The new NBA season has just kicked off, and the new trends of various teams have attracted a lot of attention. One of the most eye-catching is undoubtedly the performance of Western powerhouse OKC Thunder. The team, which used to occupy a place in the league, is now back in the spotlight with a series of highlights.
It is worth mentioning that after the end of last season, the Thunder underwent a massive personnel change. The new core squad and coaching squad are full of excitement about the future of this team. And in the most recent regular season game, they successfully defeated the powerful Mavericks, showing strong competition and courage. Fans were blown away and began to pay attention to a team that has been quietly developing over the past few years.
So, what is the significance of this counterattack of OKC Thunder? Will their performance in the new season shock the league again? Next, let's explore the rise of this team.
A team that fights the battle for reinvention
When it comes to the OKC Thunder team, we have to mention its predecessor - the Seattle SuperSonics. As a veteran team, the SuperSonics had a brilliant record in the 80s and 90s, winning 3 championships. However, the good times were short-lived, and in the 21st century, the team's record gradually declined, and finally it was forced to move to Oklahoma in 2008 and changed its name to OKC Thunder.
Since then, the team has embarked on a process of rebuilding. Under the leadership of former coach Scott Brooks, the Thunder gradually built up their own tactical system and roster structure. With the addition of Durant, Westbrook and Harden, they quickly rose to the top of the league and reached the Finals in 2012 against the Heat.
However, the good times were short-lived. At the 2013 trade deadline, the Thunder had to trade Harden out, which undoubtedly dealt a huge blow to the team's combat power. Coupled with the serious injuries suffered by Durant and Westbrook one after another, the team's record also took a sharp turn. Although the Thunder still maintained a certain competitiveness in the following seasons, it was always difficult to regain their former glory.
It wasn't until 2019, after the departure of former coach Billy Donovan, that the Thunder ushered in a new turnaround. The team opted for Mark Daniels to take over as head coach and made a series of big moves in the trade market. They traded veteran Durant to the Nets and then Westbrook to the Rockets. With these two trades, the Thunder have acquired a large number of signings and young players, laying the foundation for the team's future development.
Since then, the Thunder have successively brought in a group of excellent young players, including Shroder, Alexander, Griffin, etc., and hunted the extremely talented Rubin Towns in the 2021 draft. Led by this young core, the Thunder showed great potential last season, and although they missed the playoffs, they have already attracted a lot of attention inside and outside the league.
At the beginning of the season, the Thunder once again made a lot of moves in the trade market, first sending away Shroder and then completing a series of reinforcements. One of the most striking is O'Neal Alexander, whom they acquired from the Mavericks. The tall, well-rounded big man has undoubtedly become the centerpiece of the Thunder's new season. At the same time, the team's head coach Mark Daniels has also made some adjustments in coaching, giving full play to the characteristics of the players, so that the combat effectiveness of the whole team has been greatly improved.
It is with these changes that the Thunder's performance in the new season will be so eye-catching. Not only did they have a gratifying result in the regular season, but they also performed a brilliant comeback in their most recent battle with the Mavericks. This is undoubtedly a sign that this team will perform even better in the new season.
Alexander's leapfrog development
If you want to say that the main contributor to the Thunder's recent eye-catching performance, it is none other than Alexander. The big man from Senegal has taken a major turn in his career under this team.
Alexander's basketball path wasn't always easy. During his time in the NCAA, he missed a lot of time due to injury, which left him out of the draft. But luckily, Alexander was eventually signed by the Mavericks, where he gradually showed his talent. Over the past few seasons, he has continued to build up his technical reserves and gradually become the backbone of the Mavericks.
However, just this summer, Alexander was traded to the OKC Thunder. This undoubtedly became an important turning point in his career. Under the cultivation of the new club, the big man's progress can be described as leaps and bounds. His offense is more versatile, not only creating a threat on the inside, but also being able to control the mid-range jumper with great control. At the same time, his defensive performance has also improved a lot, whether it is blocks or steals, he can cause a lot of problems for opponents.
It is with these all-round improvements that Alexander's performance in the new season will be so impressive. In his most recent game against the Mavericks, he played well, not only dominating the team's comeback in key moments in the final quarter, but also scoring 27 points and 16 rebounds in the game. This undoubtedly shows that he has become the centerpiece of the Thunder's new season.
At the same time, Alexander's excellent play also somewhat masked the disadvantage of the rest of the team. As stated in the article, both Irving and Doncic have been relatively sluggish in this game. Although Irving contributed 9 points and 9 assists, the decline in scoring ability obviously affected the offensive rhythm of the Mavericks. Although Doncic got a triple-double, the 18-point scoring data leaves much to be desired for his level.
This undoubtedly highlights Alexander's key position in this team. With his excellent play, the Thunder were able to turn the tide at a critical moment and finally achieve a comeback victory. It can be said that Alexander's growth is not only a personal leap, but also a great help to the entire Thunder team.
It is worth mentioning that Alexander's progress did not happen overnight. In the Mavericks' seasons, he has already written a good resume on the inside, but has never really become the core of the team. It wasn't until he was traded by the Thunder that he was given full space and stage to play. In his new environment, he was better trained and trained to become one of the NBA's top centers.
This undoubtedly also shows the vision of the Thunder management. They decisively brought in the big man and gave him plenty of trust and opportunities. At the same time, head coach Mark Daniels has also made the most of Alexander's characteristics in his tactical design, allowing him to make the most of his impact on both the offensive and defensive ends. This kind of precise talent training and tactical deployment has undoubtedly become an important factor in the successful reversal of the Thunder.
In the future, as Alexander continues to improve and grow, I believe he will become the absolute core of the Thunder team. Not only can he dominate the offensive tempo on the interior end, but he can also build a solid barrier for the team on the defensive end. With such a right-hand man on the inside, the Thunder's combat effectiveness will be further improved, and their possibility of hitting the championship this season will also be greatly increased.
Of course, the performances of Irving and Doncic are also worth watching. While they didn't get their best out of the game, we couldn't ignore their excellent performance in the regular season. As the duo of the Mavericks, their coordination is undoubtedly the team's top priority. If they can find their groove in the next games and regain their peak form, I believe the Mavericks still have a chance to compete in the Finals for the championship this season.
Overall, this wonderful regular season battle once again showed the charm of the NBA league. Whether it is Alexander's leapfrog progress or Irving's peak matchup, it is enough to arouse the strong attention of the majority of fans. And for the OKC Thunder, the win is undoubtedly the best footnote to their rebuilding plan. They are gradually returning to the top of the league and believe that they will soon be a powerhouse in the league again. Let's look forward to the rest of the season for the Thunder and see if they can put on a great show in the Finals!