00:00And let's start by checking in on the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
00:05Remember that start? A 24-1 start to begin the 25-26 season?
00:10The second best start in franchise history, a start in which we were saying that Oklahoma City was going to break the 73-9 record of the Golden State Warriors?
00:21Well, they lost their 10th game last night, and they just lost their last two to Indiana, oh my goodness, and Toronto.
00:28But Toronto is a little bit better than we think. Remember, I did say that.
00:33But their offense has cooled off just a bit.
00:36They're still tough to the NBA, net rating of 13.3, and they score 121 points a game, and they shoot 49% from the floor.
00:43But what are we going through right now?
00:46Is this, or did we overvalue and is panic with this team?
00:52Or is it just a run-of-the-mill normal variance for a defending champion?
00:57It's not a collapse.
01:00But the first real crack that we've seen since that unstoppable run, where they went through the playoffs last year, and obviously the start of this year.
01:08So, are opponents figuring them out in half court?
01:11Are they dealing with fatigue?
01:13Roll rotations?
01:15Well, maybe injuries.
01:17Jalen Williams has missed time.
01:19We know, obviously, that Chet has missed time during the year.
01:22Alex Caruso has missed some time.
01:23I don't know if the free-throw merchant is as much of a merchant as he's been in the past.
01:29But here's a key part to a trend that's important.
01:34SGA continues to carry the load.
01:36He's maintained 20 straight points in 117 straight contests.
01:39Few shy of Will Chamberlain's all-time mark.
01:42But the Thunder are losing tight contests against playoff competition like Toronto and also Detroit earlier.
01:48And with the trade deadline looming, manager has to decide, do they help buy to protect the narrow games they've dropped, or do they trust the core and hope that everyone gets healthy?
01:59OKC's recent skit isn't a collapse.
02:01It's a calibration period.
02:04What's more concerning with these two losses is whether Mark Dagan's rotations are playoff-ready when the adjustments matter most, especially with guys missing time.
02:12Speaking of teams that are struggling, what has gotten into Minnesota?
02:19They're on a five-game losing streak.
02:21And they're just sliding down the standings in the Western Conference.
02:27At record time right now, they're tied for sixth in the Western Conference.
02:34And only two games ahead of the loss column, possibly being the ninth seed.
02:40So what is going on with this team?
02:44And the Elves are still Ant-Man.
02:46I mean, we're for 32-11 in their last loss.
02:49But his efficiency has dipped.
02:51The Wolves are shooting poorly from three.
02:55And they're turning the ball over in inopportune moments.
02:59And with their poor shot selection, now everything's starting to come ahead.
03:05The real story here is the rhythm.
03:10Minnesota's offense lives and dies in the half court, particularly with Anthony Edwards and his ability to create.
03:15But the shot selections and turnovers over the last five games have allowed opponents to rig and steal games in.
03:23Without consistency from the supporting cast, McDaniels, Randall, Conley.
03:28And without a second reliable score along Edwards, because I don't think Julius has been there as of late.
03:35This slip is more than bad luck.
03:38The Temple Wolves aren't broken.
03:40But until they find consistent secondary shot creation and selection and clean up their turnovers,
03:48this five-game slide could snowball into real seeding trouble.
03:54Minnesota's got to look to upgrade at the point guard position.
04:00And that's no disrespect to Mike Conley.
04:02They need someone to either create or score.
04:06Because right now, Ant's doing too much of it on his own.
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