The Thunder Are Still the Team to Beat-But the Pacers Are Lurking
The Oklahoma City Thunder might be sitting pretty atop the Western Conference, but make no mistake: the road to another title is filled with landmines. The defending champs are navigating a conference that’s only getting tougher, and while OKC has looked every bit the part of a title contender again this season, they’re not short on challengers.
Let’s start with the Denver Nuggets. Even without a fully healthy roster, Denver has been a problem-explosive on offense and deep enough to weather the usual midseason wear and tear.
So what happens when they're back to full strength? That’s a scary proposition for any team, including the Thunder.
Then there’s the pack of hungry up-and-comers. The Spurs, Rockets, and Timberwolves are all lurking, each with their own reasons to believe they can shake up the playoff picture.
Sure, there are questions around whether those teams are ready for a deep postseason run, but they’re not going quietly. And if we’ve learned anything from last year’s playoffs, it's that the West doesn’t hand out anything for free.
The good news for OKC? The trade deadline came and went without a seismic shift in the West.
The Spurs and Rockets stayed quiet, while Denver and Minnesota made moves that were more about balancing the books than bolstering their rotations. In other words, the Thunder didn’t see any of their direct rivals make a major leap.
But out East? That’s where things get interesting.
One move that could ripple into next season’s title race: Ivica Zubac heading to Indiana. On paper, it’s not the kind of blockbuster that dominates headlines. But dig a little deeper, and it’s easy to see why this could be the kind of under-the-radar acquisition that pays off in a big way.
Right now, the Pacers are in a holding pattern. Tyrese Haliburton’s absence has tanked their season-they’re sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 13-39 record.
But nobody in Indiana is panicking. That Zubac deal?
It wasn’t about salvaging this season. It was about setting the table for next year.
Zubac gives Indiana something they’ve been missing since Myles Turner’s departure-a true interior presence. No, he doesn’t stretch the floor like Turner did, but Zubac brings a level of physicality, rim protection, and rebounding that the Pacers have sorely lacked.
And with versatile defenders like Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard around him, Zubac won’t have to do it all on his own. He just needs to anchor the paint.
If Indiana can fold Zubac’s inside scoring into their offense without disrupting the rhythm and perimeter shooting that Haliburton orchestrates so well, they could be a legitimate threat. That’s a big “if,” but it’s not out of reach.
And remember: the Pacers almost pulled it off last year. They pushed the Thunder to seven games in the Finals, and if Haliburton doesn’t go down in Game 7, there’s a real chance we’re talking about a different champion right now. That’s how thin the margin was.
For now, the East doesn’t pose a serious threat to Oklahoma City’s title defense. But that window may be closing fast. If the Pacers get healthy and Zubac settles in, they’ll be right back in the mix-and the Thunder will have to look over their shoulder once again.
So yes, OKC is still the team to beat. But the league’s not standing still. And over in Indiana, the pieces are quietly falling into place.