Thunderous Intentions
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Roundtable Sessions: Ranking OKC Thunder in key stats categories and the 16 playoff seeds

By Tamberlyn Richardson

OKC Thunder: Steven Adams #12, Terrance Ferguson #23, Dennis Schroder #17, Chris Paul #3, Danilo Gallinari #8, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 pose for a portrait during media day (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKC Thunder: Steven Adams #12, Terrance Ferguson #23, Dennis Schroder #17, Chris Paul #3, Danilo Gallinari #8, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 pose for a portrait during media day (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder Roundable
OKC Thunder Roundable: Los Angeles Clippers Forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Los Angeles Lakers Guard LeBron James (23) (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Tamberlyn Richardson:

Although I could easily see the Lakers finishing higher, I also think they’ll be a bit of cat and mouse going on at season end where the Lakers will do what’s necessary to avoid meeting the Clippers until the Western Conference Finals – hence why I placed them where I did. Plus father time marches on as LeBron turns 35 in December and Anthony Davis has historically been unlucky with weird injuries. If they aren’t right on the heels of the top seed it’s feasible the Lakers would employ some minor “load management” to get them both to the playoffs as healthy as possible. And, I simply can’t see the Lakers pushing them to get the one seed.

The battle of the young clubs will arguably be more interesting than the Staples Center wars. We’ll know a lot more after the first quarter is complete although some of these squads have much tougher itinerary’s to start the season so it might not be the typical precursor it’s been in past seasons.

Like every season, I also suspect the teams will enter the final week of the season with most of the seeds unsettled and the final seeds still up for grabs with several of the younger squads vying to gain the last berth.

  1. Denver Nuggets
  2. LA Clippers
  3. Utah Jazz
  4. LA Lakers
  5. Houston Rockets
  6. Portland Trail Blazers
  7. San Antonio Spurs (note: I had Spurs 6th but the Kawhi/Pops R1 was too compelling)
  8. Dallas Mavericks (depending on how quickly Kristaps gels they could be a home court seed!

*The caveat for the Thunder is trades — if Presti keeps the squad together they could easily vie for a mid-range seed (6th through 8th). If he trades off several members of the core they’ll fight for the final seed but have an uphill battle.

Rylan Stiles:

  1. Jazz
  2. Lakers
  3. Nuggets
  4. Clippers
  5. Rockets
  6. Trailblazers
  7. Warriors
  8. Mavericks
  9. Kings
  10. Spurs
  11. Pelicans
  12. Thunder
  13. Timberwolves
  14. Suns
  15. Grizzles

Chase Beal-Sharp:

  1. Los Angeles Clippers
  2. Denver Nuggets
  3. Houston Rockets
  4. Los Angeles Lakers
  5. Utah Jazz
  6. Portland Trailblazers
  7. San Antonio Spurs
  8. Sacramento Kings
  9. Golden State Warriors
  10. Oklahoma City Thunder

Aidan E:

Rockets, Nuggets, Clippers, Lakers, Jazz, Warriors, Trailblazers, Spurs

Matthew Hallet:

(* NOT in order)

LA Lakers
LA Clippers
Utah Jazz
Denver Nuggets
Houston Rockets
Portland Trailblazers
Sacramento Kings
Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevon Stewart:

  1. Rockets
  2. Nuggets
  3. Lakers
  4. Clippers
  5. Spurs
  6. Warriors
  7. Trailblazers
  8. Kings

Tyler Barger:

1.  Denver Nuggets
2.Los Angeles Clippers
3.Houston Rockets
4.Portland Trail Blazers
5.Los Angeles Lakers
6. Utah Jazz
7. Golden State Warriors
8.San Antonio Spurs
9.Oklahoma City Thunder

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