The Western Conference in the NBA is an important pitote. Uproar, hubbub, what the Royal Spanish Academy says. Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets (and without Jokic, since they also win) rule and scare with 51 wins and 21 losses. But the war to win is declared. The Oklahoma City Thunder, the great revelation of the cheesy, are only 0.5 games apart because they only have one less victory (50) and the same number of games lost. They beat the Pelicans in another demonstration of their value. They are young, yes. But they compete as 10 (112-119).
Shai lanza un pase.
His young base responds. In a game that they dominated and in which the Pelicans managed to equalize it with just over seven and a half minutes to play (99-99, 41′). They survived an acceleration from Trey Murphy, finding a somewhat more missing Lu Dort in attack. And their great prop throughout the game, Jalen Williams, drove towards the paint to open enough margin.
The final records explain it. Up to three players scored at least 24 points. Jalen Williams shined with 26 with 5 assists and 2 rebounds. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in 24+5+8. And Josh Giddey, scored 25+9+4 and two great triples in the last quarter. One more blow, his victory 51. “You have to be able to handle a lot of different situations. I thought we showed toughness and poise in a hostile environment with momentum,” explained Mark Daigneault, his coach.
Holmgren, on defense.
51 is important. It is the first time, since Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led the team, that they have achieved more than 50 wins. That team reached glorious moments in the post-season, such as a lost final against LeBron James’ Miami Heat or almost reaching another final… but falling after going 3-1 against Stephen Curry’s Warriors.
They declare that war against the Denver Nuggets. Being first or not should not change much because the West is still tough and in the Play-In, for now, would be Lakers, Warriors, Kings and Suns. Anyone, a tall rival. But of course, the Western champion in the ‘RS’ will always be respected more.
2024-03-27 13:01:17
#Thunder #declare #war #champion
