By Adiel Kalonji | NBA Editor
Among the surprises of the year is the Thunder, who are now considered one of the favorites for the title. With Chet Holmgren in its ranks, this young team will have to justify this status during the playoffs, while Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce cannot agree on their potential.
After several years of reconstruction following the departure of superstars, the Thunder was able to bring out some of its young people and now stands among the leaders of the league. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as boss but also in MVP mode, and Chet Holmgren who rivals Victor Wembanyama in the race for ROTY, this team is asserting itself among the greatest.
This franchise is currently the leader in the West with a record of 48 victories and 20 defeats, some observers now speak of them as favorites to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the season. But due to their lack of experience in the playoffs, some doubts are expressed about them. As a result, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were unable to reach a consensus in the podcast The Ticket & The Truth.
Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce disagree on the strength of the Thunder
Kevin Garnett : You can say what you want but… They have real attack dogs in OKC! They don’t have experience, but I’ve never seen guys give themselves like that, like real mad dogs. They are like those puppies who take the ball in their mouth and shake it in all directions without it leaving them. You say they only bark and don’t bite, but you are completely wrong.
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If you’re not careful, they won’t hesitate to attack you. OKC, don’t disappoint. Because now all the light is on you. You can’t disrespect them, it’s not nothing to be first in the Western Conference. We cannot consider them as simple “puppies”.
Kevin Garnett may have high hopes for the Thunder on the sidelines of the playoffs, but Paul Pierce is more skeptical.
Paul Pierce : We haven’t yet seen them make a big run in the playoffs. I don’t disrespect them. I’m just saying I never saw them come through the gate. There are big dogs that bark but don’t bite. I’m just waiting for them to come out and bite someone.
It was therefore through a series of metaphors on the canine theme that the two Hall of Famers made their arguments.
Failing to bite their opponents, the OKC players will have to make lightning speak for the end of the season and also from the first round, because the game promises to be difficult despite their first place. With only 8 victories separating them from the Kings and 8th place, the Western Conference still shows that the competition is tough. It is therefore up to them to make the thunder roar (and not just bark) for the next deadlines.
In full swing this year, the Thunder will have to materialize with, at a minimum, a good run during these playoffs. If it is obvious that this team will be a threat to its competitors in the playoffs for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce is less optimistic than his former teammate.
2024-03-22 16:50:00
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