff. He was only traded to attempt a rebuild. Unfortunately its the Bulls so they can't even rebuild right and are stuck with Zach and Vooch. For now. Its just a mess over there. It's also wild all they got for DeMar DeRozan and AC total are two 2nd round picks, Josh Giddey, and a scrub who doesn't play. Contract year for AC. At 31 he wasn't sticking around and you don't begin rebuilds with 30+ year old players in their prime. You put finishing touches on a successful rebuild with players like AC. Thunder was the right spot for him at the right time. Idk what his extension will look like but including this season I figure he'll have at least a few years with the team. Lakers? Meh. Long in his rearview, now. Spent two seasons in the G League with them on a two way and two on the regular squad. Let him go at the exact time they should have expanded his role. Instead they signed and way overpaid....Talen Horton Tucker😅AC been with two pretty crappy organizations from a management standpoint. But he finally landed where he belongs.

[@J-Hue]

He's a great defender, but his offense is iffy. As a result, he has more value to a team that needs a 2nd or 3rd lockdown defender. Your number 1 lockdown defender on an elite team is usually gonna be someone like KCP or Dort, who he plays behind, simply because they give you the defense with more reliable offense.

[@west1788]

@@J-Hueyea i agree... in his past seasons hes performed better but hes been inconsistent throughout his career... he shot over 40% from 3 with the bulls last year if he can get it up to that with the thunder we'll be unstoppable but i dont think he'll continue to play this bad.. his worst offensive start of his career by far

[@DeadShotMontages]

Boys let’s just be happy he is shooting it I had nightmares about Gordon Hayward man never seen somebody not fit in at all like that just never got any better. Atleast AC is making a great impact on winning even though he isn’t shooting well he barely shoots and he gives us so many extra possessions on limited minutes

[@jdh9676]

@@DeadShotMontages yeah I think he's going to get there. He has been shooting it better since coming back from injury. I think the time off may have given him some space to study the offense from off the court and figure some things out. The eye test would seem to suggest he's more in sync with the offense all around. He'll never be a high volume shooter but even last game he did "fine:" 3-7 from the field overall, 2-6 from behind the arc. One more three goes in? He's 50%+ shooting on the night, 9 points in 22 minutes. That'll get it done in his role.

[@frmjewduhh]

The most mind boggling stat is the Thunder still have more steals than turnovers this season. They have 292 STEALS (not just opp turnovers) on the season and have only turned the ball over 280 times. That's a +12 differential. No team in history has ever had a positive diff in those 2 stats this deep into the season.

[@basketballreach]

Yeah that is absurd 😅

[@senLuno]

Lu dort is a nightmare

[@markellcain3417]

SGA Caruso/Dort JDub Chet IHart is a diabolical defensive unit

[@dustinsirois4788]

It is for sure.....the only thing we have yet yo see is csn chet or ihart guard on the perimeter when they are in the game at the same time. I'm not sure if chet has the lateral quicks to keep ppl in front of him on the perimeter....if he does good fucking luck dealing with that lineup.

[@trethegod2771]

Don’t forget about Cason Wallace!!!

[@ballinwitac2258]

I’m not sure how much that’s gonna be an issue A because of the preiminter personal Plus I’d Imange this lineup would take places against Cleveland

[@LeonColvin-u8u]

@@dustinsirois4788you legit have not watched okc play, Chet has all the lateral quickness to guard anybody🤦🏽‍♂️ btw he dont need to keep ppl in front of him, he has great defense iq, he knows gow to block or ALTER shots from behind, do you watch our games or just talk like everybody else

[@LeonColvin-u8u]

@@dustinsirois4788ihart been guardin out on the perimeter too on smaller players

[@bquillaguyd2940]

This team sticks so well, because they are young and they have shaped their gameplay to fit the gameplay of this specific team. Their synergy is peak at this moment.

[@cameronquarles9610]

Best Defense In The NBA Currently, 2 Elite Rim Protectors In Chet And Hartenstein. 3 Lock Down Defenders In Dort, Wallace, and Caruso. 2 Sparks Off The Bench In Aaron Wiggins And Isiah Joe. then Of Course The Big 3 Of SGA, J Dub, and Chet 💪🏾🔥

[@joshuad24]

Perfect team building ❤❤❤

[@pattonjones9423]

Don’t forget if nikola topic pans out coming back from injury next year he could be a 6th man of the year candidate he was ranked #1 in this draft pre injury.

