OKC Thunder embroiled in the calm before the storm

The OKC Thunder are hungry to prove rebounds aren’t just in the games as Oklahoma City is ready to rebound into who they want to be in the playoffs.

It’s no secret the OKC Thunder have been in self-destruct mode since the All-Star break. Sure, Oklahoma City was tasked with tackling the league’s toughest remaining schedule since that time, but it’s clear the Thunder’s toughest opponent has been none other than themselves. The Thunder boast a 45-33 record, 8-13 in this final stretch. Oklahoma City had a 37-20 record and went 8-2 in the 10 games leading up to the break. What happened?

Plain and simple, OKC’s mercurial Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality reached out and grabbed the team with all its might. Fortunately, the Thunder, with all the talent and potential they have, appear to be on the precipice of regaining and unleashing their high-voltage, lightning-pace capabilities on their four remaining adversaries. Though more of a prolonged funk, we’ll call it the calm before the storm.

With 82 games guaranteed, the marathon each team undergoes allows for an undulating ebb and flow of highs and lows as the season progresses. The Thunder are enduring a storm of their own, but the winds will eventually shift. What goes around comes around, bringing the storm to others.

OKC was dubbed a dark horse candidate to win a championship. Sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference standings, there is no where else to go but up. In a desperate fight for improved seeding, there has never been a darker horse more eager to break its reigns and run rampant. Read ahead to see the how the Thunder’s spiraling journey can make for a grand return to top form.