The 5 keys for the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA championship in 2025

After the Golden State Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in the Play-In, there are three teams that the Oklahoma City Thunder could face in the first round: the Grizzlies themselves, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Sacramento Kings. Last year, the playoffs didn't go as the Thunder had hoped, as they were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals. This year, they are hoping for different results, and they won't know their first-round opponent until Friday. Regardless of who they play, certain things need to happen for a successful postseason.

Last year marked the playoff debut for many members of the Thunder's rotation. It was more noticeable in the second round than in the first. In the second round against the Mavericks, apart from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, no one else stepped up. They relied too heavily on him. Even with the Thunder heavily relying on Gilgeous-Alexander, they were just one missed foul away from forcing a Game 7 in Oklahoma. Furthermore, the Thunder and the Mavericks scored the exact same number of points over the six games, highlighting how closely contested the series was.

The Thunder are aware that Gilgeous-Alexander will shine in the playoffs and contribute to the team's success. However, if the Thunder aim to reach their goals, others will have to step up. Shai cannot lead the Thunder to the NBA Finals on his own, no matter how great a player he is. If the Thunder can rely less on Gilgeous-Alexander to bail them out every time things get tough in the playoffs, it will open up more opportunities for the team and make them harder to defend against.

Two players who need to support Gilgeous-Alexander more than anyone are his co-stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. Last year was the first postseason experience for Holmgren and Williams, and they struggled with consistency. There were games where they showed up and assisted Shai. However, most of those games were in the first round rather than the second. This year, they must be more consistent and help alleviate the pressure on Gilgeous-Alexander.

Easing the pressure on Gilgeous-Alexander will not only benefit the Thunder but also Shai himself, making his life a bit easier. The Thunder have all the components to win a championship: a top-five NBA player, a great young coach, depth and role players, and the advantage of playing at home in the playoffs. However, the Thunder won't achieve their goal until Jalen and Chet are ready to take the next step.

One of the main reasons, besides over-reliance on Shai, that led to their playoff exit was their outside shooting. In the playoffs' second round, the Thunder had the worst three-point shooting percentage among all remaining teams. While they may not have many elite shooters, they do have several above-average ones. Over the past two seasons, the Thunder ranked among the top six in three-point percentage. This year, they were sixth, and last season, they were first. They have shown to be a strong three-point shooting team but have not replicated that success in the playoffs yet.

Other Keys for OKC

Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort, and others will need to improve their three-point shooting. If they can shoot as well as they did in the regular season, few NBA teams will be able to beat this squad. However, if they replicate last year's playoff shooting performance, they are headed for another disappointing postseason exit, possibly leading to changes in their role players.

One of the Thunder's major advantages is their depth. Many playoff teams heavily rely on their starting five to carry the load, but this is not the case for the Thunder. Two of their bench players, Wiggins and Joe, averaged double-digit scoring this season. The Thunder can use their depth as an advantage by keeping certain players fresh during the game, potentially overwhelming opponents. If this happens, the team will be tough to beat in a seven-game series and have a real shot at making it to the Finals.

In the playoffs, the Thunder will heavily rely on their defense, as they have the top-ranked defense in the NBA. However, there have been times this season when their defense was shaky and inconsistent, especially towards the end. The Thunder need to showcase the defensive prowess they displayed for most of the season to make a playoff impact. They are primarily a defense-oriented team, using their defense to get back into games or string together those 15-0 runs that give them the edge.

The Thunder are the Western Conference favorites and one of the top contenders for the championship. Nonetheless, the Thunder still need to get certain things right to reach their ultimate goal. If the Thunder can't perform as they did last year, it will be another disappointing playoff exit following what has been a historic season. Ultimately, for now, the Thunder just have to sit back and wait to see who they will face in the first round.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las 5 claves para que los Oklahoma City Thunder ganen el anillo de la NBA en 2025