It’s not LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant however Cavs vs. Thunder is pretty much as good as basketball will get proper now.
Oklahoma Metropolis is kind of actually bringing the thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is trying like the favourite to win MVP, Jalen Williams is proving a greater than succesful Robin to his Batman, and the workforce’s protection is trying like probably the most stifling in league historical past.
With the workforce peaking on a 15-game win streak, a mouth watering conflict with the league-best Cleveland Cavaliers awaits on Wednesday.
The Cavs themselves have gained 10 straight, have an offense that appears revitalized, and are enjoying with the swagger of a workforce that is aware of it may tackle all comers.
Whereas there’s a clear alpha canine in Oklahoma Metropolis, Cleveland’s work has been extra by committee as Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen have all had wonderful seasons to place the Cavs on prime of the East.
Each groups are at present on tempo for at the very least 70 wins, which might mark the primary time in league historical past that two groups end with 70-plus wins in the identical season.
That is as must-watch as an early January sport can get and right here’s 5 stats that can assist you know the groups higher:
Dwelling Dominance
With this sport being in Cleveland, it’s price remembering that the Cavs are a mighty 18-1 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Cleveland’s solely defeat at dwelling got here in a shock on Nov. 27 in opposition to Atlanta. Trae Younger had that sport on a string, ending with 20 factors and a career-high 22 assists.
The Thunder will get their likelihood at internet hosting this matchup quickly sufficient, on Jan. 16. Oklahoma Metropolis is a not too shabby 17-2 at dwelling with losses coming to Golden State and Dallas.
No Workforce Defends Like The Thunder
If anybody wasn’t absolutely offered on Oklahoma Metropolis’s protection, their greatest assertion got here on Sunday when limiting the Celtics to only 27 second-half factors in a 13-point win.
What’s arguably most spectacular about that effort is the truth that Boston scored 65 factors within the first half and appeared to have the Thunder protection found out. As an alternative, Oklahoma Metropolis went into the locker room at halftime and regrouped to fully shut down Boston.
Extremely, reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown was held scoreless within the second half on 0-for-7 capturing. Boston as a workforce linked on simply three of its 24 three-point makes an attempt.
For the season, Oklahoma Metropolis leads the league in defensive ranking by a mile permitting simply 103.6 factors per-100 possessions. Orlando is second and permits practically 4 factors per-100 possessions extra.
Cavs Main League In Offensive Effectivity
Making this matchup all of the extra spicy is understanding that the Thunder’s league-best protection should attempt to tame the league’s greatest offense.
Cleveland boasts an offensive ranking of 123.4, forward of each New York (122.1) and Boston (121.5) — groups the Thunder simply made an announcement in opposition to in defeating over the previous week.
The Cavs are the most effective three-point capturing workforce within the league flattening 41.2 p.c of its makes an attempt. They’re additionally the most effective mid-range capturing workforce within the league at 49.4 p.c. Successfully, they’re the most effective soar capturing workforce.
Remarkably, Cleveland has six gamers capturing at the very least 40 p.c from three whereas trying at the very least two threes a sport. Including to the surface capturing prowess, Max Strus solely not too long ago returned to the rotation from damage and has but to get going with 27.8 p.c capturing on 5.1 makes an attempt per sport.
On The Run
An enormous a part of the Cavs’ offense is their transition sport, including a league-leading 4.5 factors per-100 possessions in that space. That stat is all of the extra spectacular when contemplating Cleveland will get out in transition on the league’s twentieth most frequent fee.
The purpose is that they know make it rely once they do get out on the break, averaging a league-best 139.1 factors per-100 transition possessions.
Keep in mind OKC’s wonderful protection? With their swarming size on the perimeter, the Thunder are capable of get out on the break on the fourth-most frequent fee within the league, although their effectivity on the break is thirteenth greatest.
How these elements of the respective groups’ play out on Wednesday will seemingly play a key think about figuring out the winner.
When Will The Recreation Be Gained?
Each groups are excellent within the fourth quarter and within the clutch.
The Thunder have a plus-10.7 internet ranking within the fourth quarter whereas the Cavs aren’t far behind at plus-7.9. Each groups occupy the highest two spots in clutch time internet ranking as properly, which is taken into account to be the ultimate 5 minutes of video games inside 5 factors or fewer.
Whereas each begin video games very properly, Oklahoma Metropolis should be cautious of simply how robust Cleveland is out of the gate. The Thunder have a really robust plus-12.5 internet ranking within the first quarter however the Cavs are outscoring groups by 21.8 factors per-100 possessions within the first quarter.
Even in Cleveland will get off to a powerful begin, Oklahoma Metropolis can have full confidence it may work its manner again. No workforce has proven a capability to regulate within the third quarter just like the Thunder, as they boast a powerful plus-13.5 internet ranking which is simply second to New York.
The Cavs are a plus-5.1 in third quarters, so don’t be stunned if OKC keep their behavior of turning video games within the third quarter.
