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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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 8: Jamal Crawford /

Minnesota Timberwolves:

Record: 39-29

Current Seed: 6th

Games Remaining: 14

Back to Back Sets: Three, @Spurs/Rockets (Mar. 17/18), @NYK/@76ers (Mar. 23/24), @Nuggets/@Lakers (Apr. 5/6)

Road vs Home Games: 7 road (38.2 win%)| 7 home (76.4 win%)

West vs. East Games:  10 West |  4 East

Games left vs. current lottery teams: 8

0Games left vs. current playoff teams: 6

Strength of Schedule remaining: Rank 23rd with .474 SOS

Toughest Teams: Rockets, Warriors, Wizards, Spurs

Easiest Teams: Grizzlies x 2, Hawks, Lakers

Current Win Percent: 57.4%

Last 10/streaks: 5-5, beat the Warriors after losing three in a row

Tie Break Records: 

Jazz: Wolves lead series 2 games to 1 with another to occur on April 1

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

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

Spurs: Series is split with one to play on March 17

Thunder: Minnesota won series 3-1

Pelicans: Wolves swept season series

Blazers: series tied 2-2

Notes: 

Since losing Jimmy Butler to the MCL injury the Wolves have split their wins and losses equally. Except for the Warriors all the wins came against lottery squads.

Butler is expected to make a return, but the question is whether the Wolves can stay afloat until his return. Moreover, what are the reasonable expectations for Butler once he does return. Coach Thibs can’t immediately expect him to play copious minutes.  And, he’ll need time to get his legs back.

Prediction:

The saving grace for the Wolves could be the large number of lottery teams they’ll play (6, 9 if you count the Spurs and Nuggets as non-playoff teams). The concern is the seven road games Minnesota plays. Again, the positive here is three of those games are against lottery squads (Knicks, Mavericks, Lakers).

My hope for the Minnesota fans is the Wolves hang in to make the postseason. OKC is a young franchise playing in their tenth season. In the previous nine years the team has missed the playoffs just twice. It’s unfathomable then to think of missing 13 consecutive playoffs.

The Timberpups grew up this season and hoped to make some noise with a deep playoff run. With the injury to Butler, perhaps the best they can hope for now is to get to the dance and at the very least get Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns some experience. Let’s hope they get that opportunity.

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