Thunder Clinch Playoff Spot!

By on

        The Oklahoma City Thunder have made a huge leap this season from last season. Last season they were missing their second overall pick rookie Chet Holmgren and while they made the Play-In Tournament they couldn't get to the playoffs. This season they are one of the top teams in the Western Conference and after a victory against the New York Knicks they officially clinched a playoff spot. The last time the Thunder made the playoffs was in 2020, the NBA bubble, where they lost in the first round against the Houston Rockets in seven games. 


        The only players still on the Thunder from 2020 are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort. The last time the OKC Thunder won a playoff series was in 2016, that year they went all the way to the Western Conference Finals. While this years Thunder team lack playoff experience they definitely have the talent to make it out the first round. It is still unsure at the moment what seed the Thunder will finish in but they will certainly finish in the top three of the Western Conference. 


        Along with Shai and Dort, the Thunder did add some veteran players with playoff experience at the trade deadline such as Gordon Hayward, Bismack Biyombo and Mike Muscala. The Thunder rank third in offensive rating and rank seventh in defensive rating. To be in the top ten in both categories is excellent data of a great team especially for a very young team. This is only the beginning of this OKC team making noise, they're going to be problem for years to come. 




Location: Miami, FL, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kelly Oubre Jr. Free Agency!

By on
Image
          Kelly Oubre Jr. has been quite the journeyman in the NBA. In 2015, he was drafted by the Washington Wizards then after a few seasons would get traded to the Phoenix Suns. After a short stint in Phoenix, Oubre signed a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors. Following a brief year in the Bay Area, he would spend a couple seasons with the Charlotte Hornets where he would have some of his best games. This season, Oubre finished a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers and will hit the free agency market again this summer.            For a player on a veteran minimum, Oubre was a significant impactful player this season. He averaged 15 points and 5 rebounds per game. His defense was nothing less than amazing and his athleticism played to his strength this year. Oubre will have multiple suitors this summer from championship-contending teams.            The Philadelphia 76ers...
Read more

Pascal Siakam Is A Pacer!

By on
Image
          It is officially the end of an era for the Toronto Raptors. Pascal Siakam has been mentioned in trade rumors for most of the season. While Siakam's wish was to stay with the Raptors, the business of the NBA tends to interfere with wishes. It has been announced that Pascal Siakam has been traded to the Indiana Pacers.            Pascal Siakam was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2016 with the twenty-seventh overall pick. He was a huge piece in helping the Raptors win their first ever NBA championship in 2019 against the Golden State Warriors. After winning a championship he was named an NBA All-Star in 2020 and again in 2023. Siakam has also made All-NBA twice, All-NBA Second Team in 2020 and then All-NBA Third Team in 2022. Siakam has accomplished a lot in his eight years in the NBA, now he will join a rising young team in Indianapolis.           Full trade details: The Indiana Pace...
Read more

Knicks Big Man Search

By on
Image
          The New York Knicks are coming off their first 50-win season in over a decade but after losing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency they need to look for another big. They only have two centers on the roster, Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims. Having Robinson go back into the starting lineup isn't much of an issue, besides some health concerns, but Sims as the backup is still a question. He has yet to be a consistent rotation player in his young career. Matter of fact, in his three seasons in the league he has only played in over 50 games once.            There aren't any free-agent centers that can be seen as reliable backups for the Knicks. The team still has seven of their own first-round picks that they could trade to find the big man they need. According to an X account, "BigKnicksEnergy," a league source reported that the Knicks are interested in Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards and are willing to move ...
Read more