Only one game into the WCF, and the OKC Thunder seems to have already made a strong case for the 2024-25 NBA championship. The most well-rounded roster among all the other teams in the conference finals as of today. Their consistency at both ends of the floor is remarkable.
OKC’s defense has been the talk of the town for a while now. Coach Mark Daigneault and his crew have been the No.1 team in defensive ratings, whether it was the regular season (106.6) or the ongoing playoffs (100.7) in a complete team effort from the Thunder.
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Talking playoffs, OKC leads the league in steals, averaging 10.8 per game, and ranks fourth in blocks. The Thunder also holds the top position for opponent points off turnovers and fast breaks, limiting it to 10.9 and 9.1 per game, respectively, heading into Game 2.
Addressing their win against the Timberwolves, Charles Barkley was in awe of Oklahoma’s defense, comparing it to the iconic Chicago Bulls-Detroit Pistons rivalry during the 1990s.
“This is the best defensive team I’ve seen in the NBA in a long time…They remind me of the Bad Boy Pistons and Chicago Bulls when they had Dennis Rodman and Horace Grant. When they had Michael and Scottie and Dennis, or Horace, if you were a little bit off your pass, it’s going the other direction. This is the deepest team in the NBA, and they’re going to win an NBA championship. I’ve not seen any team that can beat this team,” said “Sir Charles” about the Thunder, who limited the Timberwolves to 88 points in Game 1 of the 2025 WCF.
OKC has the personnel
Coming off a second-round exit last year, GM Sam Presti managed to make two great additions in Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein over the summer. It was a move that filled the missing gaps, giving the Thunder size, defense, versatility, playmaking and championship DNA.
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OKC now has twin towers in Isaiah and Chet Holmgren, with the latter making a solid case for DPOY before going down with a hip fracture. Doing a great job disrupting the opposition’s offense and causing turnovers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace impressed us with their abilities to play tenacious lockdown defense on any given night.
There needs to be a special mention of “The Carushow,” who once again stepped up when his team needed him the most. The former Los Angeles Lakers champion stunned the basketball world with his defense on the seven-foot Nikola Jokic, making the three-time MVP appear helpless on the court.
Defense wins championships
There’s a popular saying in sports that the Thunder might soon prove true. As Barkley pointed out, defense was a crucial ingredient in the championship runs of the Pistons and Bulls during their heyday.
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While superstars do what superstars do, every team needs a Dennis or Horace to fill the gaps, which could eventually help boost a team’s odds of winning it all. A perfect example is Caruso, whose play-reading instincts, anticipation, and relentless hustle often go unnoticed. His championship pedigree — having played a key role in the Lakers’ 2020 Bubble title — adds even more value. With MVP-led Oklahoma City peaking at the right time, the Thunder appear primed to chase and potentially taste championship glory.