The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder should be one of many NBA’s most dominant groups, however their highway again to the Finals may very well be far harder than anticipated.
Even when Oklahoma Metropolis secures the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention, the playoff bracket might line up in a brutal approach. As a substitute of a straightforward path, the Thunder could must undergo two harmful contenders simply to achieve the convention finals.
For a defending champion constructed round Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, that chance dramatically raises the stakes.
The Denver Nuggets stay a harmful playoff opponent
The Denver Nuggets stay one of many largest threats within the Western Convention. They could have overwhelmed them final yr and in addition lately through the common season, however by no means underestimate the Joker, who performs at MVP stage as soon as once more.
Even when Denver enters the playoffs as a decrease seed, few groups would really feel comfy dealing with them in a second-round matchup. The Nuggets have playoff expertise, elite half-court execution, and one of the crucial troublesome offensive techniques to cease in a seven-game sequence.
Groups led by championship-caliber superstars are likely to turn out to be much more harmful within the postseason.
For Oklahoma Metropolis, which means the second spherical might already really feel like a convention finals matchup, however that is solely half of the story.
The San Antonio Spurs are rising as a nightmare matchup
If the Thunder survive that sequence, issues won’t get simpler. The Spurs are at the moment slashing the league, particularly with Victor Wembanyama
They’re rapidly turning into one of the crucial intriguing playoff threats within the West. With elite younger expertise and quickly bettering depth, San Antonio is starting to seem like a reliable contender.
Their size, defensive versatility, and talent to run the ground might create severe issues for Oklahoma Metropolis. Younger groups usually take a leap within the postseason as soon as they achieve confidence, and the Spurs look like trending in that path.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander faces a a lot harder repeat problem
For Gilgeous-Alexander, repeating as champion was by no means going to be straightforward. Not less than within the East Tyrese Haliburton is injured, that man was killing the final postseason.
Nevertheless, the Finals won’t current the largest antagonist anymore. The Western Convention has turn out to be one of many deepest and best environments in basketball. Even prime seeds hardly ever take pleasure in easy playoff runs anymore.
As a substitute, contenders should navigate a number of elite Finals worthy opponents earlier than reaching the Finals. Mainly the spots 3 to 7 are having the identical standing. Even after the Spurs and Nuggets, the competitors is extraordinarily fierce.
That actuality might place an infinite burden on Gilgeous-Alexander to constantly carry out at an MVP stage all through the playoffs.
