Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor and NBA contributor Tom Haberstroh discuss Oklahoma City’s big win over Los Angeles on Wednesday night and why the defending champion’s defensive dominance is making them nearly impossible to beat. Check out the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
The Thunder are 12-1 after winning again last night without Jalen Williams.
They had a 12192 win over the Lakers, in dominant fashion.
And OKC’s defense, Tom, I’ll tell you this, no one has defended Luca better all season season.
The Thunder held Luca to a season low, 19 points, primarily using Cason Wallace as the defender against Lucas.
Uh, Alex Caruso had a handful of possessions, as well.
And just the way in which they defended him, especially Wallace, with He’s smaller than Luca, but he’s sturdy as a defender.
His reaction time is literally like a mirror.
With the way he moves and stays in front of.
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Luca.
And OKC’s defense, through the, now, like I said, They are 12 and 1 through 13 games.
They have a 103 defensive rating.
The Nuggets are No.
2 in defensive rating at 109.4.
That’s a huge gap.
And, of course, we’re early in the year, But that would be by far the biggest differential between number one and two best defensive rating in NBA history.
And OK, he’s on pace for 75 wins without Jalen Williams.
It’s so crazy.
And they could take two lottery picks and trade them to get another star.
They have two lotto picks this year.
It’s crazy.
And, like Jalen Williams, he was an all defensive team member last year.
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And they’re trending to be the best defense.
Last year, I thought, this is the best defense I’ve ever seen.
And they’re even better.
Even better this year.
It’s great continuity, great coaching.
Um, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, The point guard who’s the reigning MVP has now become a shot blocker to the level of Of a big man.
Cason Wallace, he’ll be all defensive this year.
If he keeps doing this this season, he’s gonna Be on there.
You could make a case for their entire start Five are all on defense.
You really could.
Caruso could be the best player on the floor, defensively.
Chet Holmgren.
Hartstein, I could name seven Thunder, Who could be the decoy on any given night?
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That’s how good they are defensively.
It’s really hard to pinpoint one reason why they’re so good defensively when they just Are all Dobermans.
I think, you know, when they get Jay-Dub back.
I justoh, man.
Uh, its, its over.