Oklahoma City Thunder 2024-25 Season

[kukblue1]

I bring up the game with the sixers because we need them to win a few.

Strength of schedule does matter. The teams that suck are going to be trying harder to suck and all the teams that are winning are still going to be trying to win until the last week or so. I don’t see the Thunder sitting a bunch of guys for full games vs the better teams unless those teams are sitting people. They will more than likely play everyone most of the time a rest the guys that are nursing minor injuries in bunches against bad teams and sparingly against the good ones. They aren’t just going to stop playing for the next month because they’re 12 games ahead. Also guys like Chet and Mitchell are going to need the minutes to prep for the playoffs so that they’re not gassed.

So what you're saying is if we have the one seed locked up with eight games remaining and we're still say a game behind Cleveland You're playing everybody in those final remaining games? I'm saying no way Don't worry about it rest players here and there No way do you want to risk someone getting hurt before the playoffs because you're playing them in kind of meaningless game because who's to say Cleveland's going to be there at the end

I'm not saying you totally shut everything down but what I'm saying is like those two Laker games in April Will be sitting players out. All our top seven guys will miss at least one of those games and I'll be perfectly fine with that. Also will be perfectly fine with losing both those games to keep LA as the two seeds so you won't place until the Western conference finals that's another thing we need to consider Don't worry about Cleveland and chasing that overall one seed

[bamarsha]

So what you're saying is if we have the one seed locked up with eight games remaining and we're still say a game behind Cleveland You're playing everybody in those final remaining games? I'm saying no way Don't worry about it rest players here and there No way do you want to risk someone getting hurt before the playoffs because you're playing them in kind of meaningless game because who's to say Cleveland's going to be there at the end.

It doesn't matter if we rest players or not... our second string would still make the playoffs! Thunder up!

[gjl]

Should probably leave it up to Mark Daigneault to decide what is best.

[PhiAlpha]

So what you're saying is if we have the one seed locked up with eight games remaining and we're still say a game behind Cleveland You're playing everybody in those final remaining games? I'm saying no way Don't worry about it rest players here and there No way do you want to risk someone getting hurt before the playoffs because you're playing them in kind of meaningless game because who's to say Cleveland's going to be there at the end

I'm not saying you totally shut everything down but what I'm saying is like those two Laker games in April Will be sitting players out. All our top seven guys will miss at least one of those games and I'll be perfectly fine with that. Also will be perfectly fine with losing both those games to keep LA as the two seeds so you won't place until the Western conference finals that's another thing we need to consider Don't worry about Cleveland and chasing that overall one seed

We definitely will not be sitting all of our starters in both of those Lakers games if the Lakers don’t sit there’s. Maybe the second one, but not both. Mark is going to want data on the potential playoff matchup against a team we’ve never played.

They will more than likely play most of the roster against the good teams left on the schedule, sit several guys against the bad teams that the bench should be able to handle (or teams also sitting their starters) and rest certain players on back to backs. We’ve literally seen how they’re going to handle it over the last few weeks. I don’t think there strategy is going to change much based on anything that Cleveland is doing unless they get down to the last game or two and are guaranteed to secure home court if they win them.

[warreng88]

I remember hearing the NBA was going to start fining teams for resting players. Is that a thing?

[Dob Hooligan]

Man plans and God laughs.

[kukblue1]

We definitely will not be sitting all of our starters in both of those Lakers games if the Lakers don’t sit there’s. Maybe the second one, but not both. Mark is going to want data on the potential playoff matchup against a team we’ve never played.

They will more than likely play most of the roster against the good teams left on the schedule, sit several guys against the bad teams that the bench should be able to handle (or teams also sitting their starters) and rest certain players on back to backs. We’ve literally seen how they’re going to handle it over the last few weeks. I don’t think there strategy is going to change much based on anything that Cleveland is doing unless they get down to the last game or two and are guaranteed to secure home court if they win them.

I'm kind of ageeing with you too a point but look at our schedule. We only play 4 teams that are trying to lose. Everyone else is fighting for playoff spots so we rest players it's going to be hard to win those games. Lakers than the Suns back to back. Both those teams are fighting for something. One of those games will be an L. Cleveland has 5 such games vs teams trying to lose but they can rest players and still beat anyone in the horrible eastern confernce like the Bulls. I haven't look is everyone even playing tonight vs Denver. Wouldn't be shocked if a couple players sit.

