Golden State Warriors: Are the Thunder a Threat?

The Golden State Warriors take on the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight for the first time this season. The Thunder sit in third place in the West. Are they a threat to the Warriors?

The NBA is very top heavy this year.

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The parity we’ve seen in years past–particularly in the Western Conference–has disappeared and many have called the fight for the Larry O’Brien a two horse race. One between the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs. Two teams having historic seasons battling for the top seed in the conference.

Sure, the Cleveland Cavaliers are contenders. They have the easiest path to the title as the Eastern Conference has few teams with even a little chance of dethroning the King this year. And recently, they saved themselves from further embarrassment by defeating the Spurs in Cleveland. But it’s clear that, unless major changes happen in Ohio, they are not on the same level as the two top Western teams.

But maybe they’re not on the same level as the third best Western Conference team either, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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The Thunder are 38-13, ahead of the Cavs, but below the Spurs and Warriors. Despite racing off to the third best record in the NBA, OKC has managed to stay under-the-radar. Even with MVP-type seasons from both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the team hasn’t received nearly the same amount of coverage from media as the two teams in front of it.

They’re eight games behind the league-leading Dubs and aren’t playing the historically significant basketball Golden State is either, but are they a threat?

Absolutely.

While the Warriors have the best “Big Three” in the league in Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, the Thunder are right behind them. Their combination of Durant, Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka is enough to lift them to title contention. They’re three high-level players that provide serious matchup problems for defenders across the league.

The Thunder clearly have enough offensive firepower to win, but what makes them threatening–perhaps even more so than the Spurs–is their desire. Deservedly so, Curry and the Warriors are the NBA’s treasure. They’re the FC Barcelona of the NBA–the team (in every sense of the word) with a transcendent star that even catches the eye of casual and international fans alike.The Warriors’ rise to prominence has made people push Durant and Westbrook off to the side. All the success that Golden State has enjoyed was supposed to be Oklahoma City’s. They were supposed to terrorize the league for years. Durant was supposed to rip the title of “best in the world” right out of LeBron James‘ hands.

But it hasn’t worked out that way.

Jan 16, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s been five years since a young OKC squad fell to James and the Miami Heat. “They’ll be back” we all said. But they haven’t. The rejuvenation of the Spurs and rise of the Warriors combined with injury misfortune has deprived the Thunder of that title that they’re chasing. This season–one that boasts two teams chasing history–has desperately become a must-win year for OKC.

The future of the team hangs in the balance. Durant could be gone next year. Westbrook too, shortly after. Both players, looking to establish themselves as all-time greats, want to bring that title to OKC. Durant is fully aware of what his legacy could be if he wins and even more aware of what it will be if he doesn’t. Despite his tough exterior and his expert-level question deflection, Westbrook surely understands that the space between Curry and himself is threading to increase even more.

With their freakish triumvirate back to good health, this is their chance. They’re hungry for that title that they feel they deserved. Durant wants the world to know that he is the best in the world. This is their biggest asset: desire. Aside from maybe James, who is in “legacy crisis mode”, no one wants it more than KD and co.

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On paper, the Thunder aren’t on the same level as Golden State. Conventional wisdom would probably suggest that OKC could steal a game or two, but wouldn’t last in a series. The Thunder probably don’t have the defensive strength to stop the Warriors’ high-powered attack. Relying heavily on guys like Dion Waiters and Enes Kanter, they probably don’t have the depth to compete either. But they have two top-five players in the league and an incredible home court. And an, almost, insatiable desire for greatness.

The OKC Thunder are absolutely a threat to the defending champions and might even be the biggest one.

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