Oklahoma Metropolis is on a 15-game profitable streak, going through a Cavaliers workforce on a 10-game profitable streak (after having a 15-game profitable streak of their very own earlier this season).
CLEVELAND – Finest within the Jap Convention. Finest within the Western Convention. One of the best taking pictures workforce within the NBA in opposition to one of the best defensive workforce within the NBA. A match like solely two others within the historical past of the league.
Clear the calendar for Wednesday night time, when Oklahoma Metropolis travels to Cleveland.
Technically, any sport between an Jap workforce and a Western workforce is a possible NBA Finals preview — however this one definitely deserves that billing. A Thunder workforce on a 15-game profitable streak, going through a Cavaliers workforce on a 10-game profitable streak (after having a 15-game profitable streak of their very own earlier this season).
“Each sport is a problem, and each sport is a chance to enhance,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned. “There’s a totally different problem each night time within the NBA season. Every sport exams you in numerous methods.
He isn’t improper. However his workforce is 30-5. Cleveland is likely one of the finest 31-4 within the NBA. Total, it is 61-9. Each sport can check these groups, after all, however the Thunder and Cavs cross nearly each a kind of exams with flying colours.
“We hope to win each sport,” Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell mentioned.
He laughed as he mentioned this. The very fact is, perhaps he wasn’t joking. And the Thunder, lower than three years faraway from their 24-58 document, ought to in all probability count on to win each time he takes the ground, too.
“It’s cool,” Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “I strive not to consider the place we have been or the place we’re going and keep within the current second.”
These groups — the primary sport of an ESPN doubleheader on Wednesday, one with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee taking over Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio within the nightcap — are actually a conflict of types.
They’re one of the best at virtually all the things.
Cleveland leads the NBA in profitable proportion (.504). Oklahoma Metropolis leads the NBA in discipline purpose proportion protection (.426). Cleveland is second within the league in factors per sport (122.5). Oklahoma Metropolis leads the league in factors allowed per sport (103.0). Cleveland leads the league in 3-point proportion (.404). Oklahoma Metropolis – you guessed it – leads the league in 3-point protection proportion (.327).
There’s nonetheless a protracted solution to go this season. It isn’t even half of it. However the Cavs have a giant lead over Boston within the East and the Thunder are fleeing to the West. Barring a complete collapse over the following month, it is going to be Daigneault, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson and their workers who head to San Francisco to educate the All-Star Recreation. And at this price, it will not be lengthy earlier than phrases like “residence discipline benefit” and “No.” 1 seed” are spreading in Cleveland and OKC.
“It’s so troublesome to win on this league. You realize, there’s a lot parity,” Atkinson mentioned. “I believe you catch a wave, form of a wave of confidence, after which all of it flows. Seems like that is what we caught. And it’s a collective belief. Generally it is two or three guys. We now have 12 or 13 guys taking part in with nice confidence on each ends.
There are lots of them within the league proper now.
This season, 16 groups – greater than half the league – have already had no less than one profitable streak of 5 or extra video games. New York is coming off a nine-game profitable streak that was interrupted by the Thunder final Friday. Boston, Dallas, Milwaukee, Phoenix and the Thunder (excluding their present 15-game streak) have all had a seven-game streak up to now this season.
However what the Cavs and Thunder are doing is historic on many ranges. They’re the primary groups to have profitable streaks of 15 video games or extra in the identical NBA season since Toronto and Milwaukee did so in 2019-20.
And Wednesday will mark simply the third sport in NBA historical past the place two groups on profitable streaks of no less than 10 video games will face off. The others: February 29, 2000, when the Los Angeles Lakers performed Portland (each have been on an 11-game streak) and January 26, 1995, when Utah performed Seattle (each have been on an 11-game streak). 10 matches).
Moreover, that is the second time two NBA groups have gone 30-5, or higher, in the identical season. The opposite was in 1971-72, when the Lakers began 32-3 and the Milwaukee Bucks began 30-5.
They ended up assembly in that season’s playoffs; the Lakers beat the Bucks within the West Finals en path to the NBA title.
If the Cavs and Thunder meet on this season’s playoffs, it is going to be with the Larry O’Brien Trophy on the road within the NBA Finals. And the way in which these golf equipment play, there isn’t any motive to say it isn’t an actual chance.
