OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings -Griffin buyout shifts ladder at half way mark
team. 149. . 15-21. Previous: 22nd. Oklahoma City Thunder. 22
OKC Thunder:
Week 11: 1-1
Won vs: Spurs 107-102
Lost to: Mavericks 78-87
Week 12 opponents: Mavericks, Knicks, Grizzlies
Offense: (104.2) 30th
Defense: (109.8) 10th
Net: (Minus -5.7) 27th
The OKC Thunder arrives at the halfway mark well ahead of the pace of where Vegas oddsmakers projected them to perform this season. Specifically, oddsmakers predicted OKC would finish last in the West with 22.5 wins which is the same number the Cavaliers and Knicks were projected to have.
With 15 wins already in the books, OKC would have to finish 7-29 to meet those projections. It’s not out of the question, however, it sure feels like Mark Daigneault would have to make a concerted effort to tank some wins to hit that low mark.
Even as the Thunder approach the second half of the season it’s not a given they’ll regress in the next 36 games. That’s because the veteran talents of Al Horford and George Hill, while valuable assets haven’t been a part of some of the team’s biggest wins this season.
A big reason why is the young group of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Theo Maledon, Luguentz Dort, Darius Bazley and Isaiah Roby have performed exceptionally well as a starting unit. Intentions dove into this dynamic in our post this weekend.
Moving forward, if the Thunder trades Hill and Horford and this unit becomes the everyday starters it will provide a litmus test for the unit while simultaneously allowing the lineup to continue to build chemistry.
Ultimately, in the second half of the 2020-21 season, there are numerous storylines Thunder Nation will actively be invested in watching as they develop. Specifically —
- How active with the Thunder be at the trade deadline and will Sam Presti elect to target draft picks or young assets?
- Will the team invest in playing the youthful starting lineup to gain more experience to benefit the future?
- If the Thunder continue to overachieve will coach Daigneault make a concerted effort to purposely lose some games in order to improve the club’s draft position?
- Conversely, if the Thunder continue to overperform will they actively try to move up to nab a play-in tournament seed to give their youngsters that valuable experience?
As for things outside the Thunder control, scoreboard watching will rank high with hopes the Rockets finish 26th or higher and Warriors finish in the top 10. That would mean both those teams would have to convey their first-round 2021 draft picks to the Thunder.