[PhiAlpha]

Looks like we’re full strength again tonight. No one new on our injury report.

Denver: Aaron Gordon OUT, Jokic Questionable, Jamal Murray questionable.

[Laramie]

Denver Nuggets 140 @ Oklahoma City Thunder 127

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705502

Attendance: 18,203

[Laramie]

Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder 53-12 @ Boston Celtics 47-18
T.D. Garden, Boston
TV: ESPN, FanDuel Oklahoma - 6:30 PM

[Libbymin]

Tough loss tonight but losing J Dub to a hip strain in the second half didn’t help. Denver also couldn’t miss in that 4th quarter. Hope J Dub isn’t out too long.

[PhiAlpha]

Tough loss tonight but losing J Dub to a hip strain in the second half didn’t help. Denver also couldn’t miss in that 4th quarter. Hope J Dub isn’t out too long.

He played for about a minute after the injury and during that time drove into the paint once, played decent defense on the other end both, and hit a 3 pointer immediately after missing one. Looked slightly hobbled at times but was still moving pretty well. Hopefully he was held out as a precaution and it wasn’t too big of deal. Comparing that to what happened immediately after Chet and some of Caruso’s hip injuries and there’s definitely reason for optimism

[Urbanized]

Hoping to see Ajay Mitchell back in time to get up to speed before the playoffs. We could really use another creator when something like this happens. Hoping the best for JDub.

[Anonymous.]

That 4th quarter from Denver was just too powerful. I think they started it 6/6 from three or something crazy. Losing J Dub is obviously huge, Chet played probably his worst game ever for us.

I can live with that L.

[Laramie]

Hoping to see Ajay Mitchell back in time to get up to speed before the playoffs. We could really use another creator when something like this happens. Hoping the best for JDub.

He won't have long to get up to speed:

The Thunder announced that Mitchell underwent surgery to repair the injury on January 10, and was expected to miss at least 10-12 weeks.

Mitchell has been seen doing some light shooting drills at the practice facility; re-evaluation (10-12 weeks) March 23-29.

J. Dub is listed by ESPN NBA as Day-to-day.

The pressure will be on the Celtics to beat the Thunder in Boston.

[kukblue1]

He won't have long to get up to speed:

The Thunder announced that Mitchell underwent surgery to repair the injury on January 10, and was expected to miss at least 10-12 weeks.

Mitchell has been seen doing some light shooting drills at the practice facility; re-evaluation (10-12 weeks) March 23-29.

J. Dub is listed by ESPN NBA as Day-to-day.

The pressure will be on the Celtics to beat the Thunder in Boston.

J-Dub out tomorrow. Need to take it easy we already have the west won pretty much. No need to play him if he is a little banged up.

[Laramie]

J-Dub out tomorrow. Need to take it easy we already have the west won pretty much. No need to play him if he is a little banged up.

We have several players who are a little banged up. Thunder needs more continuity among players; you're going into Boston tomorrow, a team the Thunder beat in OKC
105-92 on January 5. Those minor injures is where IMO the Thunder needs to shake the rust off. You can see that our key players Shai, Chet, Aaron, Isaiah H, Alex, Luguentz
and others haven't played together enough to know one another b/c of the alternating injuries.

Yes, we have the WC won pretty much; but more reps will avoid a cocky attitude that could lead to another Minnesota disaster at home.

As for our home lost to Denver, give it up to the Nuggets (despite the favorable calls from the refs), it does affect the play of how aggressive
players can be on defense--the non calls on Denver let the bull outta the barn. J-Dub gets hurt during the non calls.

[kukblue1]

Agree it wouldn't hurt this team to get more reps in and more continuity but you also don't want guys to get hurt more than they already are. Only thing this team really needs to figure out is what to do when SGA gets double teams cause it's happening every playoff game.

[Laramie]

Agree it wouldn't hurt this team to get more reps in and more continuity but you also don't want guys to get hurt more than they already are. Only thing this team really needs to figure out is what to do when SGA gets double teams cause it's happening every playoff game.

Definitely agree, because that his been the strategy of opponents of late to disrupt Thunder's team flow.