The Oklahoma City Thunder are now the eighth seed in the Western Conference because of their young core’s strong play in the regular season’s final stretch.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having an outstanding start to the season, averaging All-Star stats with 31.4 points and 5.5 assists per game. With averages of 16.1 points and 6.1 assists, Josh Giddey is, without a doubt living up to expectations. Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams may not be putting up stats that are as high as the first two, but they are doing all the dirty work on the floor by snatching the essential rebounds and taking the open shots.
The future of the Thunder is brighter than ever, thanks to the talent-filled roster and intense efforts on the defensive end of the court. If they successfully put their advantages to use against more formidable opponents, such as the Lakers, they can maintain their upward trend in the standings.
After suffering a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks on a last-second buzzer-beater, the Los Angeles Lakers have regained their footing by claiming decisive victories over the Orlando Magic and the Phoenix Suns in their most recent two games.
In spite of the fact that the Lakers were victorious over Devin Booker and his team, the defeat against the Mavericks still managed to leave a sour taste in the mouths of Lakers fans. Dallas is one of the Lakers’ competitors for a play-in playoff spot.
Their most important player, LeBron James, is now sidelined with a foot ailment and is expected to remain out for the foreseeable future. However, despite the King’s absence, the team can still stay competitive thanks to the play of Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, and Austin Reaves, all of whom present significant dangers in the post and from beyond the arc.
Even though LeBron’s production is still much missed, the Lakers are currently in a position where they have a good chance of finishing in the top four in the Western Conference despite the fierce competition for playoff spots.
