December 17, 2024, NBA final day! Tonight in Las Vegas, the Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup final. Who will succeed the Lakers, winners of the first edition last year? Response tonight from 2:30 a.m.
A year ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his friends fell short of the grand final against Tyrese Haliburton’s Pacers. This time, they are definitely there, and have no intention of letting their opportunity to win the cup slip away.
Untenable against the Hawks on Saturday evening, the Greek Freak nevertheless finds himself facing a completely different challenge now: the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Carried by its elite defense and its MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder repelled the Rockets without forcing during the semi-final. We are talking about the best team in the Western Conference this season (20 wins – 5 losses), which remains on nine wins in ten games and which crushes almost all NBA attacks.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS. ONE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. ????
The Bucks and Thunder meet in the #EmiratesNBACup Championship TONIGHT at 8:30pm/et on ABC!
Who will lift the NBA Cup? ???? pic.twitter.com/wucPzkPrV3
— NBA (@NBA) https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1869012173055574114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The keys to this NBA Cup final are numerous, but it is still difficult not to have your eyes glued to this duel between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Thunder defense.
Giannis, top NBA scorer this season with almost 33 pawns per game, seems on a mission. He has destroyed everything in his path since the start of the season and especially over the past month. Incredible stat: the Greek monster has no Never shot below 50% shooting this season. The man’s efficiency, combined with his herculean power and versatility, allows the Bucks to be running at full speed at the moment with 12 victories in their last 15 games.
Except that if there is one team that is capable of stopping him, or at least slowing him down, it’s the Thunder.
I’m tracking the Thunder’s pursuit of history throughout the season. They’ve gotten even closer to the peak Russell Celtics ever since getting Hartenstein back.
Currently have a case as the no. 3 defense of all time. pic.twitter.com/YODMuiWtgu
— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) https://twitter.com/StephNoh/status/1866910681897034219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
OKC not only has the best NBA defense this season, OKC has a defense all-time ! 1st in defensive efficiency, 1st in opponent’s shooting percentage, 1st in number of points conceded per match, 1st in number of turnovers caused, 1st in interceptions, 4th in blocks…
The numbers regarding the Thunder’s defensive dominance are truly scary, and the visual impression even more so. With Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, SGA, Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein and Cason Wallace, OKC’s defensive weapons are as numerous as they are formidable (even in the absence of Chet Holmgren).
Between versatility, aggressiveness and physical impact, the Thunder seem capable of derailing any attack. One of his latest victims? Luka Doncic’s Mavs, just that!
This Thunder defense is everywhere. Relentlessly attacks the ball. pic.twitter.com/tLCO5dzmh9
— DJ (@DJAceNBA) https://twitter.com/DJAceNBA/status/1866858272977981683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Can Giannis Antetokounmpo break through Fortress Oklahoma City? If he is limited, can Damian Lillard and his friends step-up? Or is the Thunder simply impenetrable?
The answers to these questions will undoubtedly determine the result of this final pitting the experience of the Bucks against the passion of the Thunder.
Come on, let’s meet at 2:30 a.m. in Vegas, for a match that promises to cause big sparks!
