Is the best team in the NBA in crisis? This is the question being asked in America after the third defeat suffered by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the last five games. The defeat against the San Antonio Spurs, the second in ten days, sounds like a strong alarm bell for Shai Gilgeous Alexander and his teammates. In addition to the two defeats against the Texans, the Minnesota Timberwolves also got the better of the reigning NBA champions, capable of beating only the Clippers and Grizzlies in the last ten days. The problems at Thunder are evident and start above all from the attack, despite the 130 points conceded tonight against the Spurs.
NBA, Thunder crisis: the supporting cast around Shai Gilgeous Alexander is missing
As Shai Gilgeous Alexander continues his season as an NBA superstar, there is a lack of players around him who can produce points. Jalen Williams scored almost 22 points per game last year while this year he barely exceeds 18 points, only once in the last five games has he exceeded the 22 points he guaranteed every night last year. Even Chet Holmgren, absent in the win over the Grizzlies, only topped 20 points in the win against the Clippers. Too little for a supporting cast that is defined as the most solid and complete in the NBA.
NBA, difficulties in attack also confirmed by the numbers
There is a lack of individuals and consequently a lack of team numbers in attack. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the second best offense in the NBA with over 121 points scored per game, but only against the Clippers did they surpass 120 points. In the three losses against the Spurs and Wolves, OKC’s offense averaged less than 109 points, numbers lower than those of the Indiana Pacers’ attack, the worst in the NBA with 109.2 points per game. If the Thunder want to chase the Golden State Warriors’ record of 73 regular season wins again, they will have to react immediately. Next appointment? Tomorrow, on Christmas Day, again against the San Antonio Spurs. Will the third chance be the right one to beat the Texans?
