Let Me Break Down Why the Thunder Are Destroying the League
OKC has the best record in basketball and it’s not particularly close. Photo: Unsplash
Ard, let me get technical with y’all for a minute because the Oklahoma City Thunder are playing basketball at a level we haven’t seen in years and I need to break down WHY. This isn’t just vibes. This is scheme. This is execution. This is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being the best player on the planet right now and I’m ready to defend that take with actual film.
OKC is 18-1. According to NBA.com’s advanced stats, they have a net rating of +16.2 which leads the league. Their defensive rating is 104.2—also first. Their offensive rating is 120.4, good for fourth. When you’re elite on both ends like that, you don’t lose basketball games. It’s really that simple from a numbers perspective.
Let me explain what makes their defense special because this is where the film gets interesting. Mark Daigneault has these guys switching everything 1-through-5. When you have the length and athleticism OKC has, that’s lethal. You can’t get clean looks. Every shot is contested. The weak side help rotations are immaculate. Watch how they funnel ball handlers into help—it’s textbook stuff.
SGA dropped 55 on the Pacers in the season opener—a career high—and that was essentially a statement game. This is his team. He’s running the show. His mid-range pull-up is basically unguardable at this point. The footwork, the deceleration, the balance on his jumper—it’s Jordan-esque and I don’t say that lightly. I’ve watched a LOT of basketball and that comparison is earned.
Marcus’s Take:
Now let’s talk about the surprise team: Detroit. Cade Cunningham has the Pistons looking competent for the first time in years. ESPN’s standings page shows them hanging around .500 which doesn’t sound impressive until you remember this team was a laughingstock two years ago. The turnaround is real.
Here’s my technical breakdown of what Cunningham is doing differently this year: he’s getting to his spots faster. The hesitation dribble has improved. He’s not holding the ball waiting for plays to develop—he’s attacking early in the shot clock and either finishing or creating for others. His assist numbers are up because defenses are collapsing and he’s making the right reads. That’s growth you love to see from a young point guard.
Russell Westbrook got his 206th career triple-double the other night. 16 points, 12 rebounds, 14 assists, and 4 steals against Utah. I know Russ is a polarizing figure but the man is still doing Russ things at this stage of his career. Sacramento lost that game but Westbrook did his job. You have to respect the longevity.
Real Talk:
Jokic had a 55-point game of his own recently—18-of-23 from the field including 5-of-6 from three. When the big man is hitting threes at that clip, there’s literally nothing you can do defensively. You can’t leave him and you can’t play him tight because he’ll back you down or find the open man. His court vision remains the best in the league.
The StatMuse leaderboards show SGA, Dončić, and Maxey leading the league in scoring while Wembanyama, Jokic, and Towns dominate rebounds. The young talent in this league is insane right now. We’re watching future Hall of Famers develop in real time.
The Good News:
My MVP ladder through November: SGA, Jokic, Giannis, Luka, Tatum. But honestly SGA has separated himself. The two-way impact, the team success, the efficiency—he’s checking every box. The only question is whether the voters reward a small-market team or if the big names get the benefit of the doubt again.
The Thunder are for real. This isn’t a fluke start. Watch the film. The scheme is elite, the talent is elite, and SGA is playing the best basketball of his career. If they stay healthy, they’re the favorites to come out of the West. I’m not being a prisoner of the moment here—the numbers and the eye test both support it.
Ard, that’s my breakdown. Time to go ice my shoulder and watch more basketball.
