It’s unanimous — at least among those who truly follow basketball — the Los Angeles Clippers are the biggest threat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. And to be frank, it’s not particularly close when compared to the Denver Nuggets. That is, assuming L.A. knocks off Denver in Game 7 on Saturday.
Before the first round, most considered the Clippers the more favorable matchup — mainly due to Kawhi Leonard’s never-ending battle to stay healthy.
But now, “The Claw” is back — and playing like an MVP candidate through the first six games of the series. Add James Harden, who’s proving he’s still an offensive force; Norman Powell, capitalizing on an All-Star-caliber season; and Ivica Zubac, quietly making a case as one of the league’s most improved players in Year 9.
Let’s skip the defense discussion. With Leonard, Zubac, Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn leading the way, it’s safe to say the Clippers are a major threat — more than Denver, and without question the biggest test for OKC so far.
Luckily for the Thunder, they’re deeper. Much deeper. They’re significantly younger, too. And after last year’s disappointing Game 6 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the conference semifinals, this team is hungry to prove something: their depth is not just regular-season noise — it’s postseason firepower.
This is their moment to shine. And by “they,” we mean Jalen Williams, who received heavy (and arguably unfair) criticism after the Dallas series. Chet Holmgren. Isaiah Joe. Aaron Wiggins. Jaylin Williams. Kenrich Williams. These were OKC’s difference-makers throughout the regular season and again during the opening-round sweep of Memphis. They’ll have to show up again in a big way.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is already proven. Alex Caruso has a ring. Lu Dort built his name five years ago frustrating James Harden into oblivion. Isaiah Hartenstein, the new face in OKC, is about to show fans what he can do in a playoff spotlight.
Yes, the Clippers are the bigger threat. But OKC still has the edge. A matchup with the Inglewood Clippers presents a perfect opportunity for all three Williamses, plus Holmgren, Joe and Wiggins, to flip the postseason narrative.
It was odd how much heat Jalen Williams caught after the Dallas series. It was only his second year — and his first postseason run. Still, he held his own, averaging 17.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.7 assists in six games — nearly identical to his regular-season numbers.
Joe averaged 7.2 points and shot 44.3% from three. Wiggins added 6.5 points and 3.2 boards. Holmgren? As a rookie, he delivered 15.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Jaylin Williams chipped in 5.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in just 13 minutes per game.
Much of last year’s criticism missed the bigger picture: the Thunder were the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA history. They had the talent — but not the reps.
Were those numbers bad? Not at all. But playoff basketball demands more. Can the Thunder elevate again?
The Clippers might be just the challenge to bring it out of them.
