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Matt’s Monday Musings – OKC Thunder Shooting for Home Court and Fourth Seed

By Matthew Hallett

Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 18, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and center Enes Kanter (34) reacts after a play against the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and center Enes Kanter (34) reacts after a play against the Boston Celtics during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Oklahoma City Thunder

The OKC Thunder have only nine games against playoffs teams in the stretch home. But they have to get over the most recent hurdle, where they’ve lost three road games in-a-row against the Portland Trailblazers, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. They are currently seventh in the West,  but just a single game behind Memphis in the loss column.

Must Read: Five reasons why OKC Thunder fans should NOT lose hope

Preseason most pundits felt the OKC Thunder would be lucky to reach the post season, so there remains an element of surprise OKC are still in the playoff picture this late in the season. Russell Westbrook has been the main reason for that. And, of the four teams fighting for fourth the OKC Thunder are the only ones who lost significant roster talent.

The Run Home

If the Thunder can get their groove back, they can go a long way towards securing the fourth seed. Ten out of their 19 games remaining are at home which is a relief for the Thunder since they are much stronger at Chesapeake. Even better of their nine road games only four are against playoff teams.

More from Thunder News

The challenge for the Thunder in this period is that two of their home games are against the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors. I am going to go on record and say that on March 20 the Thunder will beat the Warriors. The new additions to the Thunder squad and the absence of Kevin Durant will work in favor for the OKC Thunder.

The other home games for the Thunder include the Philadelphia 76ers, the Sacramento Kings, the Charlotte Hornets and Milwaukee Bucks.

The road games include games against the Brooklyn Nets, an Orlando Magic without Serge Ibaka and the Houston Rockets, who the OKC Thunder match up with extremely well.

If the Thunder need to make some noise for the playoffs, they need to finish the season strongly with a 16-3 record. This is very possible and will get them into the fourth seed, assuming that the rest of the season pans out the way I think it will.

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