Red Bull F1’s team principal Christian Horner summed up success perfectly when he said ‘the higher you rise, the sharper the knives‘. This is exactly what the Thunder are victims of right now. They’re sitting pretty at the top of the West. Star man Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks to be setting his point of why he should be the MVP. They’ve just beaten current ringholders Celtics to become the second team to qualify for the playoffs after the Cavs. But is that enough for them to get the media’s approval? Apparently not.

Mark Daigneault has created a well-oiled machine filled with young, hungry talent. A philosophy of fresh ideas, unconventional strategies and versatility is what sets them apart from the rest of the league. While most consider them the bookies’ favorites to win it all, analysts like Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins seem to disagree.

Perkins remains confident in the Celtics’ championship chances despite OKC’s statement win. On First Take, he acknowledged the Thunder’s impressive performance but stood by his belief that Boston remains the superior team.

“Did they make a statement last night to the non-believers that they belong? Absolutely. Do I have them picked to come out of the Western Conference? Yeah, I do. But I don’t have them beating the Boston Celtics,” Perkins stated. He emphasized the impact of Kristaps Porzingis’ absence, arguing that his presence would have changed the game.

“I have to remind people—although it was a great game last night, although Chet Holmgren rose to the occasion, SGA set the tone and dominated the game. To me, he was the best player on the floor, I got that. But the Boston Celtics were missing a key piece, Kristaps Porzingis. He is so crucial to their offense, he provides balance.”

SAS on the other hand has an inkling for what KP’s saying, but has his thoughts to share as well. “[SGA] shows up in the post-season last year, and this brother showed up [this year]. It’s just that the young dudes didn’t (show up) with him. Jalen Williams- I’m not questioning this brother’s talent… but he’s got to bring that level of consistency as a bona fide no. 2 option instead of being it one night and throwing it to Chet Holmgren the next,” said SAS after Perkins. While Smith acknowledges SGA’s talent, he argues that OKC lacks a clear secondary star who can step up in high-pressure playoff moments

While you might support other teams, but you have to appreciate Thunder‘s greatness on display. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.8 PPG while shooting 52.5% from the field. He’s spearheading his team to what could be their first ever title. However, former players have questioned his playing style, and how it might come back to bite him in the behind when the playoffs come around.

Patrick Beverley questions Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s playstyle

Apparently becoming the 7th only player to record 20+ points in 60 consecutive games in a single season still has doubters ringing the bell. On an episode of ‘The Pat Bev Podcast with Rone‘, guard Patrick Beverley chatted about the Thunder being favourites to win it all. Before his comments on the topic, he spoke about why he was against it.

“You’re not gonna get that many foul calls in the playoffs. For Shai. That’s one point. Second point- they need more creation for the playoffs, they need more ball creation for the playoffs. I don’t mean creation to score, I mean creation to get other people going. If Shai gets foul trouble, this is a very different team,” said Pat about the Thunder’s dependence on a few players.

This isn’t just an OKC Thunder problem, it’s a league-wide trend. Teams leaning too heavily on a few star players often struggle when the playoffs demand more depth and adaptability. It’s just a 5-man team at the end of the day. It’ll be the usual suspects doing what they do best. You see it with Nikola Jokic at the Nuggets, you see it with Kyrie Irving at the Mavs; for the Thunder, it’s Shai and center Chet Holmgren.

If foul trouble or injuries sideline SGA and Holmgren, OKC’s limited secondary creators could struggle to keep up offensively. While Daigneault’s coaching has maximized their strengths, postseason depth remains a legitimate concern.

What Christian Horner said will always be true. But it’s harder staying at the top than getting to the top. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s brilliance has kept the Thunder steady throughout the season.

OKC’s road to a championship hinges on Shai’s ability to adapt his game in the playoffs, particularly against physical defenses that limit foul calls. If Chet Holmgren and Luguentz Dort can step up as secondary creators, the Thunder could emerge as legitimate title contenders, proving doubters wrong on the biggest stage.

Do you think SGS, the MVP candidate, can take them to historic championship glory?