Can OKC miss the playoffs?

[durden_tyler]

They are in the West. If without Durant, Westbrook they don't get to 0.500 they will miss the playoffs.

why?

even if they are 6-16 or so

they win 45 of 60 and are in

That's, of course, probable. But more than their performance i just think other teams are also capable of finishing with a better record than them. These games without Durant and Westbrook will be a major factor if they make it or not.

[BigFatBob]

They'll miss the playoffs if Westbrook and Durrant continue to miss games.

[laika]

Lets suppose that Durant and Westbrook come back in mid-December. OKC would be about 6-19 by then. Winning at last years pace for the rest of the year would be close to a best case scenario. That would put them at 47 wins, and most likely missing the playoffs.

[naabzor]

Sure, if they will have in the end a worse record than the 8th seed, of course they can.

[-Sammy-]

Sure, if they will have in the end a worse record than the 8th seed, of course they can.

Top-shelf analysis.

[celtics543]

The problem is that it's going to take Westbrook and Durant some time to get back into game shape and they could easily blow some games even after the two come back. I would imagine Durant won't come back and start playing 40 minutes a game.

[KD35Brah]

Do people think it's going to take 49 wins to make the playoffs again?

It's never been a constant thing, has it? I wouldn't be surprised if a 45 win team is enough to get into the playoffs this year.

[pylb]

Sure, if they will have in the end a worse record than the 8th seed, of course they can.

Top-shelf analysis.

I think if they aren't top 8 in wins in the West they might miss the playoffs.

[naabzor]

Sure, if they will have in the end a worse record than the 8th seed, of course they can.

Top-shelf analysis.

I think if they aren't top 8 in wins in the West they might miss the playoffs.

Kinda agree with this gentleman.

On a serious note, you can't take this thread seriously, because who friggin knows how things will shape in the future??? You can make your bizarre calculation and then KD could proceed to tear his meniscus or Ibaka can hurt his quadriceps or whatever. Too many what if, now. We can at least wait to KD and RUSS to come back and see if they can perform and what type of record they have at that point?

[Ice Man]

Let's see. 3-10 now. If OKC plays .400 ball for the next 20 games with Durant and Westbrook out, and then those guys return, the team would be 11-22. It would need to go 37-12 from that point to win 48.

Looks pretty dicey to me. I wouldn't put OKC at more than a 50% chance to make it.

[NBAfan3024]

Let's see. 3-10 now. If OKC plays .400 ball for the next 20 games with Durant and Westbrook out, and then those guys return, the team would be 11-22. It would need to go 37-12 from that point to win 48.

Looks pretty dicey to me. I wouldn't put OKC at more than a 50% chance to make it.

and that is with no injury setbacks.

[jjscap]

When they're back healthy they'll need to end the remaining of the season with 35+ wins, .72+ record. Doable but tough. Schedule could be decisive.

[nbafan38]

When this thread began I thought it was unlikely they would miss the playoffs, however at 3-10 already it's starting to look like a real possibility. If the team really falls apart and Durant and Westrbook don't come back soon, Cuban's idea of tanking the season to get a high draft pick might not be that awful. I wouldn't say they are at that point yet, but if fall more than 10 games under .500 which is staring to look possible before Durant and Westbrook come back, it's going to be tough to get out of that hole in the west.

[TheKingofSting]

They'll make it if they have no key injuries after they do finally get healthy.

[RSCD3_]

When this thread began I thought it was unlikely they would miss the playoffs, however at 3-10 already it's starting to look like a real possibility. If the team really falls apart and Durant and Westrbook don't come back soon, Cuban's idea of tanking the season to get a high draft pick might not be that awful. I wouldn't say they are at that point yet, but if fall more than 10 games under .500 which is staring to look possible before Durant and Westbrook come back, it's going to be tough to get out of that hole in the west.

Being the best non playoff team gurantees them the ninth so if they barely miss their pick is still a lot higher

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[zimpy27]

If Durant doesn't get injured again then there is no way they miss the playoffs.

[nbafan38]

When this thread began I thought it was unlikely they would miss the playoffs, however at 3-10 already it's starting to look like a real possibility. If the team really falls apart and Durant and Westrbook don't come back soon, Cuban's idea of tanking the season to get a high draft pick might not be that awful. I wouldn't say they are at that point yet, but if fall more than 10 games under .500 which is staring to look possible before Durant and Westbrook come back, it's going to be tough to get out of that hole in the west.

Being the best non playoff team gurantees them the ninth so if they barely miss their pick is still a lot higher

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I more so meant if they get off to n awful start and then just decide to rest KD and Westbrook for the rest of the season and end up with one of the worst records in the league. I think that is not a likely outcome at this point though.

[bran muffin]

I've looked at the Thunder's schedule.

Westbrook must be back in uniform by mid-December at the latest, and Durant before the end of the year. If either one of them returns later than those dates, the Thunder will have no shot at the playoffs. Not realistically, anyway.

We'll know more next week when both players are re-evaluated by the medical staff.

[cb4_89]

They are in the West. If without Durant, Westbrook they don't get to 0.500 they will miss the playoffs.

why?

even if they are 6-16 or so

they win 45 of 60 and are in

They went .720 last year, you are suggesting they go .750 after a 6-16 start? For them to finish better than last year they'd probably have to have a strong and fast return to full strength. The Thunder are struggling with several players injured, the chances that once they come back that all their key guys stay healthy for the rest of season is highly unlikely. They are 7 games under .500, they need to keep themselves pretty close to .500 to make the playoffs. Last year 49-33 is what it took to get the 8th seed (Dallas), 9 seed was 48-34 (Phoenix). Right now the 8th and 9th seed are actually on pace to be 49/48 wins. I think to be safe you need to aim for 50+. Durant and Westbrook will be evaluated in 7-9 days, I'd expect a return date no son than mid December with the evaluation being in a week from now. 16 losses prior to their return is optimistic, I think they could hit 20 losses by the time they comeback.

They would be playing with their backs against the wall the entire season. There is a huge different between playing for the number 1 seed and playing to just get in. Not saying they will be able to get out there in time or stay healthy if they do but they would be treating each game as a playoff game. As long as they come back soon, I see them getting the 7th or 8th seed and scaring the crap out of whoever they play in the first round.

[nbafan38]

why?

even if they are 6-16 or so

they win 45 of 60 and are in

They went .720 last year, you are suggesting they go .750 after a 6-16 start? For them to finish better than last year they'd probably have to have a strong and fast return to full strength. The Thunder are struggling with several players injured, the chances that once they come back that all their key guys stay healthy for the rest of season is highly unlikely. They are 7 games under .500, they need to keep themselves pretty close to .500 to make the playoffs. Last year 49-33 is what it took to get the 8th seed (Dallas), 9 seed was 48-34 (Phoenix). Right now the 8th and 9th seed are actually on pace to be 49/48 wins. I think to be safe you need to aim for 50+. Durant and Westbrook will be evaluated in 7-9 days, I'd expect a return date no son than mid December with the evaluation being in a week from now. 16 losses prior to their return is optimistic, I think they could hit 20 losses by the time they comeback.

They would be playing with their backs against the wall the entire season. There is a huge different between playing for the number 1 seed and playing to just get in. Not saying they will be able to get out there in time or stay healthy if they do but they would be treating each game as a playoff game. As long as they come back soon, I see them getting the 7th or 8th seed and scaring the crap out of whoever they play in the first round.

That's looking way down the road but I wonder if teams would intentionally tank the #1 seed to avoid OKC.