20-21 OKC Thunder Regular Season News

[Devilanche]

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3rd highest paid player with 3,87M...This is crazy.

Sure hope that after the draft deck will be 5th highest

[ThunderBolt]

I look forward to seeing any new guy get out on the floor but this signing is really odd to me.

[ThunderBolt]

Aside from Detroit and Sacramento, every game OKC has left is against a playoff team or a team within a game of the 10th spot. Unfortunately there are three games against the kings, but even kings might be eyeing those games as a way to edge back into the race for 10th. They are 4 games out and I bet Walton is fighting for his job.

If OKC keeps being, um, dinged up, they could do real well. Or not well. However we are framing it. They are in the 6th spot now for least wins.

Keep it up, fellas/management. Full speed ahead! Or behind! And maybe not full speed, ether.

I think the fifth spot realistic. I can’t see us getting past Orlando.

[jake_swivel]

I think the fifth spot realistic. I can’t see us getting past Orlando.

I’d be thrilled with the 5th spot. If Houston keeps losing, then drops out of the top 4 without the Thunder moving up, that puts OKC at 5 and 6. While it’s not best case scenario, the possibilities are pretty crazy in those spots. Could get an established player and start competing instantly. Not saying it’s what I’d choose, but it would be fun. Ingram or an extended Beal? Something like that? Again, not what I’d do, but I’d get it.

[jake_swivel]

Just went to tankathon.com and simmed a few times. I realized that if Houston finishes last and got moved out, it would move the thunder back a spot or two if Houston is bumped out.

Also, I simmed four times and Houston got bumped out of the top four each time. I know, I know, it’s 47% regardless, but it still made me smile.

[cjmcallist]

In the last week we've gone from 9th to T-6th in the lottery.

Most importantly, our odds of getting a top 5 pick went from 67% to 76% since Wednesday 4/7. Getting the last few percentage points will be the hardest, but totally worth the efforts so far.

As posted earlier by someone else, the Ringer's site is probably the best way to look at the draft odds for us.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/4/8/22373059/playoff-lottery-odds-probability-model

[ThunderBolt]

I think the fifth spot realistic. I can’t see us getting past Orlando.

I’d be thrilled with the 5th spot. If Houston keeps losing, then drops out of the top 4 without the Thunder moving up, that puts OKC at 5 and 6. While it’s not best case scenario, the possibilities are pretty crazy in those spots. Could get an established player and start competing instantly. Not saying it’s what I’d choose, but it would be fun. Ingram or an extended Beal? Something like that? Again, not what I’d do, but I’d get it.

If I had to guess, I think (and hope) we add the star level player after we get more high end talent here. Obviously we never know what players will be available and when it will happen. Adding someone like an Ingram-level player would have a bigger impact if we have someone else besides shai that has all star potential. I even like the idea of adding a guy like a Jrue Holiday to a young core. He might not be the best star on the team but he’s very good and will provide leadership.

[cjmcallist]

I’d be thrilled with the 5th spot. If Houston keeps losing, then drops out of the top 4 without the Thunder moving up, that puts OKC at 5 and 6. While it’s not best case scenario, the possibilities are pretty crazy in those spots. Could get an established player and start competing instantly. Not saying it’s what I’d choose, but it would be fun. Ingram or an extended Beal? Something like that? Again, not what I’d do, but I’d get it.

If I had to guess, I think (and hope) we add the star level player after we get more high end talent here. Obviously we never know what players will be available and when it will happen. Adding someone like an Ingram-level player would have a bigger impact if we have someone else besides shai that has all star potential. I even like the idea of adding a guy like a Jrue Holiday to a young core. He might not be the best star on the team but he’s very good and will provide leadership.

This is where my head is at too. Get highest end talent in this draft and then look to start adding pieces. With FA being after the draft, we could start this offseason if the draft goes as we hope.

[cjmcallist]

Big night tonight! If Detroit had won it would’ve been a clean sweep.

[thedoppelganger]

Big night tonight! If Detroit had won it would’ve been a clean sweep.

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We could've been only 2 games ahead if they had held on tonight and beaten us Friday. Regardless we're setting up pretty well for this home stretch, wish Sacramento would start winning some games so they've got something to play for when we get them 3 times in May.

[cjmcallist]

I’m finding myself far more engaged in other teams right now than I normally am.

I’ve never watched other team records like I am now.

[ThunderBolt]

Big night tonight! If Detroit had won it would’ve been a clean sweep.

