This year, the Thunder were the favorites to win the West. This was due to their MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and his co-stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. In addition, the moves they made in the offseason by bringing in Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso. Before the season started we listed four threats to the Thunder to stop their chances of winning the West. Those teams were the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, and Denver Nuggets. However, now that we are a little over halfway done with the season, have new threats emerged in the West for the Thunder?
When we made those predictions we were going based on last year’s results, and what the teams did in the offseason. However, sometimes when teams are ranked high before the season starts, they always don’t have the season they are supposed to. Furthermore, since we are more than halfway through the season we have a better understanding of who the real title contenders are. Let’s dive into the new four threats for the Thunder in trying to win the West this year.
Have New Threats Emerged Out West For The Thunder?
4. Denver Nuggets
Coming into this year the Denver Nuggets were ranked number three. After coming off of their Finals run, last year in the playoffs they lost in seven games to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the offseason, they lost key players in free agency and their top draft pick had a season-ending injury. In addition, they didn’t do anything in free agency to add significant talent, besides adding Russell Westbrook. For those reasons, we knew they were going to take a step back.
However, now that the season has unfolded they have dropped down to four because they have been even worse. Their bench unit hasn’t been good at all, and they have been dealt with some unfortunate injuries as well. However, the reason they only dropped to four and not out completely is recently they seemed to have been hitting their stride a little. In January they have gone 10-5 and are sitting as the fourth seed in the West. This is still a team you don’t want to see in the playoffs. They still have that championship pedigree and are led by the defending MVP winner Nikola Jokić.
3. Houston Rockets
Last year the Houston Rockets finished 41-41 and just barely missed the playoffs. In the offseason, they didn’t do too much with adding new talent. Furthermore, many people believed they would leap again this year, but still be fighting for a play-in spot, or the sixth seed at best. That was the reason why they weren’t on the list for a threat to the Thunder before the season started. It seemed like they were still 1-2 years away from truly competing.
However, just like the Thunder did last year the Rockets are doing this year, that is surprising teams. The Rockets have been way better than what people were anticipating them to be and their coach Ime Udoka has completely changed this team around from where they were two years ago. Right now they have the second-best record in the West at 32-18 and are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since the bubble year. However, the reason they aren’t higher on the list is they are still too young with not a lot of playoff experience. Just like the Thunder were a year ago.
2. Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks were the team that beat the Thunder in the playoffs last year. In addition, they went to the NBA Finals as well, unfortunately, they lost. This offseason they wasted no time in trying to get better and they added Klay Thompson in free agency. However, adding Klay did come at a loss as they let go a lot of key role players to do so. Coming into the year they were the team that was the biggest threat to the Thunder.
It has even shown up this year as three of the eight losses by the Thunder have all come by the Dallas Mavericks. They are the only team in the NBA to beat the Thunder two times as well as three times. However, in all four meetings between these teams, they hadn’t played a game where both teams were fully healthy. The reason they are still not number one is right now they are sitting as the ninth seed and there could be a chance they miss the playoffs. However, if they get in this is one team the Thunder don’t want to see especially in the first round. In the last two years, it just seems like the Mavericks have the Thunder’s number.
1. Memphis Grizzlies
Finally, that brings us to our team which is the biggest threat to the Thunder the Memphis Grizzlies. It wasn’t long ago were the Memphis Grizzlies were the best up-and-coming young team in the NBA. However, with recent injuries and off-the-court issues from their star Ja Morant, they haven’t lived up to their expectations. This year it seems like they have been as healthy as they have been in a long time and Morant has put his issues behind him.
They are currently the three seed in the West with a record of 31-16. There are three reasons why they are the biggest threat to the Thunder in the West. The first reason is they have the playoff experience that is needed to win the West. Next, they have the top-heavy talent that can match the Thunder’s top-heavy talent. Finally, they also have the depth that can match OKC’s depth as well. It just seems like we are headed to a Western Conference Finals matchup between the Thunder and Grizzlies.
The Last Word on New Threats for The Thunder
As the season is a little more than halfway done, these are the new four teams that are the biggest threats to the Thunder. However, with the trade deadline approaching, anything can still happen with injuries. At the end of the year, these teams could change or even the Thunder may not be the favorites to come out of the West. However, for right now the team that is the biggest threat to the Thunder out West is the Memphis Grizzlies.
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