Thunder in the news: Rest day nets benefits, Push comes to shove
In the news features the ever shifting wild west and impending challenge for the OKC Thunder.
St. Patrick’s Day sure was good to the OKC Thunder. While the team rested, watched March Madness and prepared for their impending trip north their western counterparts went to work on the hardwood. The result, for the most part paid dividends for the Thunder.
Although March Madness beckons OKC Thunder and NBA fans can’t afford to miss daily updates in the NBA. Such is the status of the playoff race with the ever shifting playoff ladder.
Earlier this week I did a deep dive on 4th – 10th stretch schedule. It examined each team in terms of their stretch schedule. More specifically, the analysis broke down the remaining schedules with a view to home versus road, back to back sets, playoff versus lottery and tiebreaker status.
Just to show how quickly things can change this is where each team sat entering game play on Tuesday, March 13th.
The five day shift:
In a matter of just five days of game action much has changed among the four through ten seeds. All the teams played two (Thunder/Wolves) or three games. The OKC Thunder, Spurs and Jazz were unbeaten during this stretch while all the other teams lost at least one game.
New status of ladder:
Virtually every team in the four through ten segment changed positions except the OKC Thunder and Timberwolves.
If you caught my deep dive, things are on track for what I envisioned; the Clippers and Nuggets are losing ground. Meanwhile the Jazz and (never bet against them) Spurs have each climbed three spots.
Saturday action worked to help the OKC Thunder. Specifically, when two squads in this group play OKC fans should pull for San Antonio, Utah, LAC or Denver. Those are the squads OKC either owns the tiebreaker versus (Jazz/Clippers), is up in the series (Spurs) or has a game eft to even the season series (Nuggets).
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
The team I cautioned you not to count out was the Spurs who’ve won three in a row including key victories over the Pelicans and Wolves. Utah continues to roll and would face the Thunder if the playoffs began today.
Although uncertainty exists regarding how well rookie Donovan Mitchell would fair in his postseason debut, the defensive prowess of the Jazz is a little concerning.
Is it too early to start wishing for a first round opponent?
Although the Thunder took the season series 3-1, Rudy Gobert was out injured in two of their three victories. So, while it’s preferable for the Jazz to win instead of the Wolves or Pelicans the main game could occur in Utah’s final game when they’ll play the Blazers. And, this only would be the case if OKC is tied with the Blazers. Since Portland owns the tiebreaker, OKC would then need Utah to beat them in this final game.
In the five days of action OKC has increased their lead over the trailing teams by a full game. New Orleans who sat a half game back of OKC entering Tuesday now trail OKC by two.
Suffice to say, each day this ladder shifts and the hope is OKC will maintain or climb upward to the third seed.
Although the Thunder lost the season series to the Pelicans and Wolves they may be the best first round matchups. New Orleans has Anthony Davis, but an inconsistent and older core. The Wolves are offensive juggernauts. Yet, the uncertainty of whether Jimmy Butler will return and how he’ll function if he does, make them more desirable than the Spurs for example who have the coaching savant Gregg Popovich (who no one should ever bet against).
Furthermore, the threat of a returning Kawhi Leonard looms. Prior to this week I was keen to pull for OKC finishing in the Rockets bracket. But, with news Kevin Durant has joined the list of walking wounded it makes the Warriors a little less frightening. Sure, Steph Curry, K.D. and Klay Thompson should all be back in time for the postseason. But, how healthy will they be?
Time to beast:
Ultimately, none of this will matter if the OKC Thunder don’t take care of their own business. OKC passed the first test beating the Clippers. Awaiting them are ten more opponents or similar or increasingly difficult ilk. The Raptors represent one of the toughest tests. Fortunately for OKC, Toronto are playing their sixth game in nine days and looked fatigued in their last outing Friday.
Royce Young of ESPN article highlights how important this stretch is for the OKC Thunder. And, reminds Thunder Nation of the most asked question this season – have the Thunder finally figured it out?
"It’s been a process for the Thunder to get to that point, with the peaks and valleys coming in obvious waves, but if they’re going to be for real, this is their time to prove it. They can look at the schedule ahead and see a snake pit, or they can see it as an opportunity to rise to the occasion. They’ve played their best when their backs are pushed to the wall, and when they’ve played higher level competition. They’ve seen themselves as a sleeping giant, on the cusp of something great. Whether, ahem, Corey Brewer is what actually restores them to believing in that or not, there’s a true confidence emanating out of the locker room again."
For a full preview check out the gameday preview below, which offers a deep dive on the Toronto Raptors and what OKC will need to do to capture the win.
Next: Deep Dive Preview - OKC vs. red hot Raptors
Getting a victory north of the border at the ACC has been a rarity, but the fruit is ripe to be picked. That’s it for in the news today. Don’t miss the game it’s an early 1:00 PM ET tip. Check us out on twitter and catch our post game roundup and player grades after the game.
Have a great Sunday and see you back here to start your week Monday.