The Thunder currently have the 4th best record in the nba, behind the timberwolves, sixers, and Celtics. They are almost averaging 50/40/90 shooting splits as a team, leading the league in FG% (50.3%) and 3pt% (41.0%) while being tied for first in FT% (86.7%).

I’ve only managed to catch a few Thunder games so far this year, but it seems like their motion heavy, dynamic offense and focus on rostering players who can perform well in all aspects of play is paying off to make the Thunder one of the best teams in the league. Do you think the thunder have a real shot at sustaining their hot start to the year? Further, could they be a serious dark horse contender this year?

  • Red_Jester-94@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I got laughed at because I picked the Thunder as my dark horse on one of those posts from the off-season.

    A bunch of people here were acting like they were bums. They were young and still nearly .500 in the West. Will they be able to beat the Nuggets in the playoffs? Likely not, but they showed enough for me.

  • Cudi_buddy@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Glad to see it. They built this team up with picks and draft picks. Shai came from a trade, but he was very young and they developed him.

    • shadysnorlax@alien.topB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      That’s why I loved the original thunder run. Almost everyone was drafted to seattle or OKC. Let’s see if they mess it up again.

  • The1Drumheller@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    These next few weeks will really show whether the Thunder are actual competitors or just a playoff team. After the Bulls, we have:

    76ers
    @Timberwolves
    Lakers
    @Mavericks
    Jazz
    @Kings
    @Nuggets

    As the next 7 games. So far we have beaten the teams we are supposed to beat (Draymondless Warriors, Booker / Bealless Suns, Spurs, Bulls, Blazers, Pistons).

    • siphillis@alien.topB
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      They grabbed the legendary Chip Engelland after he left the Spurs. The Warriors were trying to poach the guys for years while we had him.

  • wirsteve@alien.topB
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Can you be a dark horse contender if you are a top 5 team 17% of the way through the season?

    At what point are you just a contender? If you are a top 5 team through 25% 35% of the season? Or when playoffs begin?