The Thunder won’t be able to match the 73-win record set by the 2015/16 Warriors, but they’re putting the finishing touches on one of the best regular seasons in NBA history, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
As Slater details, the Thunder’s point differential of +13.4 points per game would be an NBA record. They still have a shot at setting a new single-season record for net rating as well — their +13.2 mark is just shy of the +13.4 record set by the 1995/96 Bulls. Oklahoma City also established a new high-water mark for the best cross-conference record in league history by going 29-1 against Eastern Conference opponents and has tied the NBA record for most double-digit wins in a season (50).
Even though they’ve long since clinched the top seed in the Western Conference and have started to get their key players some rest, the Thunder continue to roll — they haven’t lost since March 10 and a 70-win season remains in play with six games left on their schedule. Still, as Slater details, Oklahoma City’s players appear unimpressed by their regular season accomplishments, stressing that a title is the only thing that matters to them.
“We don’t care not one bit about any of those records,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said this week. “They mean something, but in the grand scheme, they don’t. We’re after one thing and one thing only. That’s what’s on our mind. Everything else we don’t care about.”
“It’s cool,” Jalen Williams added. “That stat stuff is more for y’all than it is for us. That’s my only answer. Sorry.”
Here’s more out of OKC:
- Aaron Wiggins, who has missed the past five games with left Achilles tendinitis, isn’t on the injury report for Friday’s game in Houston and should be available to make his return, tweets Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman. Alex Caruso also isn’t on the injury report after sitting out Wednesday’s win over Detroit due to left ankle soreness.
- In addition to being knocked out of last year’s NBA playoffs in the second round, Gilgeous-Alexander suffered an early exit at the Paris Olympics with Team Canada. Sam Amick of The Athletic takes a closer look at how those two tough losses are driving the MVP frontrunner — and how they remind him not to take any opportunities for granted. “Like (Thunder head) coach (Mark Daigneault) said a couple weeks ago, this group that we have today could be the best group of players I ever play with,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “You think, ‘Oh, we’re all 25 or under, so we have a whole runway in front of us.’ But you never know what happens.”
- In a wide-ranging interview with Rylan Stiles of SI.com, big man Isaiah Hartenstein explained why the Thunder’s culture helped convince him to sign with Oklahoma City last year, expressed respect for general manager Sam Presti, and shared his impressions of playing alongside fellow big man Chet Holmgren.
- Presti is clearly the NBA’s Executive of the Year and deserves to be honored with that award this spring, Stiles argues in a separate SI.com story. In Stiles’ view, Presti has built the deepest roster in the NBA, with last offseason’s signing of Hartenstein and trade for Caruso making this season’s version of the Thunder even more formidable than last year’s team.
Stat stuffer era
I have been a hoops junkie since early 90’s. Watch nothing but hoops, no tv shows or movies ever. Usually watch about 4 games a night on computer and TV. And this years Thunder has to be the most unwatchable team I have ever seen, Harden era Rockets being close second. I have seen them play at least 25 games and its shocking and sad how many fouls this team is allowed to get away with on defense and offense. SGA is such an amazingly talented offensive player and yet he still pulls the bush league jumping sideways into defenders and grabbing arms and pulling defenders down couple times a game, not to mention getting away with pushing defenders off on drives non stop. Every team playing them should be in the bonus 4 minutes into every quarter and SGA should have 3 offensive fouls before the half. Just bring back hand checking if they are allowed to do it and SGA is untouchable.
Ain’t getting a ring with your no.1 being a foul baiter. In other words, OKC’s win loss record means jack.
I disagree – for whatever reason they get the best combination of no-calls on defense and Shai shooting 8-10 ftas/gm.
I will be surprised if they DON”T win the title in June.
Of course, championship or not, Jalen and Chet gonna wanna get paid, and sooner than later. Caruso gets twice as expensive. Then in ‘27 Shai and Dort are FA’s Good luck keeping them all together. Fortunately, Presti has enough 1sts that he can do it all over again in two-three years.
I believe in Chet 100% as a player, but I am curious if there will be any kind of “discount” due to his injury history 2/3 of his years as a pro. I think it could be huge almost like a Steph Curry and his ankles leading to the discount situation that helped propel the Warriors to their dynasty.