[@LeonColvin-u8u]

Shai is uh lockdown defender, he dont have to be unless we have close games

[@mike-dz1es]

It’s our year

[@basketballreach]

Looking pretty good right now

[@Seven_Sinzz]

Will see come playoffs. There is another team in the west that can cut ya down.

[@TheJudgementofDog]

​@@Seven_Sinzz The Thunder have solved Luka. The Mavericks are not a threat. They're playing this well without their second or third best player, depending on how you feel about JDub. There's no team in the league that can stand up to that defense. Watch the games instead of parroting other people's talking points. You'll see.

[@Seven_Sinzz]

@TheJudgementofDog hahahaha. What allow Dort to flop and hug him. Thunder ain't figured shit out. That's why they bounced em and will again. I do watch the games. I watched them oust them in playoffs, then turn around and beat them without PJ. The Mavs will beat them them again in the playoffs.

[@TheJudgementofDog]

@Seven_Sinzz That was last season. The past is irrelevant.

[@OnBallPodcast-RJ]

Right now, The Celtics are probably their biggest threat. Don't see anyone beating them in the west.

[@waldo_9338]

If last seasons NBA champions are our only threat, that means we're doing something right lol.

[@OnBallPodcast-RJ]

@waldo_9338 I agree

[@LeonColvin-u8u]

Celtics are not our biggest threats, last game Shai or Dub didnt play for the playoffs, shyt was uh give lls n the 2 games before that last one, blew they ass out, they had help by the refs in our 127-123 win, had em by 30, I watched the WHOLE game(and WE STILL DIDNT HAVE A CENTER AND STILL IN REBUILD MODE)trust me, they are NOT our biggest threats😂🤦🏽‍♂️

[@theaveragecitizen7130]

@@LeonColvin-u8uStupid talk, they still have to win in the playoffs and make it to the finals. Boston has proven themselves, OKC still has hurdles to get through.

[@afroabroad]

They gave Presti all those draft picks and he’s not even done yet.

[@basketballreach]

True he has to make the right move though. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it

[@shekeiahherron8697]

Thunder Nation⚡️✈️

[@basketballreach]

🔥🔥🔥

[@funeralopolis1]

Let’s see them get to the championship before crowning them.

[@Draregkoeliekalie]

Hartenstein is a more complete player, but Chets rim protection is elite and he has a great 3pt shot. Hartenstein is a bigger body. Good screening, good playmaking etc. Okc biggest strength is their small ball though. Even without hartenstein and holmgren they were amazing.

[@osophenomenal1739]

Hopefully okc don't mess up like what they did with kd Westbrook n harden

[@candicemckee4430]

I think those 3 were less compatible. The chemistry of this team is 10x better. They enjoy each other's success and are unselfish

[@G-Blockster]

Presti has planned ahead with his stockpile of draft picks. I expect him to start trading those picks for more picks in the distant future to replace the existing team with more rookies and young players as the current team's future salary demands will outgrow the limitations placed by the first and second aprons of the salary cap.

[@Draregkoeliekalie]

​@@G-Blockster indeed. At some point they will have to make choices with which players they continue. They cant pay them all... Still crazy they still have so many round 1 picks and have such an stacked roster. Look at the Nuggets now... they have no bench and no round 1 picks and paid too much for some players...

[@datboiTimAltstadt]

I thought this was expected of OKC? What else would you suggest after last year?

[@senLuno]

Idk this was hugely expected a smart man says they'll be out 2nd round i love my team but they're young still

[@TheJudgementofDog]

Luka spent most of the game throwing his hands up for no reason.

[@basketballreach]

💀💀💀

[@herrkapilz7459]

When did the Bill Russel Celtics have the leagues worst offense? didn't they have one of the better offenses in the league most of the time with a slightly below average offense only in bill russels last 2 seasons?

[@ziggymilla001]

we always struggle againts the Rockets. Hope we take em out today. SGA 44

[@senLuno]

And we did with damage

[@ziggymilla001]

@@senLuno Lets Go 💥💥💥

[@Tsound1]

Shai plays D. And Great D. Top 5 in the League. And im sure hes the best defenser outta the 5. Which is Disrespectful 🔥🔥🔥

[@wolfbane610]

If they are healthy, no one will beat them. You forgot to mention that OKC will have 3 more 1st round picks coming in next season. They could go undefeated within 2 years.

