Predicting the Thunder’s Final Four Games of the Season
Mar 22, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center
Enes Kanter(34) congratulates Oklahoma City Thunder guard
Russell Westbrook(0) after a play against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
With the season coming to a close and only four games left, the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently tied with the New Orleans Pelicans for the 8th seed in the Western Conference at a record of 42-36. Even though their records are even, the Pelicans hold the tie breaker with the Thunder because they have beat them three out of four times this season. This means that the Thunder must finish with a better record than the Pelicans at the end of the season if they want to make the playoffs. Each team has four games left. So even if the Thunder win all of their remaining games they will also need the Pelicans to lose at least one of theirs.
With the Thunder playing against three teams that are not currently in the playoffs and only one team that is, OKC has a slightly favorable chance. With that being said, the Thunder are currently on a four-game losing streak and they have lost six of their last seven games.
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Also, without many key players for the Thunder it may be hard for them to try and sneak into the last spot in the West. At the moment, OKC will have to finish off the season without two of their three best players in Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka. Durant has already been ruled out for the rest of the season and for the next few months. Ibaka was rumored to be returning soon but as of yesterday, coach Scott Brooks said that he “isn’t close” to a return.
This puts the Thunder at a severe disadvantage to other teams but they still do have plenty of talent. Maybe just enough to make the playoffs. With Russell Westbrook and Enes Kanter leading the charge it isn’t unfathomable for this team to squeak through and get the final seed.
Here’s a look at the final four games are against the Sacramento Kings, the Indiana Pacers, the Portland Trailblazers, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Next: Sacramento Kings