OKC Thunder Proved Capable of Overcoming a Difficult Match Against the Bulls
One season ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder made a breakthrough. The team displayed signs of a postseason basketball team ready to play every night, demonstrating their capacity to compete.
After a complete offseason of training, it appeared as though this club was ready for yet another leap, one that might see them make it to the postseason this year rather than merely a play-in game.
With a record of 11-4 after 15 games, the Thunder holds the sole No. 2 spot in the Western Conference.
The Thunder are looking like a strong regular season team, even if these rankings frequently shift as teams go on winning or losing runs.
A few factors are needed in order to play an entire 82-game winning season. In addition to skill and depth, winning in difficult games when there may or may not be good shooting is also crucial.
After defeating the Chicago Bulls 116-102 last night, the Thunder demonstrated their capacity to do so, as Isaiah Joe pointed out following the game.
It’s kind of turning into an identity. We had to play a 48-minute game right there,” Joe said after the win. “We just had to knuckle down and find the energy and the will to win going down the stretch.”
Joe finished with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 5-of-7 from the field, but the offense didn’t come that easy for the rest of the squad.
Joe, Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all seemed to buckle down on their respective roles and helped the Thunder grind out a gutty win.
The ability to win these types of games rather than letting the win streak die is why the Thunder is going to be able to find some added success this season.
They have plenty of talent, a consistent scheme and, most importantly, the ability to win games they should be winning, even when faced with adversity.
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