The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at 5-0, tying their best start in franchise history. They defeated the Clippers 105-92 to move to 6-0 on the year, marking their best start as a franchise. The last time the Thunder started the year 5-0, they went on to make the NBA Finals that year. In addition to their best start in franchise history, they are the first team in NBA history to win their first six games by more than 12 points. They have been doing all this with an inconsistent offense and the best defense in the NBA. Today, we will analyze what this start means for the Thunder moving forward.
Thunder improve to 6-0.
OKC was the first team in NBA history to win their first 5 games by 12+ points… they've now done it 6 straight.
Thunder double dips by helping their potential Clippers pick swap.
Next up: Magic in OKC on Monday night.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) November 3, 2024
The Thunder are off to Their Best Start in Franchise History
Have The Expectations Changed for the Thunder?
In the NBA, when a team is rebuilding and makes its first postseason as a team. This Thunder core made the playoffs for the first time last year as the youngest one-seed in NBA history. However, they fell to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals. After the season, people knew this Thunder team was going to be one of the best teams in the West for the foreseeable future. However, they still thought they were still a little too young and still one to two years away from making a real push to the NBA Finals.
After they added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein in the offseason, more people were picking them to win the West. However, with the Thunder’s best start in franchise history, it is time to finally say the expectations have changed. It isn’t about just seeing improvements anymore, it is now making the Finals. Otherwise, it’s a bust year for the Thunder, with how good they have looked so far as long as they remain healthy.
Is This Team The Best in Franchise History?
Coming into this year, the Thunder have one NBA Finals appearance in 2012. However, this year’s Thunder team was the deepest on paper and had the top-heavy talent like those other teams with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. Even though they had the deepest roster on paper, you just never know how all the pieces would mesh together. Now that they have gotten off to their best start ever as a franchise, going 6-0 and winning all of them by 12 or more points, they seem to be meshing quite well.
This Thunder team is definitely on pace and looking like they can become the best team. Even though they are on pace to do it, you never know what the season has in store with injuries. For this Thunder team to be deemed the best, they most likely have to make at least the NBA Finals since the 2011-2012 team did. Furthermore, until they get there, Thunder fans should just enjoy the ride because this team looks like they can become a special team.
Have The Thunder Entered a Tier of Their Own in the West?
Coming into the season, the top tier in the Western Conference seemed to be the Thunder, Mavericks, Timberwolves, and Nuggets. Now that we are six games in and have gotten a good look at what these teams in the West are capable of this year, this Thunder team is looking like they have officially entered a tier of their own, similar to how the Boston Celtics did a year ago.
This Thunder team has only played well on both sides of the ball in two of their six games. In those games, the Thunder have won by 24 points and 23 points. In the other four games, they have only played well on defense and have struggled on offense, but they still won those four games by twelve or more points. Furthermore, they have forced more than 20 turnovers per game so far. They have also been this dominant when their MVP candidate, Shai, has struggled a bit to open the year. If they stay healthy and can continue this dominant level of play, they are only just going to get better throughout the year. It would not be surprising to see them win this deep Western Conference by five or more games.
The Last Word On Thunder’s Best Start in Franchise History
Finally, the Thunder have gotten off to their best start in franchise history, mainly due to their defense. Forcing turnover after turnover and holding opposing teams’ best players in check has helped them get off to this excellent start. They haven’t allowed a single player to score more than 24 points in a game. Suppose they can keep this dominant level of defense throughout the year while getting their offense on track. This Thunder team might become the team to beat come April in the playoffs if they remain healthy and have a good chance to win their first NBA championship.
