Oklahoma Metropolis is the darling of the media heading into the 2024-25 NBA season. After having one of the best report within the Western Convention and successful a playoff collection a season in the past, Oklahoma Metropolis is within the good place to contend for a championship.
It did not take lengthy for the window to open. After a fast rebuild and a play-in look, the Thunder rose to the highest of the NBA a season in the past and have as soon as once more defied expectations. Now the workforce’s win whole is ready at 57.5, making it extraordinarily tough to decrease expectations once more – they’re already anticipated to be one of the best workforce in a loaded convention. On The Invoice Simmons Podcastthe Oklahoma Metropolis section was a significant speaking level. Simmons and Ryen Russillo can see the Thunder reaching that win whole — and doubtlessly extra.
“We’re beginning with the Northwest Division as a result of they will most likely have one of the best regular-season workforce,” Simmons mentioned.
If Oklahoma Metropolis turns into one of the best workforce within the West once more, it appears seemingly that they’ll surpass the win whole. With extra reinforcements like Alex Caruso And Isaiah Hartensteinit is clear the Thunder want to maximize this window.
“In all probability simply due to the West,” Russillo mentioned of why the Thunder’s win whole isn’t even increased. “There are some good groups within the West which can be going to be fully ignored. And clearly you simply begin with the uncertainty of the harm historical past.
“However I am with you, there is not any manner they’re worse.”
How good can the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder be this season?
Invoice, Russillo and Home talk about OKC’s prospects, together with a possible commerce goal, partially one of many annual NBA Over/Unders module.@BillSimmons @ryenarussillo @HousefromDC pic.twitter.com/eSQJEYUR1I
– The ringer (@ringer) October 16, 2024
Simmons and Russillo rave concerning the Thunder’s defensive make-up and offensive philosophy. When the stats want a relaxation, Oklahoma Metropolis has bench gamers who replicate the identical type of play on each ends of the courtroom.
“It’s so silly that they’re already this good and so they have all these decisions,” Russillo mentioned.
The one workforce with increased odds than the Thunder is the Boston Celtics – who received the NBA Finals with relative ease a season in the past. There are similarities to that Celtics workforce in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander feels due for an enormous playoff run, identical to Jayson Tatum was and the depth behind every workforce’s star participant is second to none. The Celtics had main success including Derrick White, and the Thunder hope to observe that very same mannequin with Alex Caruso within the lineup.
“They’ve a really related profile to the Celtics final yr,” Simmons mentioned. “They’ve an excellent beginning 5, they’ve a bench, a younger workforce that’s going to be sustainable for six months – which I believe is vital.”
Oklahoma Metropolis has all of the makings for an enormous ring run. The workforce had unimaginable harm luck a season in the past, however this workforce is loaded and can be able to coping with an harm or two down the stretch. When absolutely wholesome, there aren’t many NBA rosters – if any – in a greater place than OKC is correct now. This might be a giant yr for the Thunder.
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