OKC Thunder: Final game will determine OKC Blue playoff fate

The 2020-21 NBA season will go down in history with caveats and asterisks. The OKC Thunder like all 30 teams experienced a truncated offseason and will play 72 games instead of the typical 82 matches.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic created the need for changes and the league has adapted with the long-range view of getting back on track next season. Currently, the Thunder and their counterparts are on the All-Star break and will return to action on March 11th to complete the second half of the regular season.

Four teams will start back a day earlier to make up some postponed games from the first half. OKC will play 36 matches while their peers will play between 34 and 40 games wrapping up the regular season on May 16th.

OKC Thunder affiliate OKC Blue can clinch playoff berth in final game

While the flurry of games can seem daunting it’s nothing in comparison to what the Thunder G-League affiliate the OKC Blue and 17 other participating clubs experienced in the G-League bubble.

The season began on February 10th and finishes today with eight teams then moving onto the playoffs which feature single-elimination games. For those counting the teams played those 15 contests within 25 days.

The short timeline required multiple back-to-back sets as the OKC Blue played five such sets. In comparison, some varsity squads played fewer back-to-back sets in the first half although that portion of the calendar was over two months in duration.

With their final regular-season game set to occur today (March 6th) the OKC Blue hold their playoff fate in their own hands. The game began at 3:30 EST (2:30 CT) in the G-League bubble against the Santa Cruz Warriors.  A victory by the Blue would cement their playoff participation and secure the final open playoff berth.

If the Blue lose they’ll have to wait to see the outcome from the G-League Ignite game this evening (7:00 PM EST) versus the Austin Spurs. A loss by the Ignite would also confirm the Blue making the playoffs.

This eighth seed is the only slot to be filled as seven teams have secured their participation. In addition to the Blue and Warriors match, three other matches are slated for today and will determine seeding.

Only the Raptors 905 have cemented their seed at the top of the ladder. The big question, however, is whether the Blue or Ignite will be the eighth seed.

1. Raptors 905: 12-3, Raptors affiliate
2. Erie Bayhawks: 11-4, Pelicans affiliate
3. Delaware Blue Coats: 10-4, 76ers affiliate
4. Santa Cruz Warriors: 10-4, Warriors affiliate
5. Austin Spurs: 10-4, Spurs affiliate
6. Lakeland Magic: 9-6, Magic affiliate
7. Rio Grande Valley Vipers: 9-6, Rockets affiliate
8. TBA (either Blue or Ignite)

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Although it might seem like a losing scenario if the Blue end up in the eighth seed and have to play the top-seeded Raptors 905 (who defeated the Blue 115-93 in their initial meeting) circumstance could benefit OKC.

Because the Raptors varsity club got hit hard by COVID-19 this week they were forced to call up rookie Malachi Flynn and two-way players Jalen Harris, and Donta Hall.

The Raptors needed them in order to have eight players for their games on March 3rd and 4th and the cutoff to return to the G-League bubble was March 3rd.

Flynn averaged 20.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals, shooting 40.9% from deep, and is arguably the 905’s best defender.

Harris averaged 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals with a blistering 50 percent perimeter efficiency on 5.7 attempts per game.

Center Hall provided rebounding (8.3) and rim protection (2.1 blocks). While this trio missed the prior meeting between the clubs the 905 have been playing shorthanded in their absence so it could benefit the Blue.

Regardless, the focus for today is beating the Warriors and cementing their playoff berth. As of posting the Blue were trailing the Warriors 76-79 at the end of the third quarter. Wishing Moses Brown, Aleksej Pokusevski, and the Blue good fortune!

The playoffs begin immediately and run over five days – March 7th to 11th.