Coming into this season, most NBA fans and analysts pointed to only two teams as possible challengers to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Western Conference supremacy. But after the last couple of weeks, it may officially be time to add one more name to the list.
The Denver Nuggets and three time Nikola Jokic have long been viewed as the one squad capable of knocking the Thunder from atop their West perch. The two teams exchanged blows in a back and forth Western Semifinals matchup that went to a full 7 games last season. Denver went shopping in free agency to shore up their bench and depth issues that plagued the would-be contender the last two years. And the starting five seemed to make an upgrade by flipping Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson. Some observers had the Thunder and Nuggets in the same tier, while others had Oklahoma City in a category of their own. But no matter how you sliced it, the prevailing thought has been the West, and the entire league for that matter, was OKC at the top and Denver next in line.
The #2 seed Houston Rockets adding Kevin Durant to their young, talented core immediately shot Ime Udoka's club to contender status. The preseason loss of Fred VanVleet dampened the mood a bit, but there was no doubt the 52 win Rockets would be much improved. Adding Durant to All-Star big man Alperen Sengun and rising defensive star Amen Thompson gave Houston a legitimate elite Big 3. The defense was already deep playoff run worthy. The young talent promised of internal development. The Rockets seemed ready to contend, at least on paper.
And that was it. OKC. Then Denver and Houston. Sorry, Lakers. Apologies, Timberwolves. All due respect to our elders, Clippers and Warriors. But there's only three true contenders out West.
At least that was the prevailing thought until the events of the past two weeks occurred.
The young, upstart San Antonio Spurs beat the reigning champion Thunder, winners of 16 straight games, in the NBA Cup Semifinals in Vegas on December 13. Okay, probably just a fluke game. OKC was due for a loss. It was just a 2 point defeat. Nobody can win them all, and the Spurs are a good team that fought hard.
Flash forward 10 days.
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs once again take down the champs. This time, the Thunder lost by 20 points. OKC's three previous losses on the season were by a total of only 9 points before that rematch. But to be fair, this was the second night of a road back to back for the Thunder. Surely, the third matchup two days later on Christmas would be much different in the friendly confines of Loud City.
Welp.
OKC is now 0-3 vs the Spurs and 26-2 vs the rest of the NBA. The Spurs handed the Thunder their first home loss and their first back to back losses of the season. Get out your preseason prediction erasers because it's time to take this team seriously.
The Thunder are still the defending champions and have been the class of the league this season. Despite recent struggles, OKC is the most talented, deepest team in the NBA. The past two weeks do not change that whatsoever.
But what the past two weeks does prove is that there are not just two challengers to OKC's Western Conference throne. The Spurs have forced themselves into the top four. And they're not number four.