The OKC Thunder made its way to the NBA Cup semifinals after taking down the Phoenix Suns by 49 points, scoring 138-89. Even with Devin Booker out, the level of utmost dominance by Mark Daigneault’s team was just tough to watch, and the game was way out of reach long before the final buzzer.
That has become a trend in Thunder games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren are routinely sitting out fourth quarters, and there’s not a team in sight that could challenge them at the top. That’s why Stephen A. Smith is worried about the league.
Stephen A. Smith is Worried About OKC’s Dominance
The controversial pundit reacted to the Thunder’s huge win. And while he praised Gilgeous-Alexander and what his team is doing this season, he believes this is about to turn into a boring season:
“They’re 24-1, okay? They’ve won like 15 of 16 straight. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is just that dude,” Smith said on ESPN’s “First Take.”
He added, “I’m worried about the NBA. OKC is on the verge of making this season that I was looking very much forward to very, very boring. They’re just that dominant. I mean, I’m sitting here like, it don’t matter who they’re going against. They’re just busting everybody’s living you know what with no concerns whatsoever.”
Stephen A. Smith says the Thunder’s dominance has him worried for the NBA:
“OKC is on the verge of making this season that I was looking very much forward to very, very boring. They’re just that dominant.”
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The Thunder also have a plethora of draft assets. So, technically, GM Sam Presti could trade for virtually every player, including Giannis Antetokounmpo. Per Smith, however, that’s just overkill.
“It’s so dominant in OKC; even if you had the chance, with all the assets that you had, to get Giannis Antetokounmpo, why bother? You don’t need him. That’s how awesome they are. It’s a well-oiled machine. I just don’t know what to say, I’m just looking at them like, ‘can anybody beat them?'” Smith said.
Smith also believes that the Thunder are on the verge of taking down or at least matching the Golden State Warriors’ record for the most wins in a regular season:
“And, by the way, they’re gonna win 73 (games). If they don’t have injuries, they’re winning 73 games this year. They’re just a juggernaut on both ends of the floor. They do what they want when they want, and they turn it up when they want. It’s like that in OKC,” Smith concluded.
The Thunder are outscoring opponents by 17.2 points per 100 possessions, which is the best mark in the league by far.
They’re holding opponents to 104.7 points per 100 possessions, and even with Isaiah Hartenstein out with injuries, they’re just too deep and versatile and can match up with any team in a seven-game series.
