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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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 10: Tobias Harris /

LA Clippers:

Record: 36-29

Current Seed: 7th

Games Remaining: 17

Back to Back Sets: Three @Houston/@OKC (Mar. 15/16), @Wolves/@Bucks (Mar. 20/21), Bucks/@Suns (Mar. 27/28)

Road vs Home Games: 10 road (51.6 win%) | 7 home (58.8 win%)

West vs. East Games:  11 West | 6 East

Games left vs. current lottery teams: 3

Games left vs. current playoff teams: 14

Strength of Schedule remaining: Rank 4th with .557 SOS

Toughest Teams: Rockets, Raptors, Blazers x 2

Easiest Teams: Suns, Bulls, Lakers

Current Win Percent: 55.4%

Last 10/streaks: 7-3, won two in a row

Tie Break Records: 

Jazz: Utah up 2-1 with final game in series to be played April 5.

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

Spurs:  San Antonio lead series 2-0 with game to play April 3

Wolves: Minnesota has won series 3-0 with game to play March 20

Thunder: OKC has won series 2-0 with game to play March 16

Pelicans: New Orleans leads series 2-1 with game to play April 9

Blazers: Season series is split so far 1-1, with two games to play March 18 and 30

Notes: 

Raise your hand if you’re dying for a tunnel series. Okay – so whether it’s realistic or not for this completely revamped squad to make the postseason, it’s something I want.

In the current NBA there are so few rivalries. Obviously the Thunder and Warriors have the built in angst. With Kyrie Irving‘s exit to Boston one would think there would be a natural dislike between the squads. LeBron patted Irving on the head and repeatedly called him kid, but is there much more to this?

Joel Embiid has created some contentious affiliations with individuals like Hassan Whiteside and Russell Westbrook.  But, the reality is it’s more likely to benefit his brand and image as a prankster than carrying any true angst behind it.

The Wizards and Celtics had something brewing but then Danny Ainge restructured the team leaving only four players on it from last season.

Therefore, at least in the early rounds the Clippers versus the Rockets offers the best potential for some extra drama.

Prediction:

Unfortunately, the Clippers also have one of the most brutal schedules remaining of the teams vying for playoff seeding. Since the trade sent Blake Griffin to Detroit an interesting change occurred. LA played seven road games afterwards winning five which pushed the Clippers above .500 on the road. The two losses came against a 76ers squad on a hot streak and the Warriors at Oracle.

If LA can replicate that seven game road run of 5-2 during the stretch run they could conceivably stay on the ladder and deliver the tunnel series I so desperately desire.

To get there LA will likely need to win between 10 to 12 of their final 17 games. A tall task given the 14 playoff seeds in the queue.

What will help the Clippers is their fifth ranked offense since the break. In spite of that improvements will need to be made on the opposite side of the court. With 14 playoff seeded teams in the queue it represents a massive hill to climb.

I’ll continue to hope the Clippers surprise for my tunnel series, but I think they fall just short with 44 to 45 wins.

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