Stiles Points: Defense Wins Championships, OKC Thunder to Prove Mantra Right

The Sports world is full of cliches sayings that we just accept as fact. Chief among them is that defenses win championships. If that is the case, start planning a parade for the OKC Thunder.

Mar 31, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) works to control the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) and forward Jalen Williams (8) defend the play during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

In sports, you are bombarded by classic cliches and old adages. Some are true, others are a bit far fetched but still widely accepted. Chief among the passed down calling cards in the sports world is "Defense wins Championships." if that slogan, which is plastered on apparel, posters and podcasts, is true –– start planning a parade in Bricktown.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are built on the back of its defense, one that shined through in Monday's lopsided win against the Chicago Bulls.

Despite the Thunder posting 145 points in the contest, Oklahoma City's offense was not white-hot from the opening tip. Even as the scoring came around toward the back end of the frame, OKC only totaled 29 points in the quarter, its lowest mark of the four periods.

It didn't matter. Oklahoma City was still able to swell a double-digit lead that eventually snowballed into a 45-point lead. That's due to its defensive performance, which flustered and flamed out the red-hot Chicago Bulls, holding them to 18 first quarter points which was its lowest mark of the game.

In the end, OKC forced Chicago into 19 turnovers and just 44.9% shooting from the floor, a dreadful 31.4% from beyond the arc and an offense so poor that it is hard to even call it stagnant, garbage time included as the Bulls were able to compile 43 points on 55% shooting in the final frame when the game was in hand and the benches cleared.

This is not a stain on the Bulls' resume, far from it. It's just par for the course for any team running up against the 63-12 Thunder with an all-time net rating.

Oklahoma City holds a league best 106.0 defensive rating on the year, averaging the most steals (10.4) and fourth-most blocks (5.7) in the NBA. OKC lets up the fewest amount of points in the paint, fast break points and points off turnovers. The Thunder force a league-best 17.1 turnovers per game.

The next closest team to the Thunder's league-best 13.2 net rating? The Cleveland Calivers, who sit at 9.7.

Defense travels and is largely one of the least volatile or variant things in sports, hence the phrase that defense wins championships. Elite defensive teams –– who are also elite teams –– keep being elite defenders in the biggest moments, which helps them achieve their end goal.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are littered with elite and versatile defenders who all come to play each night. It will be tough to score on the Thunder, who already play with playoff-level intensity and physicality come April, May and potentially June. Perhaps its history defense should be the biggest indicator that Oklahoma City is "ready" to be a title team.

There is still a lot of basketball to be played, but if defense wins championships, start planning the parade.

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