OKC Thunder playoff roundtable part 1: superstars, grades, moments and more

The Thunderous Intentions annual OKC Thunder playoff roundtable is back. Part one addresses favorite moments, season grades, Billy Donovan’s status and so much more.

We’ve reached the moment all OKC Thunder and NBA fans await from the moment the ball tips off in game one until the final buzzer sounds in game 82. The 2018-19 NBA playoffs have arrived and with it, 16 teams will begin their journey for the gold ball.

As such a few scribes from the Thunderous Intentions writing team congregated to answer ten burning questions entering the postseason. Here’s the first five with the second group coming later today.

 Looking back at the regular season, how would you evaluate the OKC Thunder performance?

Steven Maichak: A 49-33 record gives the OKC Thunder a 59.8% winning percentage. That equates to a solid F+ in school. In the NBA, however, OKC’s record was better than or equal to 21 other teams, placing the Thunder in the top 30 percent of all teams – good for a low C. Realistically, considering the team’s potential, injuries, and overall execution I think the Thunder deserve a solid B+.

Tailor Finney: I would give the team a B-. Their inconsistency has been a huge factor, but they’ve also had some phenomenal moments this season.

Rylan Stiles: I would give the OKC Thunder a C+ for the season. They finished as the 6th seed, but played so well before the All-Star break, before having an epic collapse post All-Star break, then rallying off five straight wins to earn a pretty easy path to the Western Conference finals. This season is really about what they do with this path.

Sinjin Snopczynski: Coming into the season, we all knew the Western Conference was going to be tough to navigate. If you were to tell me before the season that OKC would sweep Utah and Portland,  with that fact alone I would have probably laughed in your face. The Thunder were inconsistent, yes, but they were greatly improved game by game compared to last season’s disappointing squad. I would give OKC a ‘B’  because they still lack the consistency of a truly great team.

Alex Mcewen: NI – Needs Improvement. Prior to the break, the OKC Thunder put themselves in position own home court; then the team collapsed. The team won back-to-back games only once, before closing on a five-game win streak. As of now, the season is a disappointment, but it is also incomplete because the playoffs leave a great deal to be determined.

Tamberlyn Richardson: OKC Thunder get a firm B from me. This grade comes as a result of learning from the past. First of all, getting Paul George to re-sign was key the key to the future. Although many might not consider that as part and parcel for this process – it should be. Second, Russell Westbrook acquiesced to change his playing style so George could excel.

Factor in improvements at beating teams they lost to last season (Blazers, Jazz) and fighting to the bitter end and you understand my generous grade. Put another way – if George doesn’t get injured just as the Thunder hit the toughest portion of their schedule are we talking about the three seed instead of the sixth seed? Probably.