The same conversation followed around Kevin Durant’s and Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors. In 2016, Durant joined a group that lost in the finals after a magical 73-9 regular season. The Warriors won the title in each of the next two years. Yet, some teams still chose to compete with them.

It goes without saying, but the Thunder are a special team. They are by far the league’s best defensive team (101.9 defensive efficiency), while also being one of the most efficient teams on the offensive end as well. Few teams can match up against them at all, let alone a Clippers squad that allows opponents to shoot 39% from 3-point range.

That dropped the Thunder to 24-2 on the season, “only” a record 76-win pace. They are off to the second-fastest start in NBA history, trailing only the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, who were 25-1 and went on to set an NBA record 73 wins that season.

The Hornets knocked down a franchise record 24 three-pointers in a 133-126 win over the Hawks. Jalen Johnson had 43 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in that defeat. Joker has been posting triple-doubles at ease over the last five years, and his assisting might be his most underrated asset.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder will host Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers at 7 p.m. CST Thursday.

The Thunder lead the way in odds for NBA Champion and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the frontrunner to win MVP, but the West is loaded. Can Oklahoma City repeat as champions? Can SGA repeat and win back-to-back MVPs? Let’s talk about it.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/thunder/onsi as Why Chet Holmgren Thinks the 74 Wins Talk Could Be a ‘Distraction’ for OKC Thunder.