NEXT MAN UP!
The Golden State Warriors had a red-hot start to the season, but they’ve been stumbling recently due to injuries and poor play. They’ve blown double-digit leads in their last two contests, and the face of their franchise Stephen Curry is out for today’s contest.
In their way is the young and feisty Oklahoma City Thunder, the #1 seed in the league last year.
On the Steph Curry front: There’s no indication tonight’s injury absence/issue is anything beyond the accumulated aches of an NBA schedule for a 36-year-old high usage point guard. Four days off between games assuming a return on Saturday at Suns.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 27, 2024
Oh, the OKC Thunder: the eternal tease, the “we’re almost there!” of NBA franchises. Their rebuild is like crafting a gourmet meal with the finest ingredients... only for the chef to forget to turn on the oven.
It’s undeniably impressive, though— their GM Sam Presti has been hoarding draft picks like a dragon with gold, stashing so many young hoopers that the G-League might file a complaint. Their star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is becoming an elite player in this league at lightspeed, and the injured Chet Holmgren is an alien hybrid of Kevin Durant and a toothpick. The Thunder are for sure the “League Pass Darlings,” but that’s kind of their vibe: they always win the offseason, never the Larry O’Brien.
Contrast that with the Golden State Warriors, who didn’t just rebuild; they reinvented the entire NBA. Steph Curry turned three-point shooting into a religious experience, Klay Thompson made defense optional, and Draymond Green trolled his way to being a Hall of Famer. Championships? T
hey’ve got four in eight years, which is four more than OKC has ever sniffed. The Thunder had Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden—all at once—and still managed to fumble the bag. Meanwhile the Warriors’ dynasty is a Michelin-starred feast, and OKC keeps serving up “potential” like it’s leftovers.
But without Steph Curry, there’s a good chance they’ll give the Warriors a rough night tonight. And hey maybe this is OKC’s year, there’s a first time for everything!