[@Khushwindxr]

Celtics/Bucks vs OKC Write it down

[@basketballreach]

✍️✍️✍️

[@Draregkoeliekalie]

Cant see the Bucks getting there. Giannis is still a beast, but overall the team seems to need fresh blood.

[@houseontherock8345]

They were always going to start shooting better.

[@JahzariAdams]

Bos vs Okc 2025 SGA FMVP

[@basketballreach]

👀👀👀

[@mr.mister1850]

People do not understand how crazy are defense is going to be. We will have the ability to literally turn off opposing teams offense’s with the roster of Caruso, Wallace, Dort, Holmgren, and Hartenstein.

[@basketballreach]

Imagine having all 5 on the floor at once 🔒

[@sora_2342]

Idk y you say shouldn’t, they have the talent and skill to be that good

[@squalk8599]

A healthy Dallas is the only team that i see okc struggling against

[@GabesWayOfDoingIt]

Okc improved ten fold this year and Dallas have taken a step back as a unit I think okc get it done in 5 or 6 if they meet Dallas in playoffs

[@basketballreach]

Maybe but I think the Rockets have the same defensive energy and could be their toughest test

[@GabesWayOfDoingIt]

@@basketballreach exactly what I was thinking I think Houston matches okc way better then Dallas

[@squalk8599]

@@basketballreach I think Houston is too young to last in a series with okc

[@squalk8599]

@@GabesWayOfDoingIt you don’t know what this man pj Washington has done to me bruh 😭

[@wolfbane610]

Wrap your head around this! The Thunder will get 3 or more 1st round picks next season.

[@basketballreach]

That's so wild 😂😂

[@senLuno]

Must be sga it must be his time and if its his time this is a threat lmao

[@johnstanton1515]

Literally everyone knew the Thunder were going to be the best team in the western conference. Terrible title for the video

[@TheJudgementofDog]

Welcome to KZbin. First time?

[@Dysolus]

How good? 4th best record in the NBA? How good should they be? Weirdo

[@TheDeven1000]

SGA is an elite scorer, he just always gets his team involved

[@basketballreach]

Facts 🔥

[@tjjoshlj4968]

Dallas had the best chance of beating OKC, I think they’re the only team in the West that has a chance, barring major injury.

[@basketballreach]

I like Houston to beat OKC

[@tjjoshlj4968]

@ I don’t think they have the star power in a 7 game series, but fair enough I would give them a small chance

[@Pokucollector]

🏀⚡️🏀⚡️🏀⚡️

[@rsoul9551]

*Not top😂

[@basketballreach]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@LegendWest2k]

They are playing incredible however comparing their first 12 games to an entire 82 game season for the bulls or warriors shouldn't happen. It's a small sample size. Nonetheless glad to see them as favorites. Defense is next level

[@josephbenefield3782]

12? They’ve played 24 games which is over a quarter of the season and they’re 19-5? Best defensive rating as a team since the 96 bulls and shai one of the hardest players in the league to guard

[@jaypayne1245]

Grizz better n can't wait for them to beat them next week

[@TheJudgementofDog]

😂😂😂 no

[@basketballreach]

👀👀

[@RyanH_]

Dort just fouls Luka all game if PJ Washington defended Shai like that he’d be ejected before half time

[@conifer27]

Nice glaze, but a very stupid take. Luka himself has said Dort is a top 3 perimeter defender in the league.

[@G-Blockster]

The refs call the game that way because they don't call Doncic for offensive fouls every trip down the court. He uses arm bars, elbows, hips, and shoulders to create room for his jump shots. If the refs called fouls on those, then he wouldn't last a quarter. Therefore, defenses are allowed to play physically against him.

[@Draregkoeliekalie]

​@@conifer27credit to Luka for acknowledging this instead of whining about Dort

[@otislamar8613]

They not coming out the west stop it. Nba history shows growth isn’t linear. They’re more likely to lose in the first round than make the finals. Look at the mavs, Celt,Heat, Bucks. They didn’t just jump from 2nd round to finals.

[@EpicDBZking]

2007 Cavs? 🤣 or 2015 warriors?

[@Ian1SB3773R]

They will whether you like it or not

[@G-Blockster]

Juat hide in the bushes and watch.

[@babybenj52]

Thanks for letting me know you know nothing about basketball.

[@CarsonCarpenter-c6x]

Thanks for letting me know me no you no nothing about basketball keep up the good work work