29 replies to this topic

[timetodienow1234567]

No, but that's because harden hasn't flirted with going somewhere else. Durant has made some comments, knowing full well how they would be interpreted, that made some convinced he would go to WSH.

If that was our scenario, I'd think about it but probably would opt for not doing that trade. Plus Gortat overlaps with Howard. He wouldn't with Ibaka.

I was just throwing out scenarios. We all know how cheap the thunder are. How do we know they want to pay Durant the max anyway? It's not the minimax.

[Mario Peña]

So Jones is hurt and now Presti has brought in Ish Smith. Brooks is looking to get points with Ibaka, Jackson and now Smith, that's rough.

If the Thunder go 3 and 17 till early December when the team returns from a road trip perhaps Durant uses the Bucks game as a warm up before their home game against James and the Cavs. Including that game the Thunder would have to go 45 and 17 the rest of the way to get to 48 wins which just might be the 8th seed in the West. Durant will have to dominate to win 73% of the remaining games.

[Drew in Abilene]

As of tonight, both Westbrook and Durant have returned to the OKC lineup. They are currently sitting at 5-12, pending this evening's matchup versus the Pellies. In order to reach 49 wins, they will need to go 44-21 the rest of the way. That's not impossible by any means, but they will need to stay healthy and knock the rust off quickly. I think this is going to be the most exciting playoff chase the league has ever seen, especially with the Suns, Kings, and Pellies all pushing for that eighth spot as well.

 

Edit: 5-13 now. Need 44-20.

[thejohnnygold]

I am also very excited about this.  The Thunder over the last 3 seasons have sported a winning percentage above 70% ( 71%, 73%, and 72% respectively).  To go 44-20 the rest of this season would be a winning percentage of..............69%.  So, to count them out would be foolish at this point.

 

If they can stay healthy I think they make it.  If the standings hold, that means a first round match up with the Grizz or Golden State....either of which will be must-see TV.

[thejohnnygold]

Anyone notice the Thunder are only 2.5 games out of the 8th seed?  I'm feeling confident they will have a say on who goes to the finals this season.  Once they overtake Phoenix, Sacramento, NO, and Denver (and they will), that means the West will have 8 teams who legitimately believe they can win a championship this season...and, for the most part, they're all correct.

 

The first round of this year's WC playoffs is going to be epic.  As of now (assuming OKC takes the 8th seed) these would be your first round match-ups:

 

GS vs. OKC (who doesn't want to watch this?)

 

MEM vs. DAL (another great match-up.  Dirk vs. Z-Bo, offense vs. defense....good coaching....)

 

POR vs. SA (the rematch.  is this the year SA is "too old"?)

 

HOU vs. LAC (yikes!  probably the worst match up for us.  I would rather draw any of the other 3 lower seeds.)

 

Meanwhile, over in the Leastern Conference sports fans will get treated to:

 

TOR vs. BKN

 

ATL vs. MIA

 

WAS vs. MIL

 

CLE vs. CHI

 

the ATL and CLE series should be decent...otherwise, wake me up for round 2 after BKN and MIL go home.

 

I know it's early and things will shift....it'll be fun to see how it all winds up.

[Steven]

Zach Lowe wrote a good article on Grantland about how the Bucks have turned it around so fast.

http://grantland.com...for-the-future/

[Red94]

It's funny how quickly the question went from whether the Thunder would make it to how high they can climb in the standings.

[Sir Thursday]

It might change again if Durant is out for a while longer. Part of the equation for them getting in was no further injury setbacks, after all...

 

ST

[Red94]

Yeah, I spoke way too soon.  I watched the end of their game against Dallas and they looked like a complete mess.  

[Mario Peña]

Durant looks like he might be unable to come back this season and make an impact. His story is becoming ripe with storylines but it is unfortunate he cannot get healthy. I hope he comes back healthy next year.