[Mr. JewboyParticipant]

Are OKC done? 

Last year the last playoff seed (the Mavs) were 49-33, and looks this year it will take the same amount of wins if not more to get in. Well, the Thunder are now 5-12, which means they need to go 44-21 for the rest of the season just to get into the playoffs, all this while Durant is still out. Even if they do get to the mentioned record they’ll be in a bad position and will have to fight there way through the playoffs.

I’ve heard a few analysts say that they’re already done for the seasons but I thought that was crap. They have two of the top 5-6 players in the league, one of them the reingning MVP and that is enough for me. They have also got what I think is a good supporting cast, and a winning team that has been a good playoff team for 4 years already. Therefore, I still believe they’ll do well and have a good a chance as anyone to make the Finals

So I want to ask the best basketball minds I know, what do you think?? 

 

 

[fastdanParticipant]

 44-21 may look daunting but that’s just a winning percentage of .677 which equates to 55.5 wins. This Thunder team full strength was predicted to win 58-60 by experts, Vegas, etc, before the season began. With the extra motivation that every game counts even more I can see them hitting the 49 game target with relative ease, if they can stay healthy for the remainder of the season. 

[fastdanParticipant]

 44-21 may look daunting but that’s just a winning percentage of .677 which equates to 55.5 wins. This Thunder team full strength was predicted to win 58-60 by experts, Vegas, etc, before the season began. With the extra motivation that every game counts even more I can see them hitting the 49 game target with relative ease, if they can stay healthy for the remainder of the season. 

[TyroberParticipant]

 They aren’t a lock to make it by any means, but I think they will squeeze in and be a terrifying 7th or 8th seed. It is worth noting that whenever Durant comes back there will be a learning curve again to ease him back into the groove of things. Going 44-21 is definitely possible, but every game will matter from this point out. 

[TyroberParticipant]

 They aren’t a lock to make it by any means, but I think they will squeeze in and be a terrifying 7th or 8th seed. It is worth noting that whenever Durant comes back there will be a learning curve again to ease him back into the groove of things. Going 44-21 is definitely possible, but every game will matter from this point out. 

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

If they get KD back by next weekend I think they’ll catch PHX for that 8th spot sometime in the last couple of weeks of the season. Scariest part for other teams is some of their role players (Reggie Jackson & PJ3 in particular) gained extra confidence producing in these expanded roles while their stars were hurt…that can only help them going forward

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

If they get KD back by next weekend I think they’ll catch PHX for that 8th spot sometime in the last couple of weeks of the season. Scariest part for other teams is some of their role players (Reggie Jackson & PJ3 in particular) gained extra confidence producing in these expanded roles while their stars were hurt…that can only help them going forward

[r377Participant]

They are only five wins behind Phoenix. If Durant comes back in the next couple of weeks, they could easily catch them up by the end of Janurary… 5 wins is not much !!!

[r377Participant]

They are only five wins behind Phoenix. If Durant comes back in the next couple of weeks, they could easily catch them up by the end of Janurary… 5 wins is not much !!!

[HitsterParticipant]

 Being 5 games down may seem a lot but with a fit KD and Westbrook could lead the Thunder on a winning run and breaking down 10 game cycles if they have a few 6-4 and 7-3 runs they get back in the mix fairly quickly.

48 to 50 wins looks the play off forecast out West but 8th seed could drop a bit. The key games will be when Thunder play the 8th place team lets say Phoenix as those become a two game swing. The Thunder need to win those series as otherwise the other wins count for less.0

The issue is also if they are only 7th/8th seed they get a top team early in the play offs but the flipside is does a top team want to face KD and the Thunder so early in the series.

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 Being 5 games down may seem a lot but with a fit KD and Westbrook could lead the Thunder on a winning run and breaking down 10 game cycles if they have a few 6-4 and 7-3 runs they get back in the mix fairly quickly.

48 to 50 wins looks the play off forecast out West but 8th seed could drop a bit. The key games will be when Thunder play the 8th place team lets say Phoenix as those become a two game swing. The Thunder need to win those series as otherwise the other wins count for less.0

The issue is also if they are only 7th/8th seed they get a top team early in the play offs but the flipside is does a top team want to face KD and the Thunder so early in the series.

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 OKC gets in as the 7 seed…wins in 6 vs whoever they play…beats the 3 seed in 6 and faces San Antonio in the WCF. Calling it. I can’t stand em, but they just don’t die. However long Durant is supposed to be out for, he’ll be back at least a week early. 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 OKC gets in as the 7 seed…wins in 6 vs whoever they play…beats the 3 seed in 6 and faces San Antonio in the WCF. Calling it. I can’t stand em, but they just don’t die. However long Durant is supposed to be out for, he’ll be back at least a week early. 

[CynthiaParticipant]

As a Thunder fan I’m kind of on the fence on how they should proceed the rest of the season. Making the playoffs is great, but at such a low seed it will be a very difficult & draining ride to the finals if they even win the first round. There’s a high chance more injuries happen and they cannot beat that #1 or #2 team.

This has been a scary year for injuries, unlike anything I’ve seen before. As much as I’d like them to get healthy and go 100% I’m not sure that’s the smart move for the long run. Westbrook has had two big injuries in a short amount of time now and he’s on the fringe of becoming an "injury prone" player. This was Durants first big injury but do I really want him to come back guns blazing and risk potential injury again? Not really.

As much as it pains me to say it, I think they should just coast this season out. Mend those injuries and in the process they will pick up a decent draft pick as well.

I’d rather them chill out for the season and be 100% ready for next year than struggle just to get a late seed just to lose in the first round or accumulate more injuries. Now I’m not saying they should tank, but I do think they should coast. What I mean by coast is just play your game without over exerting yourself unnecessarily, see where the chips fall.

So yes I fully believe they can rally up and make the playoffs, but my question is it worth the risk at this point? I just don’t know.

[CynthiaParticipant]

As a Thunder fan I’m kind of on the fence on how they should proceed the rest of the season. Making the playoffs is great, but at such a low seed it will be a very difficult & draining ride to the finals if they even win the first round. There’s a high chance more injuries happen and they cannot beat that #1 or #2 team.

This has been a scary year for injuries, unlike anything I’ve seen before. As much as I’d like them to get healthy and go 100% I’m not sure that’s the smart move for the long run. Westbrook has had two big injuries in a short amount of time now and he’s on the fringe of becoming an "injury prone" player. This was Durants first big injury but do I really want him to come back guns blazing and risk potential injury again? Not really.

As much as it pains me to say it, I think they should just coast this season out. Mend those injuries and in the process they will pick up a decent draft pick as well.

I’d rather them chill out for the season and be 100% ready for next year than struggle just to get a late seed just to lose in the first round or accumulate more injuries. Now I’m not saying they should tank, but I do think they should coast. What I mean by coast is just play your game without over exerting yourself unnecessarily, see where the chips fall.

So yes I fully believe they can rally up and make the playoffs, but my question is it worth the risk at this point? I just don’t know.

[r377Participant]

They have won 6 in a row and are only 1 game out of the playoffs at the moment…..

[r377Participant]

They have won 6 in a row and are only 1 game out of the playoffs at the moment…..

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