The OKC Thunder are embroiled in preparation for the NBA Draft while the NBA playoffs have been pared down to the final four teams. Tonight, Game 3 of the Eastern Conference will provide either the Milwaukee Bucks or the Atlanta Hawks with the series edge as they tip-off having each won a match at Fiserv Forum.
In the Western Conference Finals, the series is further along as the teams have played four games. Former Thunder captain, Chris Paul is back on the court and led his Suns to victory on Saturday giving Phoenix a massive 3-1 edge.
On the previous 264 occasions that teams have held a 3-1 series lead, those clubs have won 251 series or 95.1 percent of the time. Only 13 teams have come back in those instances including the Denver Nuggets who did so twice last season.
Not only are the historical odds against the Clippers coming back but without the services of their superstar Kawhii Leonard and playing Game 5 in Phoenix doesn’t bode well for LA.
Here’s hoping the Point God reaches his first NBA Final using his clutch skills for a shot at hoisting Larry O’B.
Odds of two small markets playing NBA Finals bodes well for OKC Thunder
Therefore the Suns are poised to represent the West while one of the Bucks or Hawks will counter in the East. This is great news for the OKC Thunder and other small-market teams. Not since 2006-07 ( Spurs versus Cavaliers) have two squads considered ‘small markets’ faced each other in the finals.
In the 13 seasons since that year, the 26 team breakdown is rather abysmal for small market representation. The big market teams (Lakers, Celtics, Heat, and Warriors) account for 16 appearances. Three spots belong to what the league considers mid-market squads (Mavericks, Magic, and Raptors).
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Only seven appearances were made by small markets with the Cavaliers making up the majority as LeBron James crew played the Warriors four consecutive years. The Spurs appeared twice and our OKC Thunder was the other team.
Considering the Cavaliers had the league’s best player the odds seem even more skewed. That’s why this season offers optimism for the future. As history has shown, big markets will always draw superstars. However, the events of this postseason are a boon for small markets.
Injuries to top players removed the Lakers, Nets, and 76ers early and exposed their lack of depth. Each of the four remaining teams has arguably the deepest rosters in the association.
That matters for teams like the Thunder and other small markets especially when it comes to free agency. If players feel they have a better shot at competing for a title on a deep roster versus taking less money to join a big market super team it could shift the parity in the league.
And if free agents begin to rethink their next destination based on those factors it’s perfect timing for the OKC Thunder as they work to restructure the roster holding the most draft picks over the next seven seasons.
So Thunder Nation — cheer on the Suns, Bucks, and Hawks as their success is a win-win for OKC as the franchise sets their sights on a future title run.