68 wins not enough? Can the Thunder surpass 70 wins in the new season and become the third 70-win team after the Bulls and Warriors?

Last season, the Thunder not only successfully won their first championship after moving to Oklahoma City, but also achieved an impressive record of 68 wins and 14 losses in the regular season, becoming the seventh team in history to win at least 68 games in a single season. It was also the team with the most wins after the 73-win Warriors in the 15-16 season.

If the Thunder works harder, they are expected to win more than 70 games. The Thunder did have a chance to win 70 games last season, but unfortunately they lost to the Mavericks three times, and also lost two games each to the Mavericks, Warriors, Timberwolves, and Rockets. If they can only lose one game to these teams, it is entirely possible for the Thunder to win 70 games.

Although last season missed the opportunity to become the third team to win more than 70 games after the 1996 Bulls and 2016 Warriors, in the new season, the Thunder still hopes to hit 70 wins, just like the Warriors 10 years ago. The Warriors won 67 games in the 14-15 season and successfully won the championship. In the following 15-16 season, they won 73 games, setting a new record for the best record in history. The Thunder are now very similar to the Warriors at that time, and their record in the new season is expected to be even better and continue to set new records.

This summer off-season, the Thunder basically completely retained last season’s championship lineup, and also reached a maximum salary extension contract with Alexander, Jaylen Williams, and Holmgren, the three championship heroes, ensuring the core lineup for the next few years. With this lineup, it is entirely possible for the Thunder to have a better record than last season.

And it is worth mentioning that the Thunder won 68 games last season when the two main inside players, Holmgren and Hartenstein, both suffered injuries. Holmgren only played 32 games due to injury, and Hartenstein only played 57 games. In addition, Caruso only played 54 games.

Under such circumstances, the Thunder can still achieve such a luxurious record, which shows how strong they are. As long as the main players stay healthy next season, the Thunder will undoubtedly be stronger. As long as they are willing, they do have a chance to hit 70 wins, and Alexander may also win the MVP again.

Of course, for the Thunder, the most important thing is to defend their title. As long as they can rank first in the Western Conference and first in the league during the regular season, they will be able to ensure home court advantage in the playoffs. If like the Warriors in 2016, they won 73 games in the regular season but lost the championship in the end, it would be meaningless.