Last year, the OKC Thunder ran the league with a dominant defense and offensive efficiency that brought the Larry O'Brien Trophy to out to the Sooner State for the first time in history.
This year, however, things feel different, but in a good way.
The Thunder are not only winning -- they're making the NBA look easy.
Oklahoma City is on pace to have the highest difference between points scored and points allowed per 100 possessions of all time. They currently sit at 15.6, 2.2 higher than the current record, held by the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.
The current highest in a full season in the 21st century is actually last year's Thunder team, which finished with a 12.7 net rating.
This year's squad has its sights set on historical dominance, and it mostly stems from their defense.
Thunder got to where they are by dominating both ends of the floor
They are currently averaging 24.4 points off turnovers, which, if the season ended today, would be the most in the 21st century, and are allowing a minuscule 36.8 points in the paint, which would be the lowest in the last 12 years.
OKC currently possesses four full-time players (minimum 10 minutes per game, 50.0 percent of games played) with a defensive rating under 100.
No other team has more than one.
It is clear that the Thunder have not only bought into the brand of basketball coach Mark Daigneault preaches, but they are mastering it.
This team, while still young and energetic, is putting up an array of stats that demonstrate maturity beyond their years.
OKC is turning over the ball at the second-lowest clip in the NBA. They rank first in free-throw percentage second-chance points allowed, and they are in the bottom ten in pace of play.
All of these metrics paint a clear picture as to who this basketball team is: one that refuses to make mistakes.
They don't turn over the basketball, and they don't give their opponents multiple opportunities. When other teams give them free points at the line, they take them. And they're able to do all of this because they play under control.
They simply don't beat themselves.
Even though there is a long way to go in the season, the Thunder are putting themselves in a position to be one of the all-time great teams.
The scariest part about OKC is that they have done it without a complete roster. Blowouts against contending teams such as the Warriors and the Lakers truly show how far ahead of the league Oklahoma City is, and with reinforcements on the way, that gap may get even wider.