This season, the Green Army, the Clippers, the Nuggets, and the Suns, these super championship teams, their recent momentum is a bit fierce, the Green Army has won two in a row, the Cavaliers have won eight in a row, the Nuggets have won three in a row, and the Suns have won three in a row. The top four teams in the West, with little difference in record, have only one win at the maximum, and they form the first echelon. The Thunder and Timberwolves are young dark horse lineups, while the Nuggets and Clippers are superstar combinations, and the lineup is very strong. The Thunder are the youngest team, and their core Alexander + Holmgren + Jalen Williams and others are all rising stars. 40+12！42+8！First in the league, thanks to the deal, you finally got ahead, and the dark horse wants to compete for the championship
Alexander, the number one star of the Thunder, is already in the same class as Doncic (class of 2018), Doncic is the No. 11 pick. Last season, Doncic and Alexander were named to the First Team of the Year together, which is a testament to their strength. This season, Alexander is averaging 34 games per game6 minutes, contribution 311 point (2nd in the league) +56 rebounds +66 assists +22 steals (first in the league) +09 blocks and 54 percent from the field7%, 36% three-point shooting, 89% free throw shooting. Alexander is a superstar who is both offensive and defensive, and he can score like crazy, play the ball and make a good tackle. This season, Alexander has averaged 52 points (1st in the league).
Alexander's scoring ability may not be as good as that of Doncic and Embiid, but he wants to shoot and score 40+ with ease. For example, in the game between the Thunder and the Cavaliers, Alexander blasted 42 points + 8 rebounds + 6 assists + 2 steals + 1 block. When the Thunder needed Alexander's passing organization, he could also slash 40 points + 5 rebounds + 12 assists + 2 steals + 3 blocks in a single game, which was very sharp. According to NBA statistics, Alexander has scored 30+ points in a total of 37 games this season (the most in the league). Alexander's ability to score points is better than being efficient and consistent, and when the team has won steadily, he will not score again.
Many fans don't know that Alexander also started as a bench player, he was drafted by the Clippers in 2018 and averaged 108 points +28 rebounds +33 assists. The Clippers traded Paul George with the Thunder, and the Thunder management named Alexander + 5 first-round picks + Gallinari + 2 first-round swap rights and other chips. Unexpectedly, this deal really benefited Alexander. After joining the Thunder, Alexander met Paul, who helped him grow quickly, and later, Paul left the Thunder, and Alexander rightfully became the first core, and then he began to explode wildly, super rise, and get ahead.
Two years ago, the Thunder ranked second to last in the West, and now, the Thunder ranks in the top three in the West and has become the strongest dark horse in the West. Moreover, the Thunder team is full of young players who have cultivated themselves, and they do not rely on other big-name stars. In the middle of the season, Thunder management traded All-Star veteran Hayward from the Hornets in a trade. The Hornets were even interested in buying out Hayward's contract, and now they are trading away, which is equivalent to half selling and half giving away. Hayward is 33 years old, and he averaged 14. per game with the Hornets this season5 points +47 rebounds +46 assists +11 steal, the data is relatively average. Now Hayward has a calf injury and is still sidelined, and it is not known when he will be able to return.
As can be seen from the Thunder's trade for Hayward, this season, the Thunder's goal is not only to make the playoffs, but also to make a run for the Finals and championships. How strong is the Thunder's dark horse? They're a little bit better than the Timberwolves. The Thunder have an offensive efficiency of 119 this season3 (fifth in the league) and 111 defensive efficiency4 (fourth in the league), both offensive and defensive. The Thunder are averaging 67 blocks (first in the league) and 50 percent from the field1 (second in the league) and 39 three-point shooting2 (second in the league) and 83 free throw percentage0% (second in the league), their offensive and defensive strength is really balanced.