NBA Bubble Seeding Awards handed out with no OKC Thunder players on the list.
As the OKC Thunder prepare for their first-round match versus the Houston Rockets they do so having learned who pundits awarded with the ‘Bubble Seeding Games Awards’.
Unfortunately, no one on the team made the cut. And although T.I. noted how adeptly the Thunder performed on the defensive side of the court all the awards went to offensive performances.
Not surprisingly, Damian Lillard got the top award for the equivalent of Most Valuable Player while the Suns head coach Monty Williams got the nod with his team’s perfect 8-0 record. Little compensation for missing out on the postseason, but at least the Suns now know they can be a factor next season if they bring the same intensity and commitment.
As a reminder of how the teams performed in the seeding games here is the record for each of the 22 participants.
- 8-0: Phoenix Suns
- 7-1: Toronto Raptors
- 6-2: Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers
- 5-3: San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, LA Clippers
- 4-4: OKC Thunder, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers
- 3-5: Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings
- 2-6: Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans
- 1-7: Washington Wizards
OKC Thunder players fail to make Bubble Seeding Awards list
Pouring over the two All-NBA “seeding games” teams offered some intriguing insights. First — it was clear the voters ignored teams and players who performed well on the defensive side of the court. The Raptors and Thunder were the best defensive teams in the bubble and neither was awarded an All-NBA team nod.
Neither did these awards take into account wins over losses. Eight clubs registered above .500 records through eight games. Four players from those squads comprised the 10 selected to All-NBA and T.J. Warren was rewarded for his performance in six games having missed the last two due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
The majority of the players on the All-NBA team seeding teams played for teams who posted losing records.
Player of the Seeding Games:
Damian Lillard
Coach of the Seeding Games:
Monty Williams – Phoenix Suns (8-0)
NBA All-Seeding Games Teams:
More from Thunderous Intentions
- Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
- Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
First Team:
- Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns
- Luka Doncic – Dallas Mavericks
- Damian Lillard – Portland Trail Blazers
- James Harden – Houston Rockets
- T.J. Warren – Indiana Pacers
Second Team:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks
- Kawhi Leonard – LA Clippers
- Kristaps Porzingis – Dallas Mavericks
- Caris LeVert – Brooklyn Nets
- Michael Porter Jr – Denver Nuggets
We could get into the debate here of why no players from three of the teams with winning records made the cut or why the defensive teams were ignored. Then again, the fact basketball is happening at all isn’t what any of us expected five months ago when the pandemic hit.
Considering the NBA is on the precipice of the playoffs is something worth celebrating.