Predicting how OKC Thunder would perform in trio of return scenarios
Scenario 3 – Direct to playoffs:
If the NBA returned and elected to jump right into the postseason the Thunder would play the Jazz but not hold home court. As noted, no team would have true homecourt advantage since the current banter is all teams would be playing in a centralized location without fans and the leading location candidate is Vegas.
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While teams like the Blazers, Kings, and Pelicans are all anxious for a chance to knock the Grizzlies out of the eighth seed it’s the Thunder who arguably sits in the most precarious position.
That’s because they currently rank ninth overall which means they’d have to give up their own draft pick to the 76ers (but retain the pick from Denver) which is top 10 protected meaning they’d need to finish 11th or lower to retain it.
Where things get tricky is if the NBA shortens playoff series to a best of five or perish the thought a best of three. Imagine you’re the Lakers or Bucks and someone has an out of body, lights out shooting night in game one.
Then the teams who fought all season to have the best records would immediately be in jeopardy of getting bounced.
Sure it adds excitement and for the OKC Thunder it might even help them but in truth just like players want to play the best players — fans want to see the best team win.
Again, the Thunder is one of seven clubs with the best road records so the prospect of not having home court advantage isn’t necessarily a disadvantage. Nor is playing the Jazz who is arguably their best match of the first-round options.