Deep dive into OKC Thunder 2017-18 schedule offers 7 takeaways.

Deep dive into OKC Thunder 2017-18 schedule with 7 key take aways.

The NBA released the full 2017-18 schedule of the OKC Thunder and all 30 teams. At first glance fans and analysts poured over the dates to isolate priority matchups. A deeper dive highlights schedule benefits and caution areas.

OKC Thunder strength of schedule:

The OKC Thunder have the eleventh most difficult schedule as per Jared Dubin:

Strength of Schedule by month:

Ed Kupfer offers a graph highlighting the shifts by visually by month:

How the schedule shifts over the season:

Again Jared Dubin tweet highlights the strength of schedule pre and post All-Star Game. While the Thunder’s overall eleventh ranked strength of schedule it gets much more difficult post All-Star break. During this period the Thunder will play the fifth most difficult schedule to finish out the season.

The positive for OKC will be to establish a strong start early in the season when they boast the 24th easiest schedule. Though Paul George and the new free agents will need time to mesh they can ease into their season. Building a strong pad will help the Thunder develop chemistry, rather than needing to adjust in the first month.

Team Rest:

The NBA made a point of starting the season sooner, eliminating back to back games and allowing squads to gain more rest. Ed Kupfer offers a chart which highlights how teams rank in terms of most versus least rest. OKC rank 29th overall based on the least overall rest.

Total Miles Travelled:

OKC rank among the teams who’ll travel the furthest this season (10th). Fellow Northwest Division rivals the Timberwolves and Blazers will travel the greatest distance this season.

Road versus Home Games by Month:

In yet another chart from Kupfer he demonstrates road versus home splits by month.

In terms of numbers the months break down as follows:

October: 3 home – 4 road

November: 6 home – 7 road

December: 11 home – 6 road

January:  6 home – 8 road

February: 5 home – 7 road

March: 8 home – 6 road

April: 2 home – 3 road

Overall all months are relatively evenly split except December when there is a larger portion of home games. On six occasions the OKC Thunder will play 3 consecutive road games which marks their longest tally. Although no extended road trips occur, home stands reach no longer than 4 games in-a- row (twice) and 3-in-a-row three times.

Back to Back games

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As per John Schuhmann of nba.com the league average is 14.4.  OKC fall under the average with 14 back-to-back games this season.

"Last season, the average was 16.3 back-to-backs per team, but only 14 of the 30 teams had 16 (four teams) or 17 (10 teams). Teams had as few as 14 back-to-backs and as many as 19. This season, the average is 14.4 and 23 of the 30 teams have either 14 (14 teams) or 15 (nine teams). No team has fewer than 13 and no team has more than 16."

OKC will play three back-to-back sets January and March, two in all others except April when they play none.

Ultimately, examination of the schedule shows no major trouble spots like long road trips or back-to-back games. Conversely, there aren’t many advantages in the calendar either.  Arguably the best news is the squads easy start and their worst part is their difficult opponent down the stretch. That said, the strength of schedule is based on teams performances last season, which is not a guarantee for 2017-18.