The 10-Game stretch that will make or break season for Thunder

The OKC Thunder are heading into the 2024-25 NBA season with the hopes of not only replicating their successes from last year but, ultimately, surpassing them.

Even with the fact that they finished with the best record in the Western Conference and advanced to their first semifinal appearance since 2016, considering they were manhandled and, ultimately, downed by the physically superior and more experienced Mavericks in six games of the second round, heading into the summer it was evident that Oklahoma City still had holes in need of filling.

As a result, Sam Presti and company took command of this offseason by executing a slew of moves that improved coach Mark Daigneault's arsenal for the better, for he not only added much-needed size to their frontcourt with the addition of Isaiah Hartenstein but, also, brought on more shooting to their backcourt rotation via the trade that netted them elite 3-and-D guard, Alex Caruso.

Now, this revamped Thunder squad heads into the new season with high hopes and expectations attached to them, with odds-makers going as far as to suggest they have the second-best odds of taking home the illustrious Larry O'Brien Trophy behind only the reigning NBA Champions themselves, the Boston Celtics.

Of course, before they can even consider hoisting their franchise's first-ever championship banner into the rafters at Paycom Center they must get through the upcoming 82-game regular season slate that comes with it.

Upon looking at the upcoming schedule for the Thunder, it's evident that there will be several hurdles they need to leap over in their pursuits of re-claiming the top seed in the Western Conference and, of course, ultimate glory, though along the way they'll find themselves amid a 10-game slate that, upon initial review, easily seems to be their most challenging on the year.

Thunder face 10-game stretch that will define trajectory of NBA season

There will be no hand-outs for the Thunder in 2024-25, nor should there be. Should they be aiming to be the best team in the league they'll have to beat the best.

Still, looking at how their schedule for this coming season breaks down, it's rather evident that they have a truly difficult task ahead of them -- eight of their first 14 opponents won 47 or more games last year, and several of the others such as San Antonio have only managed to improve --, though their 10-game slate between December 31 and January 17 is the real eye sore to see.

With the exception of the Washington Wizards, all of these teams clinched a postseason berth last year with 47 or more wins under their belts and five rank within the top-seven in odds to win the 2025 NBA Championship, according to FanDuel.

What bodes well for the Thunder during this two-and-a-half week period is the fact that they'll start off with five home games in a row, which could theoretically have them heading into their bout against the reigning champ Boston Celtics and their four-game road trip thereafter with momentum on their side depending on their record.

At this stage of the season last year, Oklahoma City sported a record of 27-13 (.675), though, admittedly, had no stretch as difficult as this one projects to be, which is why these 10 games will be crucial in determining just how strong this new-look team truly is.

If they can come away with a winning record during this span, their odds of staying at the top of the totem pole in the vastly improved Western Conference standings will only grow stronger.