The regular season schedule has been underway for some time now. Looking at it currently, which team is the most dominant and has the best chance of competing for the championship? Some say it's the Celtics, after all, the Green Army as the defending champions, have a deep lineup, almost everyone has their own offensive ability. However, in reality, the Celtics have lost quite a few games this season. They still rely too much on their shooting touch to win, lacking stability. The Celtics are the team in the entire league that loves to shoot three-pointers the most, averaging 50.4 three-point attempts per game, firmly ranking first in the league, 6.4 more than the second-ranked Bulls. Teams that love to shoot three-pointers do indeed have strong scoring bursts, but once the players' shooting touch goes off, the game rhythm collapses, and points are lost quickly. It remains to be seen whether this style of play will hold up in the playoffs.
Some also say it's the Cavaliers. From the beginning of the season until now, the Cavaliers have maintained the highest winning rate in the league, becoming one of the biggest dark horses of the new season. Although they don't have superstar-level stars, there are indeed many ordinary stars among them. Several starting core players are All-Star level players. The Cavaliers' strength lies in their all-for-one approach, high offensive efficiency, reasonable choice of playing style, and key moments when Mitchell Garland can step up. However, looking at the Cavaliers' lineup structure, it is somewhat deformed. The backcourt duo of Mitchell and Garland are too short, and in the higher-intensity playoffs, they may be targeted on defense. The frontcourt duo of Allen and Mobley are relatively thin and weak in physique, and their ability to compete is somewhat inferior to those heavy-duty centers. They may not be able to handle the pressure in the playoffs either. How high the Cavaliers' ceiling is is also an unknown.
In addition to the Celtics and Cavaliers, several young teams in the West have shone brightly and have the opportunity to challenge for the championship. Like the Grizzlies, since Morant returned, they have returned to the ranks of super dark horses. Last season they were still a bottom-feeder, but this season they can stabilize in the top three in the West. The Rockets have impressed this season, with a win rate reaching 70%, and several young stars on the court cooperate well, with clear divisions of labor, and each can play their part. Of course, as a young team, the Thunder is the real big demon of this season. First, they have had last season's experience. Last season they were the first in the Western Conference in the regular season, and now they have accumulated a certain foundation of a strong team. Second, although the Thunder is young, they have a very mature, top-three MVP-level superstar leader in Alexander.
So far in the regular season, Alexander can average 30.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks, with a shooting percentage exceeding 50%. Unlike most star guards, Alexander is both offensive and defensive, with defense being his absolute forte. His average of 2.0 steals ranks second in the league, and his average of 1.1 blocks ranks first among all guards. On the offensive end, Alexander has two advantages. First, his scoring stability is very strong, and he rarely has games where his performance drops significantly. This season, he only had one game where he scored less than 20 points. Counting this season, he has averaged over 30 points for three consecutive seasons. Second, Alexander is also very reliable in critical moments, decisive moments without fear, often able to make the decisive shot.
This is due to his super core strength, although he doesn't look strong, but his lower body is stable, and he is good at confrontation, making it easy for him to break into the basket and finish. Additionally, Alexander's mid-range shooting is quite stable, with a soft touch and solid fundamentals. With such a superstar leader leading the team, the Thunder's upper and lower limits won't be too bad. After recently beating the Wizards, the Thunder has won 8 out of their last 9 games, with a regular-season record of 23 wins and 5 losses, a win rate exceeding 80%, leading the second-place Rockets in the West by 3.5 games. There is no team in the West that can pose a threat to the Thunder in terms of ranking. 8 wins and 1 loss! Quietly securing the top spot in the West, the NBA team with the most championship potential, no weaknesses found. During this period, the Thunder even let go of an interior core player, Chet Holmgren, but they were still able to overcome obstacles and win every game.
Speaking of the Thunder's biggest advantage, it still lies in the defensive end. Their average of 12.2 steals ranks first in the league, their average of 6.3 blocks ranks fourth in the league, and their defensive efficiency of 103.0 ranks first in the league. The Thunder's perimeter is almost all defensive stoppers, fighting hard for every ball, and on the bench sits Caruso, a quality defensive specialist, with the entire team's defensive intensity maxed out. In addition, the Thunder is also the most accurate free-throw shooting team in the entire league, with a free-throw shooting percentage of 81.3%, which allows them to easily seize victory opportunities, especially in critical moments, creating fouls is often the most reasonable way to attack in critical moments, and they can ensure free-throw shooting percentage, making it easier for them to win in tight score situations. Finally, these Thunder players are young and energetic, with full physical energy, and their physical advantage will be even more obvious in the playoffs. What do you think are the Thunder's chances of winning the championship?
