In any given NBA season, we’re lucky if we get to watch one historically great team play basketball multiple days a week. This year, we get to watch two.
By the numbers:
The Oklahoma City Thunder (+12.73) and Cleveland Cavaliers (+11.53) are on pace for the best and sixth-best scoring differentials in NBA history. Notably, the top five teams on that list all won a championship that season.
Cleveland (52-10), having already clinched a postseason spot, is on pace for 69 wins, which would be tied for the third-most in NBA history. They have also managed to achieve their third 12-game win streak this season, a feat accomplished by only one other team: the 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks.
Oklahoma City (51-11) is expected to clinch a playoff spot any day now and is projected to finish with 67 wins, which would rank seventh all-time. They have won five consecutive games and 14 of their last 16, giving them a commanding 10.5-game lead atop the Western Conference standings.
What makes them so good?
It’s pretty simple: The Cavaliers possess an all-time great offense, while the Thunder boast a generationally elite defense.
- Cleveland’s offensive rating (122.9 points per 100 possessions) ranks second all-time, behind only last season’s championship-winning Boston Celtics. Their shooting has been particularly lethal, as they lead the league in three-point percentage at 39.3%.
- Oklahoma City’s defensive rating (105.9) is the best in the NBA over the last five seasons. They have the largest gap between first and second in defensive rating this season, with a greater margin over second-place Orlando (109.4) than Orlando has over 13th-place Los Angeles Lakers (112.5).
Star power:
While both teams possess impressive depth, their success is driven by their stars.
- OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the league’s leading scorer and the current favorite to win MVP. His ability to take over games has been pivotal in the Thunder’s dominance.
- Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell may not be at the same level, but he still ranks as the NBA’s 15th-leading scorer. Meanwhile, Evan Mobley has emerged as the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year.
Looking ahead:
The reigning champions, the Boston Celtics, remain a serious contender. However, given how thoroughly the Cavaliers and Thunder have dominated the regular season, it would surprise no one if they were the last two teams standing in June. That said, history suggests this is unlikely: Only three of the past 25 NBA Finals have featured both No. 1 seeds.
Notable past No. 1 seed Finals matchups:
- Lakers over Pacers (2000)
- Celtics over Lakers (2008)
- Cavaliers over Warriors (2016)
While the odds may be against them both reaching the Finals, if Cleveland and Oklahoma City continue on this historic pace, they could be set for an epic showdown on basketball’s biggest stage.
