The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder stormed by way of the 2024-25 season with 68 common season wins earlier than outlasting the Indiana Pacers in seven video games to seize their first NBA title.
Now, with your entire core returning, OKC is favored to go back-to-back.
However Two Western Convention rivals stand out as their hardest obstacles, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says.
First is the Dallas Mavericks.
“I view Dallas as a pre-eminent risk as a result of they’ve at all times received OKC’s quantity,” Smith stated on Gil’s Enviornment podcast. “For those who take a look at them final yr, even when Luka was down, they nonetheless beat them. Oklahoma Metropolis operating by way of everyone besides Dallas. They run into Dallas with out Luka. Dallas beat them. They run into Dallas with Kyrie, Dallas beats them. For some motive, Dallas has their quantity. And so they know easy methods to play in opposition to them. And I believe due to that actuality, you can’t dismiss the Dallas Mavericks as a risk.”
Smith additionally highlighted the Houston Rockets as one other main risk, because of the arrival of Kevin Durant.
“I’d not underestimate Houston due to KD. I take a look at Oklahoma Metropolis’s protection – massive time, stellar. They haven’t any reply for KD. And so they’re going by way of these droughts, their scoring droughts, however their protection saves the day. Your protection ain’t saving the day in opposition to KD. It’s not occurring. If nothing else, that brother goes to eat good for 25. It’s not an issue for him in any respect.”
Houston completed second within the West final season with a 52-30 file earlier than being bounced by Golden State. However with Durant within the fold, Smith sees the Rockets’ lacking piece lastly addressed.
Oddsmakers nonetheless favor Denver, Cleveland and New York behind OKC, however Smith’s picks are firmly within the combine. Beating the Thunder received’t be simple, but Dallas and Houston might have the best method to tug it off.
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