As in the game of Basketball, history tends to repeat itself. As of this writing, the Oklahoma City Thunder is the best exhibiting all the characteristics of one of the most dominant teams in NBA history. The 2016-17 Golden State Warriors are universally regarded as the greatest team to ever be put together. They recorded amazing feats in the process, establishing a beautiful standard with their record-breaking accomplishments. As the Thunder continue to unveil their brilliance, one thing is clear – the fans are eager to seize the moment. Analysts are finding interesting comparisons between the two teams, particularly in their roster construction and approaches.
The 2016-17 Warriors swept through their playoff run to the title, finishing with a staggering 16-1 record. This accomplishment shows their phenomenal fortitude in the face of that time period. Their success was furthered through the addition of Kevin Durant, who throughout the entire span (2012-2016) of these players joined the team during his prime. This strategy not only cemented their standing as a dynasty, but lengthened their championship window into the foreseeable future. Unlike the Warriors, that rebounded from adversity with superhuman resolve. Their astonishing reverse sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies in this summer’s playoffs proved their tenacity and tactical prowess.
Because during that historic series with Memphis, the Warriors deployed a new, unusual defensive strategy — one that was essential to their overall success. This allowed Andrew Bogut to assume the rare challenge of guarding the non-shooter Tony Allen. It was a brilliant strategic move that let the Warriors kill the Mosquito without losing their defensive soul. This invention was merely a representative sample of how the Warriors were constantly calibrating their game plan to win games.
Before Durant came aboard, the team did something that had never been done in history. They set an NBA record with 73 wins in the regular season in 2015-16. Yet, like their run to the Finals was punctuated by Draymond Green’s suspension, many say it cost them the title. With Durant on board for the following season, the team was able to fortify its chances and ultimately claim glory.
Their Warriors’ ascent from the NBA fringe to unprecedented greatness is the stuff of legends. They rendered the draft almost irrelevant, having selected core players Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Harrison Barnes from 2009-2012. In reality, between 2013 and 2018, they hit on only three selections in six drafts. Their reliance on developing existing talent rather than pursuing new prospects showcases a different approach to building a championship-caliber roster.
One player who blew everyone away in those workouts was Kevon Looney, and his talent was obvious. By comparison, Damian Jones and Jacob Evans did nothing to inspire confidence. Their knack for finding and developing talent internally proved critical to the Warriors’ dynasty as well.
The 2014-15 Warriors became the youngest title-winners in history, since 1980. They displayed a gaudy average age of only 26.4 years during the playoffs. This youthfulness was a big part of their dynamic personality and fiery charisma on the court. Even more remarkable is that during the five-year championship run, eight of those ten players in total playoff minutes were already on the team when the 2014-15 season started. Even more importantly, this points to the fact that continuity and development was key to their success.
To say that Stephen Curry’s performance during this stretch was remarkable would be a vast understatement. He finished with a stellar true shooting percentage of 63.8% during his path to winning the first MVP award of his career. With this performance, he established himself as arguably the league’s most elite talent. His knack for scoring effectively at a high volume, all while creating for others, epitomized a level of excellence that the league still aspires to reach today.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the talk of the day today! With a very deep and strong talented core, they have an embarrassing rich roster. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been at the forefront of that attack with a career-best true shooting mark of 63.7% this season. As such, the team is making their case to be considered among the league’s heavyweights. They are all committed to offense and defense from end to end. The team has ranked first in defensive rating and third in offense.
Indeed, the Thunder’s current trajectory is quite similar to that of the Warriors’ recent history. This similarity raises fascinating questions about what might happen in the near future. The Thunder’s big three of talent almost directly parallels that of the Warriors. As the scene unfolds, it’s an inspiring example of how the best teams combine elite talent with highly competent role players.
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