Stiles Points: OKC Thunder Have Key Trait of An Elite Team

As the Oklahoma City Thunder beat down the L.A. Clippers, they flashed a key trait that elite teams possess.

The Oklahoma City Thunder hosted the L.A. Clippers in the first game back from the All-Star Break. It was a battle of the second and third-place teams in the Western Conference that featured a playoff atmosphere from a vibrant crowd with postseason intensity on the floor as well.   

While the Thunder have been one of the best teams in the NBA this season, it was expected to take a cautious approach with one of the youngest rosters in the league. How legit has this early season stretch been? At every turn, Oklahoma City continues to make a statement of their arrival. 

With ten lead changes before halftime and the two teams trading buckets, it seemed as though it would be a war of attrition between these two teams. 

Then, the second half arrived. The Thunder flooded the Clippers after intermission, eventually getting up by 22 points and forcing Ty Lue to wave the white flag with over three minutes to play in this contest. 

As Oklahoma City blitzed the Clippers with a 20-5 run and, in the blink of an eye, went from a back-and-forth affair to a snoozer, they announced themselves as an elite team. 

From the fact they own a top five defense, offense, and net rating, to their ability to have these avalanche runs, and one of the biggest stars in the NBA in a star driven league, there should be no more reservations on how good this team is. 

Stiles Points

• The Oklahoma City Thunder blocked 11 shots and swiped nine steals against the Clippers on Thursday. This was a defensive charge in part led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the two most taxed offensive players for the Thunder. That motor from high-usage players is incredibly rare in the modern NBA, which sets OKC apart from other teams. 
• The Thunder capitalized on their versatility and used their lack of size to their advantage, getting out and running to dominate the fast break point column 30 to 10. 
• While Gordon Hayward did not score, this was an excellent debut from the 33-year-old, who quickly caught on to the complex Thunder defensive style. The veteran was quick in rotations and was a net positive on that end of the floor even when switched onto the likes of Paul George. 
• Every starter scored double-digits in this contest, with Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe having nine points apiece off the pine.
• Lu Dort was a massive contributor in this game, with a couple of nice rim finishes and knocking in three of his six shots from beyond the arc. 
• After looking a tad sluggish at specific points before the All-Star Break, Chet Holmgren put up 17 points, ten rebounds, three assists, and three blocks, shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Song of the Day: I Try by Macy Gray.

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