With 22 games remaining the OKC Thunder are dead center amid the log jam of teams battling for playoff seeding. A deep dive into each of the team’s schedules offers insight on their quest to climb the ladder.
Back from the All-Star Break the OKC Thunder and their opponents have begun the stretch run. During this period teams will attempt to improve their playoff seeding, tweak system weaknesses, rest stars and build steady momentum into the playoffs.
Roster Moves and System Tweaks:
Internally Sam Presti and Billy Donovan are keenly aware something must be done to address the loss of Andre Roberson. Moving forward, there is limited time to experiment with the roster. This because lineup consistency will drive chemistry and growth. Therefore, the typical lineup tweaks Billy Donovan likes to employ could serve as a deterrent.
Time to add another body is running out as the deadline to utilize the buyout market (March 1) is just six days away including today. If Presti doesn’t exercise an option in this area Donovan will need to use the players at his disposal. And using a starting rotation of three different players isn’t getting the job accomplished.
Adding pressure is the Thunder’s slim window of opportunity given the choices Presti makes could have long term repercussions. Especially because a poor performance this postseason could lead to Paul George and Carmelo Anthony’s exits this summer.
In essence Presti has a dilemma as a lack of making a move or a poor decision now could have long term effects on the franchise.
Injuries could play a factor:
The two teams immediately in front of the OKC Thunder are well within striking distance. Injury news this week may make both squads easier to catch. San Antonio coaching savant Gregg Popovich informed the media scrum he doubted Kawhi Leonard would return this season. Although it’s never wise to discount the blueprint for success this news is palpable.
Here is the Popovich comments on Kawhi. Not ready to say he’s out for the season...just would be surprised. So, there’s that ... pic.twitter.com/C22ntHgbOY
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) February 21, 2018
Then last night (Friday, February 23) the Wolves Jimmy Butler had to leave the game with a knee injury. Initial x-rays were negative (thank goodness), but Minnesota will get Butler to undergo an MRI Saturday to confirm the initial assessment.
Regardless of the result it would be hard to imagine Tom Thibodeau wouldn’t take this as an omen to be extremely cautious with Butler’s minutes. That in itself might be disconcerting for the Wolves who have the fewest games (20) left to play.
Still, the choice of having a healthy Jimmy Butler in the postseason should be a non-negotiable factor.
MRI Saturday will give final word, but there is some optimism in @JimmyButler camp that he may have at least avoided the worst—an ACL tear—on Friday.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) February 24, 2018
Climbing the playoff ladder:
For the OKC Thunder they entered the week seeded fifth with their sights keenly fixed on the Wolves and Spurs. As of this posting OKC remain the fifth seed trailing both the Spurs and Wolves by one game.
While that fact offers hope for ascent the issue will be not losing focus of the teams chasing the OKC Thunder. To wit, OKC only hold the fifth seed by a half game over both the Nuggets and Blazers.
The eighth seeded Pelicans trail OKC by one game and the ninth seeded Clippers by two games. Utah who finally lost a game sit in tenth and trail OKC by three and half games. Although that may seem like enough cushion don’t disregard the Jazz. Utah may in fact have the best shot to move up given they have the easiest schedule remaining and face the most lottery bound squads.
Schedule comparison:
Clearly every game remaining offers a task the OKC Thunder must take seriously. Schedule examination of the currently seeded eight squads and the two in a position to move up offers further insight.
The key takeaways from the schedules are:
Rockets: Houston have the hardest remaining schedule with the most back to back sets (6), most games against playoff seeds or teams on the periphery (18) and the most road games remaining (13).
Wolves: Minnesota’s 20 games represent the fewest of the playoff teams, but half of those are to be played in back to back sets.
Jazz: Although Utah remain two and half games away from stepping on the ladder they have a very easy schedule remaining. The Jazz play the most sub .500 squads (11), have only three back to back sets and just one game to play on the opposite coast.
Clippers and Pelicans: The teams the Jazz are chasing have difficult paths with copious playoff squads and back to back sets. If either squad fall off the pace they might elect to lower their seeding which could also help the Jazz.
The four teams bookmarking OKC:
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As previously noted injuries could play a factor to the two squads ahead of OKC. And while it’s important the Thunder keep trying to move up they might be better served to ensure their efforts focus on staying ahead of the Nuggets and Blazers.
Denver have the most opposite coast games, but play the fewest western conference playoff seeds.
More importantly, the Wolves and Pelicans have already won the season series against the Thunder meaning they own the tie break. OKC can still tie Denver and Portland, but must win the remaining meetings. The only teams OKC own the tiebreaker against already is the Clippers and Jazz.
Post All-Star Break serves up immediate challenge:
Week 18 for the OKC Thunder, it’s a relatively light week with just two games. The first game should’ve been an easy victory. But, it took a Westbrook clutch time three with no time on the clock for OKC to get the ‘W’.
The second game features their newly minted main rival the Golden State Warriors. This game is also on the road at Oracle. The danger here is the Thunder have beat the Warriors twice already.
Golden State will be motivated to make a strong stretch run with the Rockets having claimed top spot.
So, there is no time like the present for the Thunder to win again at Oracle to take a 3-0 series lead and start to play with the Warriors heads about a potential playoff matchup.
Next: All-Time OKC Top Scorers
Ultimately, in the 22 games remaining for the OKC Thunder there is no room for error.
Carpe Diem OKC Thunder.