Man it would be amazing if somehow Thunder got matched up with Portland or the Jazz after this dumpster fire ending to the season. Right now we either need Portland to keep winning and pass Houston to get the 3rd spot. Or we need Jazz and Clipps to lose some games. Which is decently possible considering they play each other for the last game of the season, and Clipps have to play the Warriors again with Jazz playing the Nuggets again.

However, OKC has to play Houston and Bucks, and I can't believe I'm saying this - but the TImberwolves always wreck the Thunder. And we could easily drop the Pistons game on Friday.

This last week is going to be insane.

Piston's are playing for their playoff lives, Blake missed last nights game with knee problems, have to wonder if he will play Friday night.

That I can agree with. It was the top 1 or 2 team part I didn't agree with.

Saying he did it with Dirk I think would be disrespecting Barea, Terry (even though I don't like either of them), Kidd, Butler, Chandler, and maybe to an extent Stojakovic. At the time they were considered really good players. Not quite Dirk level, but they played a huge role.

That Mavs team had absolutely no business winning a title. To me, they're the only surprise champion of the last 15 years and at least since the early 2000s Pistons. Credit to everyone on that team for giving hope that a playoff run is possible for underdogs (even if I think there is pretty much no chance of anyone beating the Warriors).

That Mavs team had absolutely no business winning a title. To me, they're the only surprise champion of the last 15 years and at least since the early 2000s Pistons. Credit to everyone on that team for giving hope that a playoff run is possible for underdogs (even if I think there is pretty much no chance of anyone beating the Warriors).

On paper you're right, but nobody accounted for the fact that LeBron couldn't post up JJ Barea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPF_9CdsVHY

Detroit Pistons @Thunder Box score: http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401071859

The Thunder are now tied with the Clippers in the loss column. There is at least a glimmer of hope that we can move to the 6th seed.

I’ll still take Denver over Houston. Now if you can get Portland to 3, then we got a deal! I know the response - Denver swept OKC. Recall last year when we swept Utah in regular season and how that playoff series went.

With that said - It’ll be a task to just stay 7 and not drop to the dreaded 8.

Yeah I'd much rather be the 7-seed and facing Denver than the 6-seed and facing Houston.

Interesting that Denver is going to rest Milsap, Jokic and Murray tomorrow v Portland. The #2 isn’t out of reach for Houston.....that would change my tune on 6 v 7 seed. There may be some jockeying for position downward based on potential first round opponents. Going to be very interesting few days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YR41pB5NUY

Thunder @Minnesota Timberwolves Box score: http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401071870


Westbrook Triple double: 27 PTS 10 RBS 15 ASTS

Three game win streak.

Anybody know the outcome if Thunder, Spurs and Clippers all end up with same record?

This looks pretty credible...

https://www.poundingtherock.com/2019/4/6/18298293/everything-spurs-fans-need-to-know-about-the-playoff-seeding-scenarios

Anybody know the outcome if Thunder, Spurs and Clippers all end up with same record?

This looks pretty credible...

https://www.poundingtherock.com/2019/4/6/18298293/everything-spurs-fans-need-to-know-about-the-playoff-seeding-scenarios

Thunder owns the tie breaker with the Clippers, while the Spurs own the tie breaker with the Thunder.

Thunder owns the tie breaker with the Clippers, while the Spurs own the tie breaker with the Thunder.

Right, so what order do they end up in?

I believe the Thunder will clinch the tiebreaker over the Clippers if they beat the Rockets. But if they lose to Rockets and Clippers beat Jazz, Clips will be No. 7 and Thunder 8 (assuming Spurs beat Mavs). Clear as mud. Lots of moving pieces.

After a bit of research it appears that the tie breaker goes to the last team to pay Kyle Singler millions so advantage to the Thunder there.

^that seems fair!:cool:

If Thunder and Portland both win their last 2 games we would get Portland in playoffs. We would hold 6 seed and since we would give Houston a loss they would be tied with Portland and Portland owns tiebreaker with Houston 2-1, so would be 3 seed. This would be our best bet and would avoid GS first 2 rounds.

Anybody know the outcome if Thunder, Spurs and Clippers all end up with same record?

