The Oklahoma City Thunder kicked off their season with an electrifying start, racking up a 24-1 record that had fans and analysts alike buzzing about a potential new dynasty. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge and a defense that seemed impenetrable, the Thunder looked poised to dominate. Even in their sole early-season loss against Portland, they held a commanding 22-point lead before the Blazers staged a comeback.
Now, as the All-Star break fades into the rearview mirror, the Thunder remain atop the league standings, but the air of invincibility has dimmed. Their post-break performance has been a more modest 18-13, a stretch that saw the San Antonio Spurs emerge as a formidable foe, defeating OKC three times in under two weeks and ousting them from the NBA Cup.
The Western Conference race is heating up, with the Spurs closing in on the Thunder, trailing by just three games for the top seed. Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons are only 1.5 games behind in the battle for the league's best record. The Celtics, even without Jayson Tatum, and the Cavaliers, bolstered by the acquisition of James Harden, are also making waves.
In the West, the Thunder face a crowded field of contenders. Dwyane Wade, reflecting on the season, urged caution before anointing Mark Daigneault’s squad as the inevitable champions.
“It’s an incomplete year so far,” Wade noted, emphasizing that the season's outcome is far from decided. He acknowledged OKC's talent but pointed out their vulnerability, stating, “You can see that they can be beaten.”
Wade highlighted the Nuggets, Lakers, and Rockets as potential obstacles for the Thunder. Adding the Spurs and Timberwolves into the mix underscores that a title repeat is no guarantee.
Wade, who experienced the challenges of repeating as a champion firsthand, understands the unpredictability of the NBA landscape. His Miami Heat, despite forming a superteam with LeBron James and Chris Bosh, faced their own hurdles, including a Finals loss to the Mavericks and a near-miss against the Spurs saved by Ray Allen's iconic shot.
The Spurs’ emphatic victory over Miami in 2014 serves as a reminder of how fleeting dominance can be. If the Heat's Big 3 era taught us anything, it’s that no team is immune to the league's competitive ebb and flow. The Thunder may still clinch another title, but as Wade wisely points out, the journey will be anything but straightforward.