OKC Thunder: How does NBA 2K19 project the Thunder?
By Rylan Stiles
The newest NBA video game, NBA 2K19, came out this week. How do the OKC Thunder fair on a simulation of the 2018-19 season?
The NBA season is almost here. We are two weeks out from Media Day, and training camp, and then it will be time for meaningless preseason basketball..but hey, at least it is basketball. Hoop heads got their first small taste of the 2018-19 season when the newest installment of NBA 2K dropped on Tuesday. While we wait for real NBA news and content, why not make our own? Literally.
I took to the virtual hardwood and simulated an entire season to see how the OKC Thunder will fair in the eyes of NBA 2K.
So, how did the OKC Thunder do? Well, they finished 57-25, good enough for the two seed in the tough Western Conference. A 15-game winning streak at the end of December stretching into the start of the New Year helped boost OKC into the two seed. According to this 2K sim, the Warriors will earn the number one seed and will win 67-games this year.
Russell Westbrook earned the All Star nod, being selected to Team Kawhi who NBA 2K thinks will be one of the captains for the new All Star format. Paul George joined Russell Westbrook on team Kawhi.
Russell Westbrook was selected to be on the All-NBA first team, while Paul George took home third team honors. Those were the only OKC Thunder representatives on an All-NBA list.
Player averages:
- Russell Westbrook: 27-points, 9-rebounds, 7-assists
- Paul George: 24-points, 6-rebounds, 4-assists
- Dennis Schroder: 18-points, 1-rebound, 6-assists
- Steven Adams: 12-points 9-rebounds
- Jerami Grant: 10-points, 5-rebounds
- Raymond Felton: 8-points, 1-rebound, 3-assists
- Nerlens Noel 6-points, 7-rebounds, 1-block
- Alex Abrines: 4-points
- Andre Roberson: 3-points, 4-rebounds, 1-steal, .5-block
- Patrick Patterson: 2-points, 2-rebounds
- TLC, Ferguson, Diallo, Nader, did not register an average.
- Clearly, the NBA 2k rotation system is flawed.
Team Stats:
- 110-points per game, 101-points against per game.
- 48-percent team field goal percentage
- 35-percent team three-point percentage
- 73-percent from the free throw line as a team
- OKC had the third most turnovers in the NBA as a team
Play off matchup:
Round one: (2) OKC Thunder vs (7) New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans swept the OKC Thunder in the first round of the NBA Playoffs despite OKC being the number two seed.
Steven Adams missed the entire series with a hand fracture, and OKC could not even steal a game.
a 57-win season down the drain for the OKC Thunder according to NBA 2K.
Around the League:
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Western Conference playoff seeding:
- Warriors
- Thunder
- Jazz
- Rockets
- Lakers
- Spurs
- Pelicans
- Timberwolves
Eastern Conference playoff seeding:
- Raptors
- Celtics
- 76ers
- Bucks
- Pistons
- Pacers
- Nets
- Cavs
Conference Finals match ups:
West: Warriors vs Pelicans, East: Raptors vs 76ers.
NBA Finals: Warriors sweep the Raptors and KD wins another Finals MVP.
Regular season awards:
- MVP: Steph Curry (29-5-7)
- ROY: Luka Doncic (14-6-7)
- 6th man: Montrezl Harrell (14-6)
- Defensive player of the year: Giannas Antetokounmpo
- Most Improved Player: Buddy Hield (18-4-3)
- Coach of the year: Nick Nurse (Raptors went 65-17)
Next. Ranking top 50 dunks in Thunder franchise history. dark
Do you agree with the NBA 2K projections? Let me know on twitter @Rylan_Stiles or in the comments section below.