Is it just me, or does 22-5 not feel as good as it should? OKC is the #1 seed without one its superstars. The Thunder are holding the other team, in the year 2024, under 100 points every other game. They're annoying Draymond by having fun. This has been–with one very large iliac wing-shaped asterisk–a very, very good year so far.
The most obvious thief of relaxed fandom: expectations. Despite Sam Presti doing his best to expectations-proof this team heading into the season, with a stream of polished coach- and player-speak alike characterizing the preseason, expectations quickly arrived and are now here to stay.