Zurab Talakvadze

OKC vs Spurs with some x-factors on the line

Only three wins are separatin the Western Conference powerhouses OKC (55:!5) and San Antonio (52:18). That gap is huge for those cute Spurs to overcome, but you never know. One injury here or there, one bad game and it is getting interesting. 

OKC is an almost private project of the reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while the Spurs rely mostly on an alien instincts of that French guy named Victor. Those iconic players remain in the hunt for the season’s MVP, with Shai being the favorite as of today. 

But both teams a so called X-Factors, the unheralded heroes with some real potential. 

The big boss from the Thunder Sam Presti acquired Mr Jared McCain from the Philadelphia and so far, that move is very good and in some ways, impactful. In the current champions race, this move could be a jawbreaker, It was not a given, that McCain will fit in for the Thunder, but so far, all is good for the champs. McCain has made almost 44 percent of his long-distance shots and is averaging better than 11 points per game. He appeared in only 17 games so far, but results are encouraging. And, driven by a new joker, OKC is riding a nine game winning streak. A very good result. 

San Antonio is raging and these Spurs has hammered the Thunder team already three times in the regular season. And, they rely on the talent of that scrappy rookie point guard Dylan Harper. He has to improve his decision making and long range shooting, but he is still very good. The Spurs have won 50 games for the first time since 2016/2017 season, They had an eight year drought. And you remember, that before that Spurs has taken at least 50 wins from 1999/2000 season prior to that 2016 season.  Harper is the second peak of the last Draft. He missed some games but he returned and his team is crushing the rest again. The Spurs are for real. And so is Harper.