Thunderous Intentions
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Deep Dive: OKC Thunder and west opponents stretch schedule analysis

By Tamberlyn Richardson

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 08: Oklahoma City Thunder Forward Paul George (13) plays defense as Phoenix Suns Guard Devin Booker (1) looks to pass during the Oklahoma City Thunder game versus the Phoenix Suns on March 8, 2018, at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK. (Photo by Torrey Purvey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 08: Oklahoma City Thunder Forward Paul George (13) plays defense as Phoenix Suns Guard Devin Booker (1) looks to pass during the Oklahoma City Thunder game versus the Phoenix Suns on March 8, 2018, at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK. (Photo by Torrey Purvey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder
OAKLAND, CA – JANUARY 08: Jamal Murray /

Denver Nuggets:

Record: 37-30

Current Seed: 9th

Games Remaining: 15

Back to Back Sets: One, 76ers/Raptors (Mar. 26/27)

Road vs Home Games:  10 road (35.4 win%)| 5 home (72.2 win%)

West vs. East Games:  7 West | 8 East

Games left vs. current lottery teams: 5

Games left vs. current playoff teams: 10 (last 10 are all versus playoff seeds)

Strength of Schedule remaining: Rank 9th with .520 SOS

Toughest Teams: Wolves twice, Raptors, Blazers

Easiest Teams: Pistons, Grizzlies, Bulls

Current Win Percent: 55.2%

Last 10/streaks: 6-4, two game win streak

Tie Break Records: 

Jazz: Split season series

Clippers: Nuggets up 2-0 with one to play April 7

Spurs: Split 4-game season series

Wolves: Minnesota is up 2-0 with two games to play April 5 and 7

Thunder: Denver are up 2-1 with a game left which could tie series on March 30

Pelicans: Denver won 2-1 in series

Blazers: Denver lead series 2-1 with final game April 9

Notes: 

Arguably the deepest team in the west. Denver appeared to be a lock for the postseason. They navigated the absence of Paul Millsap and remained on the playoff ladder. Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray were all on fire taking turns being the catalyst or producing game winning shots.

Then the wheels fell off. Mike Malone benched Jokic and Murray for lack of effort and the Canadian ticked off a Lakers team for the second straight meeting. As much as I love Murray’s moxie I’m not sure that was wise with the Lakers on tap this coming Tuesday.

Denver have a brutal closing schedule with their last 10 games all versus playoff squads. The Nuggets are also the only west team with copious games against the opposite conference.

Prediction:

Because the Nuggets play more of their games on the road and versus playoff teams than at home and versus lottery teams it doesn’t bode well for them. Particularly when the Nuggets struggle on the road (11-20).

As much as it felt like this squad could cause issues and play spoiler in the first round of the postseason, it seems more likely this team will miss the postseason unless they suddenly learn how to be road warriors and play defense.

I predict they’ll get six to seven more victories and finish with 42 or 43 wins. It pains me to say this because I want to see Denver return to the dance, but falling apart emotionally in the stretch run is the last thing the Nuggets needed.

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