The Oklahoma City Thunder remain favorites for next season despite glaring vulnerabilities exposed during their championship run.
They are not only the defending champions, but they also kept their championship core for the next season.
Key players such as Jaylen Williams and Chet Holmgren have already secured long-term contracts, demonstrating OKC’s ambition and commitment.
Brian Windhorst identifies limited ball handling as Thunder’s biggest vulnerability
However, NBA insider Brian Windhorst recently revealed weaknesses the Thunder showed during their Finals victory over the Indiana Pacers, particularly in the decisive Game 7.
The ESPN insider praised Oklahoma City’s championship season while highlighting areas for improvement.
Despite their dominance throughout the regular season, the Thunder weren’t a perfect team during their playoff run.
“The Thunder were pretty much the number one team throughout all of last season, and they were very worthy champions, but they were not a perfect team,” Windhorst explained.
“They did have two seven game series in the playoffs, and their vulnerability is that they have very limited ball handlers, and they have a tendency to tighten up offensively.”
The offensive limitations became particularly evident during crucial moments when the Thunder relied too heavily on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s individual brilliance rather than team-oriented ball movement.
“So one of the things that they’re going to need to do is develop a more free flowing offense. They can’t be as reliant on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the clutch,” Windhorst added.
Haliburton injury may have saved Thunder from Finals upset
Windhorst suggested the championship outcome might have been different if Tyrese Haliburton hadn’t suffered his Game 7 injury.
The Pacers guard’s absence limited Indiana’s offensive capabilities during crucial fourth-quarter moments.
“I really would like to know what would have happened if Tyrese Haliburton had not got injured, because in the second half, in the fourth quarter of that game, they tightened up offensively. The Pacers just didn’t have enough offensive firepower,” Windhorst explained.
“The Thunder are champions, but they are not a totally finished product. That’s both good news for their fans, but a glimmer of hope for other teams,” Windhorst concluded.
Charles Barkley previously criticized coach Mark Daigneault’s lineup changes that nearly cost the Thunder in Game 7, showing this isn’t the first time analysts have questioned Oklahoma City’s Finals execution.
Well, gladly for the fans, Thunder’s youth and Daigneault’s willingness to learn from mistakes make them still dangerous for competitors next season, despite these identified weaknesses.
