The NBA season is already a third of the way out, and you may still be keeping an eye on the old powerhouses, such as the Nuggets, Bucks, Heat, and so on. But have you noticed that there is a team that is quietly on the rise, whose record has exceeded many expectations, whose young players have shown amazing talent, and whose style of play has caught the attention of the whole league?
The Thunder have a 21-9 record this season, which ranks second in the West, behind the Timberwolves. While it's too early to say whether they'll be true title contenders, it's certain that the Thunder will be making the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Whether they end up in the top six in the Western Conference or need to pass the play-in test to qualify for the playoffs, it will be an important step towards glory.
A thunderstorm swept through the Union
You might think this is a crazy idea, after all, the Thunder are the second-youngest team in the league, and their average age is only 24.12. They have a lot of rookies and sophomores on their roster who don't have the experience and consistency to handle the high-intensity and high-pressure games of the playoffs.
However, you should not underestimate the strength and potential of the Thunder. They have two players on their roster who have already impressed the whole league with their performances: Alexander and Chet Holmgren.
Alexander, one of the favourites to compete for the season's most high-profile Most Valuable Player award, faces a challenge from a number of powerful men. Among them, there are Embiid, the current MVP winner, Jokic, a two-time MVP winner, and Antetokounmpo, the superstar of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Meanwhile, rookie Chet Holmgren also made his NBA debut this season. Last year, he was forced to undergo surgery for a foot injury, which led to him unfortunately missing the entire season. Now, he's already seen as a contender for the 2023 NBA Draft No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama, and the two will compete for the Rookie of the Year award.
The Thunder, led by these two players, and supported by the likes of Jalen Williams, Josh Giddey and Luggentz Dort, already have one of the league's most promising young core rosters. As they grow and improve together, the future of this team is full of possibilities.
Under head coach Mark Dagneault, the Thunder have become one of the most efficient scoring teams in the league. They shoot 49.7 percent from the field, which ranks third in the league, and 38.8 percent from three-point range, second in the league behind the Miami Heat (39.3 percent).
Although they are averaging just 89.2 shots per game, which ranks 11th in the league, and 33.2 three-point shots, which ranks 17th in the league, they have shown great efficiency in the regular season this season.
Shay Kyrgyz-Alexander: MVP-level performance
Shay Kyrgios-Alexander, or SGA for short, is the Thunder's star and one of the best guards in the league. He averaged 31.4 points per game this season, ranking third in the league behind Embiid and Doncic. His scoring ability has reached the MVP level, and he is one of the hot contenders to compete for the Most Valuable Player award.
Alexander was named to the NBA's All-NBA First Team last season, which has proven his quality. But he didn't rest on his laurels, and he has made a qualitative leap on the defensive end this season.
He not only leads the league in steals but also sets a career-high of his own, while Mitchell, who ranks second, averages 1.8 steals per game. His tackling ability comes mainly from his defensive awareness and aggressiveness. He is always able to reach out at the right time to interrupt the opponent's pass or dribble, causing pressure and mistakes. His steals can often be directly converted into fast-break opportunities for the Thunder, causing a double blow to the opponent.
SGA's defensive prowess isn't just about steals, his perimeter defense is also excellent. His top-tier defense saw him average a league-high 3.9 three-point shots per game, tied with Coby White of the Chicago Bulls.
Alexander's performance on the defensive end has been truly impressive, with players across from him being limited to 30.2 percent from beyond the three-point line, the ninth highest in the league among starters who have played 25 or more games. For reference, Paul George leads the league with 27.5 percent defensive shooting.
Overall, SGA is an all-round player in every aspect, he can play any position on the field, he can contribute to the team in any way. His stats have reached MVP level, and he is one of the hot candidates to compete for the Most Valuable Player award. His performance has already blown the whole league away, and he is the star of the Thunder.
Chet Holmgren: The rookie king is back
Chet Holmglen, a rookie with the Thunder, is also one of the most stunning rookies in the league. He was the 2022 Pick and Show, but was forced to miss all of last year's games due to a foot injury that required surgery. Now, he's finally making his NBA debut, and he's been rocking the league with a performance that's one of the favourites to compete for the Rookie of the Year award.
Although Holmgren is classified as a power forward, he is averaging 17.5 points per game and shooting 39.2% from three-point range so far this season, showing his ability as a top-level spatial five.
This season, Chet has also shown the potential to become one of the NBA's top defensive players in the future, and if he stays healthy, he could even be named to the All-Star team multiple times in the future.
With an arm span of 7 feet 6 inches (228.6 cm), Holmgren averages 2.7 blocks per game, which ranks third in the league behind Wembanyama (3.2) and Brook Lopez (2.9). In addition, he leads the league in blocks per game, recording a career-high eight blocks in the Thunder's 118-117 win over the Nuggets in early December.
This season, Chet's performances in crunch time have been impressive. Chet has a plus/minus of +24 in crunch time, and he has scored a total of 39 points, which ranks 10th in the NBA. Chet shot 13-of-21 from the field in crunch time and shot a whopping 61.9 percent from the field. He shot 4-of-7 from three-point range and shot 57.1 percent from three-point range. He made 9 of 10 free throws and shot 90 percent from the free-throw line. In addition, he leads the league with six blocks in crunch time.
epilogue
The Thunder have had an impressive start to the season, with their success due to their balance of offense and defense, their teamwork and execution, and their youth and hunger.
With an average age of 23, the Thunder are the second-youngest team in the league. Their youth gives them unlimited potential and room to grow, as well as fearless courage and fighting spirit. Their hunger makes them eager to prove themselves and also keeps them in constant pursuit of higher goals.
Now, the Thunder seem destined to make the playoffs and potentially go far in the playoffs.
Who knows, maybe they'll even compete for the coveted Larry O'Brien Trophy, but only time will tell.
#2023年度创作挑战#