This looks pretty credible...

https://www.poundingtherock.com/2019/4/6/18298293/everything-spurs-fans-need-to-know-about-the-playoff-seeding-scenarios

Ties For Playoff Positions (Including Division Winners)
This will be broken utilizing the criteria set forth in subparagraph a. below (in the case of ties involving two teams) and subparagraph b. below (in the case of ties involving more than two teams), and the guidelines set forth in subparagraph c. below

a. Two Teams Tied
(1) Better winning percentage in games against each other
(2) Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division).
(3) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if tied teams are in same division).
(4) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(6) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in opposite conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(7) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents ("point differential").
b. More Than Two Teams Tied
(1) Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division).
(2) Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teams.
(3) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if all tied teams are in same division).
(4) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(6) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents ("point differential").
c. Guidelines For Applying Tie-Break Criteria
(1) (a) Ties to determine the division winners must be broken before any other ties.
(b) When a tie must be broken to determine a division winner, the results of the tie-break shall be used to determine only the division winner, and not for any other purpose.
(2) If a tie involves more than two teams, the tie-break criteria in subparagraph b. shall be applied in the order set forth therein until the first to occur of the following:
(a) Each of the tied teams has a different winning percentage or point differential under the applicable tie-break criterion (a "complete" breaking of the tie). In this circumstance, the team with the best winning percentage or point differential under the criterion will be awarded the best playoff position, the team with the next-best winning percentage or point differential will be awarded the next-best playoff position, and so on, and no further application of the tie-break criteria will be required.
(b) One or more (but not all) of the tied teams has a different winning percentage or point differential under the applicable tie-break criterion (a "partial" breaking of the tie). In this circumstance: (x) any team(s) that performed better under the applicable criterion than any other team(s) will be awarded a higher playoff position than such other team(s); and (y) teams that had equivalent performance under the applicable criterion will remain tied, and such remaining tie(s) will be broken by applying, from the beginning, the criteria in subparagraph a.(1)-(6) above (for any remaining tie involving only two teams) or subparagraph b.(1)-(5) above (for any remaining tie involving more than two teams) and the guidelines set forth in this subparagraph c.
(3) If application of the criteria in subparagraph a. or b. does not result in the breaking of a tie, the playoff positions of the tied teams will be determined by a random drawing.
Tiebreaker Basis For Two-Way Ties
(-) Tie breaker not needed (better overall winning percentage)
(1) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(2) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(3) Division won-lost percentage for teams in the same division
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, own conference
(6) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, other conference
(7) Net Points, all games
Tiebreaker Basis For Multi-Way Ties
(-) Tie breaker not needed (better overall winning percentage)
(1) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(2) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(3) Division won-lost percentage for teams in the same division
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, own conference
(6) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, other conference
(7) Net Points, all games

If Thunder and Portland both win their last 2 games we would get Portland in playoffs. We would hold 6 seed and since we would give Houston a loss they would be tied with Portland and Portland owns tiebreaker with Houston 2-1, so would be 3 seed. This would be our best bet and would avoid GS first 2 rounds.

Man, I would take that in a second!

If Thunder and Portland both win their last 2 games we would get Portland in playoffs. We would hold 6 seed and since we would give Houston a loss they would be tied with Portland and Portland owns tiebreaker with Houston 2-1, so would be 3 seed. This would be our best bet and would avoid GS first 2 rounds.

Yup this is the ideal scenario and honestly would be the luckiest thing ever for the Thunder. Especially if things fall in a way where the path also prevents HOU or GSW until the WCF.

One advantage for OKC is we can purposely lose the Bucks game in order to encourage a placement. However, the Clippers, Nuggets, Portland, and Jazz all play their last game after us on Wednesday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZK0DXJnAjQ

Houston Rockets @Thunder Box score: http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401071891


Westbrook Triple double: 29 PTS 12 RBS 10 ASTS

If Thunder and Portland both win their last 2 games we would get Portland in playoffs. We would hold 6 seed and since we would give Houston a loss they would be tied with Portland and Portland owns tiebreaker with Houston 2-1, so would be 3 seed. This would be our best bet and would avoid GS first 2 rounds.


Man, I would take that in a second!


Yup this is the ideal scenario and honestly would be the luckiest thing ever for the Thunder. Especially if things fall in a way where the path also prevents HOU or GSW until the WCF.

