As 4x NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors aren’t scared of anybody. But after taking a loss against the young and hungry Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, not even Draymond Green could deny them as a major player in the Western Conference.
“They got a great head of the snake in Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander]. First team All-NBA last year for a reason. Chet [Holmgren] will possibly be a generational player… Jalen Williams is one of the most impressive players with the ball in the NBA. He can shoot the ball from three, mid-range, get to the rim. He’s 6’8″, he’s got size, strength, he can pass the ball… So, they present their challenges and it comes down to a lot of times you have to sit and guard one-on-one.”
"Chet will possibly be a generational player."
Draymond has nothing but respect for the Thunder's young Big Three 🤝 pic.twitter.com/GEdsK4ar5K
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) December 9, 2023
The Warriors were leading for most of the game and looked pretty solid on both ends until the closing seconds of the game. Draymond’s foul on Chet Holmgren sent the game to overtime, where the Thunder were able to pull away with the 138-136 win. Draymond finished with 12 points on the night, but there was nothing he could do to slow down the combo of Chet and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who combined to score 59 points.
The Thunder Are Legit
The Thunder finished with a 42-40 record last season, showing flashes of both brilliance and inexperience. Sadly, the Thunder failed to make the playoffs that season and it was only by the breakout performance of Shai that they were even competitive at all. Coming into this season, the Thunder didn’t change much about their roster or team identity, but the debut of Chet Holmgren has pushed Oklahoma City into another tier of contention.
Through 21 games so far, OKC is second in the West with a 14-7 record. Most impressively, they are also one of the only teams in the league with a top-ten offense and a top-ten defense. This season, it remains to be seen if OKC can maintain this level of play, especially through injuries, but if Draymond Green and the Dubs can take them seriously, then that should be reason enough to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Warriors Are Falling Behind
Somehow, the Thunder and Warriors have already faced off four times this season, and the Warriors are just 1-3 in those matchups. With a stunning lack of size and inconsistent play from Klay Thompson, the Warriors look a step slower compared to their glory days. On Friday, they looked outmatched and outplayed against a bigger, younger, and deeper Thunder team.
Currently, at 11th in the West, the Warriors are struggling to keep their head above the water in a Western Conference that is richer with talent than we’ve ever seen before. Between young risers like the Thunder, Timberwolves, and Kings, it’s looking more and more like the Warriors dynasty is finally dead… but it’d be unwise to count them out completely given what their core has accomplished in the past. To truly maximize their chances moving forward, the Warriors may need to make a move and give up some of their own assets to catch up with the competition.
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