The Oklahoma City Thunder kick-off the remaining twenty-seven games of their schedule tonight in OKC with a much anticipated game with the Denver Nuggets.
This should be a great game between two playoff teams and a possible preview of the first round matchup of No. 3 versus No. 6. I’ve had this one circled for awhile as a barometer game of sorts for the Thunder.
I see Denver as the third best team in the West post-season wise despite their current No. 2 seed in the West. They’re deep and the matchup with Jokic always presents a challenge for Steven Adams on the perimeter.
To me, the two feel good stories in the West this season are Oklahoma City and Memphis. OKC has a moderately tough remaining schedule, while the Grizzlies have the toughest remaining schedule in the West.
OKC’s guards—what a story Sam Presti’s three-headed backcourt of Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder, and Shai G. Alexander have been this season. I wouldn’t call it crazy talk to have them as one of the premier backcourts in the NBA this season.
When you walk the streets of Oklahoma City everyone is thrilled with the Thunder and reasonable of where they stand in the Western Conference foodchain.
But for a team which was possibly going to throw a 28-30 win or so season out there the 33-22 Thunder have been a breath of fresh air.
Westbrook is doing fine in Houston, Paul George is back home in LA, and Jerami Grant is a player in Denver who’s filling a valuable role for the Nuggets.
Everyone should be happy in all four cities.