One advantage for OKC is we can purposely lose the Bucks game in order to encourage a placement. However, the Clippers, Nuggets, Portland, and Jazz all play their last game after us on Wednesday.

the thunder need Devner to win also to get OKC vs Portland

also if the thunder lose they can still finish 6/7 or 8 so they have 0 reason to lose

What a wild night in the NBA.

PG and Harkless both hitting game winners that screw over the Rockets. This is dream scenario playing out for the entire west, and specifically OKC.

If everyone wins tonight (DEN, POR, and OKC) - we will have an OKC-POR matchup in R1 with HOU-GSW potential in R2.

Right now the Nuggets are looking like geniuses for tanking that game against POR the other day. I cannot believe it may actually work.

Of course, OKC plays earliest tonight. So the result will be known to the remainder of the teams we will be playing against, so they could purposely lose once they know the results.

Also if OKC loses to the Bucks tonight, that opens the doors to potentially being in the 8th seed if Spurs & Clips win.

^that was absolutely a wild night....that arena was SO loud. I hope those fans that left heard we won.

Totally agree with you about Denver - I could not figure that out at the time..... and it may just be brilliant.

Portland has listed their stars as out [rest] for tonight. So that basically confirms they are tanking tonight to avoid OKC and take their chances against the Jazz. This essentially ruins Denver's plan and nearly guarantees OKC will face HOU in round 1.

The other outcome would be OKC losing to the Bucks and potentially playing the Warriors.

So everyone just prepare for a grind series against the beard and referee company.

No kidding...I guess they just want to try to get to the second round and say they did that. Good try though Nuggets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wro98z7LI5g

Thunder @Milwaukee Bucks Box score: http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401071899


Westbrook Triple-double: 15 PTS 11 RBS 17 ASTS

Oklahoma City Thunder Western Conference 6th seed: W49 L33 PCT .598

So everyone just prepare for a grind series against the beard and referee company." The two worst opponents we will have . Funny. Sad. Bracketing down has been quite if-y this year. To me. Tonight's game started with an 'If" list.

Port tanked pre playoff to avoid us

Rox hold tiebreaker over Denver. Its down to Den or Rox

Denver wins they are 2 seed and we get Rox

Denver loses and they are 3 seed and get us

Holy crap. The stars aligned. Both POR and DEN came back from huge deficits to actually win their games. Not sure if Portland meant to win.

But we get POR in round 1. Which forces Rockets and Warriors into the same bracket.

OKC dream scenario.

Wow, what a turn of events! We get Portland!!

Den wins and secures 2 seed

Portland wins and secures 3 seed

Relegates Rox to 4 seed and in path of GS round 2

Portland only played 6 and 3 played all minutes! They outscored Sac 74-44 in 2nd half and won!

Quite a change in fortunes!

Schedule is out:

OKC THUNDER
@okcthunder
·
6m
ROUND 1 Thunder v POR
(All times CT)

GM 1: Sun 4/14 @ POR 2:30p ABC
GM 2: Tue 4/16 @ POR 9:30p FSO
GM 3: Fri 4/19 @ OKC 8:3Op FSO
GM 4: Sun 4/21 @ OKC 8:30p FSO
* GM 5: Tue 4/23 @ POR FSO
* GM 6 Thur 4/25 @ OKC FSO
* GM 7 Sat 4/27@ POR FSO

https://www.nba.com/.element/media/2.0/teamsites/thunder/playoffs-schedule-r1-1819.png

I'm sure glad none of you are fortune tellers!

I'm sure glad none of you are fortune tellers!

Yep.... I lost a lot of money betting on the Thunder to be the 8 seed after reading all this. ;)

I'm quite sure we would have been swept by Denver had we fallen to the #7.

As it is, I could see us taking a game or two off of Portland. We're playing well, to be sure, but I just haven't seen the kind of consistency that would motivate me to take out a Home Equity Loan to place on this first series.

Tread lightly Thunder fans... it is tough to beat a team 8 times in one year. Especially if that team has Dame Lillard

Tread lightly Thunder fans... it is tough to beat a team 8 times in one year. Especially if that team has Dame Lillard

True, but the fact that we don't have to play them with Nurkic for the next four certainly works in our favor.

I'm sure glad none of you are fortune tellers!

I'll be honest: I use this forum for my manic-depressive Thunder fandom outlet. Before, I was sure we were getting swept by GSW. Right now, I'm thinking we're winning it all!

