Breaking down the OKC Thunder schedule using the MOIST-ARID analysis

The OKC Thunder have the toughest remaining schedule of any team they will compete against for seeding and the seventh toughest overall. Is it as bad as it looks?

For what seems like the entire last half of the season, the OKC Thunder have had the toughest remaining schedule of any team – or close to it. I wouldn’t personally blame the team’s recent struggles on that strength of schedule, but hey, I’m a fan.

There are several reasons for the struggles. Paul George and Dennis Schröder have struggled, the entire team except for Russell Westbrook has actually shot, just, oh so terribly. PG even missed a few games and then struggled to regain his rhythm for a few.

My personal favorite reason for the hard times has been a slackening defensive effort in the dog days of the season. That, combined with the shooting woes, is a recipe for… well, a recipe that won’t make it into a cookbook.

It’s hard to tell if those are excuses or truth, and it’s hard to tell the same about the recent schedule. Yes, the Thunder have had a tough schedule recently. But, yes, they had chances to win several games that they coughed away. The coughing fit in Indy comes to mind.

I hesitate to put it on the schedule, but the schedule is definitely a factor. So, let’s take a look at what the Thunder have left.