HoopTalk – Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder may very well win 74+ games this year. A record that lasted only 10 years. Long ago, many thought the Bulls were untouchable, then the Warriors, but now we have a new beast taking the league by storm.

The Bulls had the Goat, and the Warriors had the greatest shooter of all time, but what does OKC do differently?

The Thunder are off to a remarkable 25-2 start, and it’s in part due to their defense. The Thunder suffocate teams with thier ultra handsy approach to playing defense. The Thunder know that shooters coming off screens do not like to be touched or grabbed. They toe the line every possession because they know a ref can’t call a foul every play, so they force refs into indecision.

Mark Daignault has powered this defensive revolution. Coach loves the idea of muddy up the game and imposing thier will on every possession, because they know SGA will get whatever they need on offense.

It’s not only the scheme. The Thunder have a combination of elite perimeter defenders who thrive in this system. Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and Jalen Williams are all elite defenders, heck even SGA is a highly rated defenders knwo adays. To make matters even worse for opposing teams, once you break the fortified perimeter, you are met by Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartestein both elite rim protectors.

The Thunder’s approach to guarding Jokic will go down as one of the best defensive schemes in NBA Playoffs history.

Caruso was the one responsible. The Thunder understood Chet Holgrem was not the best primary defender for Jokic. He was better in the help role, altering shots and providing more length on shooters. Long story short, the Thunder won in seven games and went on to win the championship (the first in franchise history), and now they are poised to be the first team since the Warriors to go back-to-back.