As the OKC Thunder prepare for the 2020-21 season TI dives into the five must-watch games of the first half.
The OKC Thunder have entered the second phase of training camp conducting group sessions. During training camp, new head coach Mark Daigneault has plenty to deal with starting with getting acquainted with a predominantly new roster. What he does know is the team’s first 37 opponents as the league released the first half of the 2020-21 schedule this weekend.
The season will launch on December 22nd with the Thunder playing their season opener on the next night (December 23rd) in Houston versus the restructured Rockets.
The second half will feature another 35 foes still to be determined. With the pandemic raging the NBA is exercising caution to allow for unforeseen issues such as the necessity to postpone games and make them up in the second half.
This season will be very different for the Thunder as the club looks to grow and develop their young assets and sets their aim on landing the top draft pick this summer. That doesn’t mean there won’t be fun and excitement as the youngsters gain chemistry. There will be more losses than normal but giddiness abounds with the franchise’s sights set on the future.
With that in mind TI dove into the first-half schedule with a view to the five must-watch games, Thunder Nation should mark on their calendars.
One caveat — in prior years matches versus the West and Northwest division were given more weight with the Thunder a perennial playoff squad. As such those games often were pivotal to playoff seeding.
Given the new focus, this year’s list is reflective of that change. And, while every contest offers up star talents and enticing matchups this list prioritizes returning players who the fanbase will be excited to witness with their new clubs.
With that let’s dive into the top five must-watch games…
Must-watch Game 1: Lakers at Chesapeake, January 13th
January will be a daunting month for the OKC Thunder who’ll play a five-game road trip primarily on the East coast. Upon their return to Oklahoma they play a back-to-back set featuring the Spurs and Lakers.
Typically the first game back from a long opposite coast swing is the hardest for clubs as they’re still adapting back to the Central time zone and recovering from the fatigue of travel. Making this situation all the more difficult is the second game will be against the reigning champion Lakers. The good news for OKC is the Lakers will also be playing on a back-to-back set having faced the Rockets the night prior.
This is the first time Thunder Nation will get to witness their Sixth Man from last season as Dennis Schroder makes his return to the Peake.
In addition to the former Thunder guard, the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be on hand to wow the fans unless the champions decide to load manage the pair this early in the season. With LA playing consecutive games in Houston however, perhaps LA will sit the stars the night prior.
OKC will get to see a lot of Dennis Schroder early in the calendar with two consecutive games in LA on February 8th and 10th at Staples Center.
Schroder became part of the killer clutch lineup with the trio guard rotation featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chris Paul last season. It will be intriguing to see who Mark Daigneault puts on the scrappy point guard to slow him in OKC.
The more perplexing question will be who’ll guard LeBron James. With Trevor Ariza still out that task could fall upon Luguentz Dort, Hamidou Diallo, or possibly Darius Bazley. It will be a great measuring stick for whichever youngster lands the assignment and there is a possibility all three could spend time on the King.