I've noticed this too! The Thunder used to be kind of average on defense, but this year they stepped it up big time against teams like the Nuggets. I think a lot of it is because their young players have grown up. Guys like Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are blocking shots and getting in the way way more. Plus, their coach is super into matchups and mixes up how they guard stars like Jokic, which throws off the Nuggets offense.

From what I’ve watched, Thunder defenders switch a lot and help each other, so they don’t get burned by screens or easy cuts. Their whole focus is wearing people down, making them work for every basket. In Game 5, they really made life hard for Jokic’s teammates, and after watching that, it feels like the Thunder finally get how to slow down even the best offenses.

There's just this new attitude about them, too, where they actually want to outwork teams on that end, and it’s working. As a fan, I love seeing my team hustle like that—it gives them a shot in every game.