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We could've been only 2 games ahead if they had held on tonight and beaten us Friday. Regardless we're setting up pretty well for this home stretch, wish Sacramento would start winning some games so they've got something to play for when we get them 3 times in May.

It’s tough because some of these franchises are the top traditional losers in the league. Even if they think they want to win, they don’t know how.

[jake_swivel]

I think Detroit is too far out of reach at this point, but Orlando still has some fight to them. I think having chicago’s pick has them less worried about tanking.

Being in the 4th spot would exceed my expectations but is doable and I’d be psyched for 5th.

[ThunderBolt]

The next few games...

@ Detroit
@ Raptors
@ Wizards
@Pacers
VS Wizards

As long as we don't win more than one of these, I'll feel good. I think the raptors and pistons are the best chance for a win. Pistons coming off a clutch loss might play a little more motivated. FVF is nearing his return for raptors. An 0-5 performance could really give us some nice breathing room for the top 5.

[thedoppelganger]

Unless SGA comes back, and I would guess they're extra cautious after seeing what happened with Murray, it wouldn't be shocking to see a Rockets type losing streak with the way we're playing.

Since the trade deadline, we are 1-10 with a scoring margin of -247 and a net rating of -22.1. Orlando is 29th at -11.6. This run is up there with any that the worst Process teams or the 2012 Bobcats had. With 17 games left I wouldn't rule out a 1-16 or 2-15 finish.

[jake_swivel]

The next few games...

@ Detroit
@ Raptors
@ Wizards
@Pacers
VS Wizards

As long as we don't win more than one of these, I'll feel good. I think the raptors and pistons are the best chance for a win. Pistons coming off a clutch loss might play a little more motivated. FVF is nearing his return for raptors. An 0-5 performance could really give us some nice breathing room for the top 5.

Yup, this stretch and then the 3 games at the end with the Kings pretty much decide everything.

[jake_swivel]

Not agreeing with the general board’s “okc is a disgrace” thread, but if okc keeps losing by 40, I wouldn’t be surprised if Silver puts an end to the more obvious aspects of this tank. It really is a bad look.

[ThunderBolt]

Not agreeing with the general board’s “okc is a disgrace” thread, but if okc keeps losing by 40, I wouldn’t be surprised if Silver puts an end to the more obvious aspects of this tank. It really is a bad look.

What are teams legitimately supposed to do? There isn't' an equal playing field in the NBA. All options for changing how teams tank seem to create more problems than they solve. This isn't even just an NBA issue. We saw it in the NFL this year with the Jags and Jets.

[jake_swivel]

What are teams legitimately supposed to do? There isn't' an equal playing field in the NBA. All options for changing how teams tank seem to create more problems than they solve. This isn't even just an NBA issue. We saw it in the NFL this year with the Jags and Jets.

Oh I get it. But I still think if I was the commissioner, I’d enforce the rules on healthy scratches and fake injuries. It’s not easy selling TV deals when teams are flouting those rules. Hard to sell games that are being lost by 50.

I think changing draft odds were a step in the right direction and the playin adds weight to a lot of games. Adds incentive to the 7-10 spots. To further de-incentivize tanking, I do think that playoff teams should be added to the lottery at drastically reduced odds, and that the ability to move up shouldn’t just be to the top 4 spots.

[ThunderBolt]

What are teams legitimately supposed to do? There isn't' an equal playing field in the NBA. All options for changing how teams tank seem to create more problems than they solve. This isn't even just an NBA issue. We saw it in the NFL this year with the Jags and Jets.

Oh I get it. But I still think if I was the commissioner, I’d enforce the rules on healthy scratches and fake injuries. It’s not easy selling TV deals when teams are flouting those rules. Hard to sell games that are being lost by 50.

I think changing draft odds were a step in the right direction and the playin adds weight to a lot of games. Adds incentive to the 7-10 spots. To further de-incentivize tanking, I do think that playoff teams should be added to the lottery at drastically reduced odds, and that the ability to move up shouldn’t just be to the top 4 spots.

As I said on the GB, I think the nba is hurt much more by their prime time games not having stars available. The nets setting Durant against the 76ers and playing him the day before against the Wolves is worse than what OKC is doing. We aren't on national tv. How many Pelicans and Warriors games did I not watch last year because of injuries, real or fake?

I really don't know what Silver can do because he works for the owners. A large portion of them are pro tanking, even if they wouldn't publicly admit it. As long as big markets continue to draw stars, tanking will continue. They aren't separate issues, imo.