But I don't want to jinx it, so ignore everything I just said.

Thunder favored in first series.(-130).

True, but the fact that we don't have to play them with Nurkic for the next four certainly works in our favor.

...especially considering that it leaves them with Enes Kanter as their starting center to defend Adams...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D36C4bvWwAA_nrB.jpg

By the way.....Thunder covered the 48.5 season win total. So that makes some of us even happier.:)

I'll be honest: I use this forum for my manic-depressive Thunder fandom outlet. Before, I was sure we were getting swept by GSW. Right now, I'm thinking we're winning it all!

But I don't want to jinx it, so ignore everything I just said.

^^^
Thunder fandom on this site in a nutshell.

.

Thunder vs Trailblazers

Game One: Moda Center, 1 Center Court Street, Portland, OR 97227

https://d1yjjnpx0p53s8.cloudfront.net/styles/logo-thumbnail/s3/0009/9467/brand.gif?itok=DsfQC3P8

Sunday, April 14, 2:30 p.m. CST

https://lockervision.nba.com/assets/uniform/Portland%20Trail%20Blazers/POR_AE_1_1.jpg

https://lockervision.nba.com/assets/uniform/Oklahoma%20City%20Thunder/OKC_IE_3_2.jpg

What a Sunday - breakfast at the Masters with Tiger in the mix; Thunder first playoff game plus 3 other NBA games, and top that off with Game of Thrones tonight!

What a Sunday - breakfast at the Masters with Tiger in the mix; Thunder first playoff game plus 3 other NBA games, and top that off with Game of Thrones tonight!

It really is a great Sunday for television. Hope Tiger can pull this off.

And the insanity that is this season continues. 15% from three-point land, how about we just quit jacking him up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tAxAKMnB9Y

Thunder @Portland Trailblazers Box score: http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401126841

The game was annoying to watch. 15% from three. Adams getting owned and laughing to the bank at being overpaid. I cannot believe he is making $24M. I figured he would develop some kind of offensive game. The referees were not even on calling fouls. They were calling fouls on light contact against OKC and some of the charges were suspect. Portland def got the benefit of the referees.

Westbrook incurred some kind of injury to his ankle in the 4th quarter; let's hope he's okay. Really sucks when one or both of your stars aren't playing at full strength.

Not sure what happened to Adams. His offensive game has resembled Perkins after the all star break.

And the insanity that is this season continues. 15% from three-point land, how about we just quit jacking him up.

You have to shoot threes in the modern NBA. You can't just quit jacking them up because there will be nowhere left to get a good shot. Sometimes you shoot 15% from three, and when that happens, you're probably going to lose. That doesn't mean you should quit doing it. If Paul George can't hit open threes then this season is essentially over anyways. Lets hope we return to the mean next game.

Considering we shot 15% from three, the game was fairly close. Hopefully we can shoot better in game 2.

And Portland shot 44% from 3 in the game. I think I saw a stat that showed they shot 75% in the first half, which is ridiculous. I seriously doubt they can keep that up in three more games.

*knock on wood*

I guess you can play Kanter. Small sample size aside.

*knock on wood*

I guess you can play Kanter. Small sample size aside.

Well, instead of attacking Kanter in the pick and roll where he's terrible, we just kept posting up Adams (Kanter's post defense is average).

Well, instead of attacking Kanter in the pick and roll where he's terrible, we just kept posting up Adams (Kanter's post defense is average).

I get that. What I don't get is given OKC should know better than most about Kanter's P&R defense. In addition to OKC being in the top half of running it, why not go to it? I imagine they can do it quite often with Kanter being the starter.

My expert analysis of the game. I wasted an hour of my life watching the first half thinking OKC was going to win, only to wake up with a blow out.

I always get chastised on the forum when I say this, and I have been since KD was with OKC, Westbrook is the problem and sucks the oxygen out of the offense. OKC is stuck with him because I doubt anyone wants him in a trade and the $40M a year salary. My recommendation is to keep shroeder (sp) at full time point and find a 2 guard that can actually shoot.

Having a 2 guard that could shoot would solve a lot of things. The thing I was most excited for when KD left was that his assist numbers would go up because Klay Thompson would be in the corner instead of Andre Roberson.