6 consecutive victories! Alexander 31+7, Harteng 17+8+5, if the Thunder continue to fight, the league will end

The Thunder defeated the Wizards 127-108, winning the first six consecutive games. The defending champion announced with overwhelming force that the league's structure has quietly been finalized. Perhaps the suspense has been lost. Because this young team, with an average age of only 23.7 years old, not only did not have the "hangover effect" common to defending champions, but became more and more courageous as they fought. In the 6 games, all opponents, regardless of their strength, were fully charged. Stability, dominance, growth - the Thunder beat the pack in every indicator and seemed to have locked in the Western Conference throne for the next ten years in advance. The laws of history have always been cruel: after the Nuggets won the championship in 2023, they declined rapidly the next year, and the Celtics in 2024 also showed signs of fatigue at the start of the second season.

The "hangover" of the defending champion is almost an ironclad rule - physical exhaustion, tactics being studied, and core aging. The last time the Warriors won consecutive championships, it can be said that Durant was able to withstand this iron rule. After all, pure strength crushed other teams in the league. The Thunder not only bucked the trend, they were no worse than the Universe back then. The Thunder have currently won all 6 games, with an average margin of victory of 15.3 points per game. They have not overturned against weak opponents and suppressed strong opponents. This is no accident, but the double dividend of youth and system. The Thunder's starting five: Alexander (27 years old, in his prime), Harden (27 years old), Dort (26 years old), Chet Holmgren (23 years old, fourth year), and Wallace (22 years old).

The bench is even more luxurious: Joe (25 years old), Mitchell (23 years old), Jarinway (24 years old), Caruso (31 years old, the only veteran). Compared with Jokic (28 years old), Murray (26 years old), and Pope (30 years old) when the Nuggets won the championship, the Thunder's age structure is a whole generation younger. With overlapping peak periods and huge room for growth, the Thunder's dominance has just begun. And facing the Wizards, the Thunder really showed their pure strength. The first quarter started slowly, with Alexander in "walking mode". The Thunder's overall rhythm was sluggish and their offense was sluggish. However, the firepower from the bench instantly ignited the battle. Joe and Mitchell took turns firing, and the Thunder led 28-20 in the first quarter.

The Wizards counterattacked in the second quarter. Sarr, who was ranked second in 2024, Koulibaly, and McCollum scored consecutively, once closing the gap. However, the Thunder's multi-point offensive system responded quickly and was already 10 points ahead at halftime. In the second half, Alexander was in "serious mode". He continuously made mid-range pull-ups, stepped back for three-pointers, and broke through to finish, scoring 15 points in a single quarter. The Thunder expanded the point difference to 20+ and the game entered garbage time early. Alexander easily scored 31 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists in the game, and 30+ points was like a "routine operation" for him; Harten had 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, and Chet was still as solid as a rock during the rest; substitutes Joe and Mitchell each scored 20 points, and the Thunder's bench was so deep.

For the Wizards, McCollum had 19 points, Sarr had 14 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks, Coulibaly had 16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks, and Whitmore had 7 points. The Wizards, who started the game with 1 win and 4 losses, continue to wallow in the quagmire of failure. Although Thrall has the height and frame protection, his offensive methods are single and he is far away from the core of the team. The terrifying thing about the Thunder lies in the perfect integration of system and talent. On the offensive end, Alexander's scoring has reached perfection, Harten's inside support, Chet's spatial shooting, Dort and Wallace's transition advancement, Joe and Mitchell's backup firepower - the Thunder have the most balanced offensive starting point in the league. With no-ball screens, hand-offs, and weak-side cuts, the Thunder's tactical execution was suffocating.

. On the defensive end, Dort and Caruso’s iron-blooded outside line, Chet and Harten’s joint protective frame, and Jellinway’s assisting defensive coverage. The Thunder average 9.5 steals and 6.2 blocks per game, so they rank first in the league in defensive efficiency. In their 6-game winning streak, the Thunder have never allowed their opponents to comeback in the final quarter. The scoring from the bench was pretty astonishing. Even if the main players take a rest, the bench gangsters can easily take over the game. Maybe in the first game against the Rockets, the Thunder had a bit of a thrill, and the two sides played double overtime. The only possible threat to the Thunder at the moment is the Spurs, who have won five consecutive games at the beginning. They are also very young. Bunyama (21 years old), Harper (19 years old), and Castle (21 years old) form a new version of the "troika", supplemented by the veteran experience of Fox (28 years old), the Spurs' talent configuration is closest to the Thunder.

However, the Spurs' system maturity, bench depth, and core stability are all different from the Thunder. The Nuggets fought the Thunder in seven fierce games last season, which was the limit. Jokic is alone, Murray is trying his best, and Gordon is at risk of injury. Although Huang Zhong Johnson and LeBron have been introduced, the Nuggets' championship window is closing. The Pacers lost their core during the offseason and completely dropped out of the championship ranks. The Timberwolves, Clippers, Lakers and other teams are either too old to carry the team, or they are too young to be able to reach the top; the Warriors and Celtics are also unable to withstand the youthful storm of the Thunder. The horror of the Thunder is: they are too young. Alexander is at his peak, and the growth curves of core players such as Chet, Jaywee, Joe, and Mitchell have not yet peaked. In the next 5-8 years, this lineup will maintain its integrity and competitiveness. The Thunder management has a first-round pick for the next seven years, with flexible salary space and huge room for reinforcement.

Comparing history, the Warriors dynasty relies on Curry at his peak + Klay + the golden generation chasing dreams to maintain a 5-year championship period; the Thunder's golden generation is younger and deeper, and the championship window may be as long as 10 years. In the next ten years, the Thunder may win 3-5 championships and create a new super giant. The score of 127-108 is just the tip of the iceberg in the Thunder's 6-game winning streak. Their crushing of weak teams, suppression of strong opponents, execution of the system, and control of depth have suffocated the other 29 teams in the league. The Spurs may be the only challenger, but the Thunder's dominance goes beyond "powerful team." When Alexander turns on the "harvest mode", when Joe and Mitchell double 20 on the bench, when Harten and Chet take turns to rest - you will find that the Thunder are not playing a game, they are declaring: their era has arrived, and others do not have your share.