Why the Oklahoma City Thunder Should Be Feared: A Deep Dive into Their Dominance
When it comes to the NBA, fear is a currency that can buy you respect, and respect can lead to victories. Draymond Green, the outspoken forward for the Golden State Warriors, has made it clear that he doesn’t fear the Oklahoma City Thunder. “There’s a certain seriousness that it takes to win in this league, and there’s a certain fear you have to instill in teams in order to win,” Green said on his podcast earlier this season. “I just don’t know if they’re instilling that fear in teams.”
Green’s sentiment isn’t isolated. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported last month that many around the Western Conference, including coaches from playoff-bound teams, share this view. “They haven’t done it. And until a team does it, there’s going to be a whole bunch of doubt,” MacMahon noted.
But let’s not forget, similar doubts were cast on the 2024 champion Boston Celtics, with questions about whether Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown could lead them to victory. In 2023, Nikola Jokic faced skepticism about his ability to guide the Nuggets to a championship. Even Green’s own Warriors were doubted in 2015 for their three-point-heavy offense. The Thunder, who are set to face the Celtics on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), have shown they can be just as impressive as those championship teams, even if they haven’t yet silenced their critics with a title run.
So, why should opponents fear the Thunder? Here are 22 compelling reasons:
- 1. The Thunder have outscored opponents by 12.6 points per game this season, on pace to break an NBA record that has stood for over 50 years. The current mark is 12.3 points per game by the 1971-72 Lakers, who famously won 33 games in a row.
- 2. History suggests that such dominance in point differential should translate to playoff success. The previous top five teams in this category all coasted to titles, with a combined 71-12 record in the postseason.
- 3. The Thunder’s success is built on depth, star power, and defense. General manager Sam Presti has constructed a roster with 11 players who are at least league average, according to estimated plus-minus, the most for any team.
- 4. Coach Mark Daigneault has managed to keep his players fresh, with only two Thunder players averaging more than 29 minutes per game.
- 5. The Thunder’s lead for the West’s No. 1 seed is historically large, projected to win the conference by 13 games, according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI).
- 6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the NBA with 32.7 points per game and is favored to become the first guard to win MVP since 2018.
- 7. Despite accusations of foul baiting, Gilgeous-Alexander ranks second in scoring from field goals alone, just 0.01 points per game behind Giannis Antetokounmpo.
- 8. Gilgeous-Alexander is an elite driver, leading the league in drives per game for the fifth season in a row.
- 9. His isolation scoring ability is crucial, especially in the playoffs where isolation frequency increases.
- 10. The Thunder’s defense is a team effort, allowing just 106.1 points per 100 possessions, 3.3 points below the second-place Orlando Magic.
- 11. Oklahoma City effectively turns all its opponents into the Washington Wizards, the worst offense this season.
- 12. The Thunder allow just 0.91 points per opponent pick, the best mark for any team in five years.
- 13. They lead the league in steals, deflections, loose ball recoveries, and charges.
- 14. The Thunder also commit the fewest turnovers on offense, leading to a massive turnover margin.
- 15. They lead the league in points off turnovers, with a margin of 9.1 points per game.
- 16. The Thunder haven’t allowed a single 40-point scorer all season, a testament to their defensive prowess.
- 17. Despite missing Chet Holmgren for most of the season, the Thunder’s defense remains formidable.
- 18. When Holmgren is on the court, the Thunder have a plus-17.2 net rating, leading all NBA rotation players.
- 19. Isaiah Hartenstein has solved the Thunder’s backup big man problem, maintaining their dominance even when Holmgren is off the court.
- 20. Hartenstein’s presence has improved the Thunder’s rebounding, addressing a previous weakness.
- 21. The Thunder have lineup flexibility, experimenting with double-big lineups featuring both Hartenstein and Holmgren.
- 22. The Thunder’s depth is bolstered by a young core and a large stash of draft picks, ensuring their competitiveness for years to come.
As the 2024-25 season winds down, the Thunder have plenty to accomplish, with NBA records to chase and a playoff bracket full of teams to frighten. Their combination of depth, star power, and defensive prowess makes them a formidable opponent, even if they haven’t yet instilled fear in the hearts of their rivals.
Originally Written by: Zach Kram
