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Gibson and McDermott Are The Answer to the OKC Thunder Road Woes

By Eric Snyder

Feb 28, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Doug McDermott (25) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) celebrate against the Utah Jazz during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Doug McDermott (25) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) celebrate against the Utah Jazz during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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OKC Thunder
Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

The OKC Thunder got a much-needed boost to their Road Win capability at the NBA Trade Deadline.  Adding Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and now Norris Cole should rocket the Thunder up the NBA Playoff bracket.

It Can’t Get Much Worse:

A quick examination of the Western Conference standings reveals the teams best at winning on the road are also the highest seeded.  Unfortunately, the OKC Thunder have been horrendously awful on the road this year.

For much of the year Domantas Sabonis, still in the rookie haze, has been in the Starting Lineup. Alex Abrines has been great as of late but has also had his issues with getting through the fog of NBA talent.

Furthermore, injuries to both Enes Kanter and Victor Oladipo have complicated the growing process for the new look Thunder.  With that said, in home games the Thunder haven’t allowed those facts to hinder them.  Yet, the same passion and basketball flow have been missing during road trips.

Related: TI Podcast Discussing the Trade

Home versus Road Disparity:

At home this season the Thunder are 23-8 and are in the conversation with the Spurs and Warriors for best home court advantage.  Conventional wisdom would then say that the OKC Thunder must be in a top 4 seed in the Western Conference.

The fact that OKC is 12-17 in Road games this year are why they are battling for the 6th seed and not the 4th seed.

However, every NBA team has to also play games on the Road.  This reality and the fact that OKC is 12-17 in road games this year are why they are battling for the 6th seed and not the 4th seed.

This laughable record puts them on the same level as the Nuggets, Kings, Lakers and Magic.

Many articles and tweets have been launched evaluating the weaknesses of the OKC Thunder. The truth, however, is quite simple.  If the Thunder can win consistently on the road they will be in contention for the Conference Finals.

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