OKC and Cleveland: A Tale of Two Teams

The Thunder and Cavs couldn't be more different, yet somehow it's leading them to the same place

The beauty of the NBA, despite what some may say, is that every team is built in a different manner. Every franchise takes bits and pieces from other squads, but the final product is always something fresh and, if you’re winning, fun. This year is no different; the Grizzlies are winning without utilizing pick and rolls, the Celtics are winning by forming a three-point shooting Avengers squad, and the Knicks are winning by, uh, the power of friendship? Regardless, everybody has their own flavor, and the aroma has wafted most toward the very top of the standings in both the East and the West.

In an era where everybody seems to have something to complain about pertaining to team strategy, the OKC Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers have each arrived at the same place while also being polar opposites, forming one of the more interesting dynamics of the past few seasons. Today, I want to take a look at those differences, why they matter, and, most importantly, what they mean for the rest of the season.

Note: Post the OKC beatdown of Cleveland on Thursday night, I feel just as confident about the following as I did prior to the game — with a few caveats that we will get into later.