"Can You Feel The Thunder Rumbling?"

Once upon a time in the city of Oklahoma, there's a team who fans 
have grown to love. Midwestern vibes and culture of everyone 
being a tight knit community. A city that's embraced basketball in a 
football state. From the ashes and remains of nobody talking about 
the Thundering basketball team who are now four games away 
from their first NBA championship in franchise history. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Oklahoma City 
Thunder, capturing a second Western Conference title since 2012. 
This version of OKC led by NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 
paced OKC passed Minnesota without letting up. With a 124-94 win 
as they wait between Indiana and New York out East. A dominant 
series as OKC never looked back from the start of game five 
Wednesday night. 

This group in OKC became the first group to accomplish such a 
feat and taking nothing for granted. Yes, it was a lopsided series 
but when great teams can cease the moment, you take it. 
Swarming defense like a hot summer day in July, these guys play 
with heart and effort. It's what makes championship caliber teams 
and still relevant in today's modern NBA. It's resemblance of 90s 
style basketball when you build a team around a superstar player. 

OKC has built this team to fit around Gilgeous-Alexander. Core 
players like Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgrem, Jaden McDaniels,
trading for veteran Alex Caurso and adding Isaiah Hartenstein
gives the Thunder long athletic wings who can swarm your best
player. Lu Dort is the old school junkyard dog who will pester
everyone on the court.

The Thunder were arguably a great team who doesn't have too
many nationally televised games unless its Los Angeles Lakers,
Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks or
Denver Nuggets; just to name a few. SGA isn't featured in too
many commercials like his peers but doesn't let it bother him. This
young core of guys mesh really well and aren't afraid of the big
moments.

Thunder fans would say this team is better than 2012; which
featured Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden; who
made it to the Finals but took a lesson in greatness from the Miami
Heat led by former MVP LeBron James. That series felt like a
decade or so ago; even with a young nucleus who overachieved
with Durant and Westbrook.

Making a trip back to the West Finals in 2016, only to blow a 3-1
series lead to Golden State. Fans have seen the best and worst
Thunder basketball. Losing their homegrown talent leave for
greener pastures to ever being so close now is a moment of
gratitude. With this version of OKC basketball, fans have waited
and hoping their best season ends with hoisting the Larry O'Brien
Trophy. Given how well General Manager Sam Presti has drafted
and the cabinet of picks accumulated from Los Angeles Clippers in
2020, this team can make the moves to stay ahead of their
competition.

A Thunderstorm is roaring through the NBA and lurking to strike
down in capturing their first ever championship. They'll patiently
await their next opponent in New York or Indiana. Home court
advantage and a crowd who'll ensure lighting and thunder strike
from every angle.