Oklahoma City Thunder 2020-21 season

[Bill Robertson]

It makes sense for the Thunder to suck because they have their own picks. So, being bad = good picks. Houston and Brooklyn don’t have their own picks. So being bad = nothing.

NM
I answered my own question after I thought about it.

[Laramie]

76ers @ Thunder
Sunday, January 17,
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Fox Sports Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

[Laramie]

Thunder @ Nuggets
Tuesday, January 19,
Ball Arena, Denver
Fox Sports Oklahoma, 8 p.m.

[Laramie]

Thunder 101 @ Nuggets 119

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401267373

[Laramie]

Thunder @ Clippers
Friday, January 22,
Staples Center Arena, Los Angeles
Fox Sports Oklahoma, 9 p.m.

[Laramie]

Thunder 106 @ Clippers 120

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401267399

[Laramie]

Thunder @ Clippers
Sunday, January 24
Staples Center Arena, Los Angeles
Fox Sports Oklahoma, 3 p.m.

[Laramie]

Thunder 100 @ Clippers 108

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401267411

[Laramie]

Thunder @ Trailblazers
Monday, January 25
Moda Center Arena, Portland
Fox Sports Oklahoma, 9 p.m.

[Laramie]

Thunder 125 @ Trailblazers 122

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401267427

[Laramie]

Thunder @ Suns
Wednesday, January 27
Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix
Fox Sports Oklahoma, 8 p.m.

[Laramie]

Thunder 102 @ Suns 97

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401267441

[Laramie]

Nets @ Thunder
Friday, January 29
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Fox Sports Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

[Laramie]

Looks like George Hill and the Nets' Durant will be out--injury status reports.

[Laramie]

Nets 147 @ Thunder 125

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401267455

[Laramie]

Rockets @ Thunder
Monday, February 1
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Fox Sports Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

[Laramie]

Rockets 136 @ Thunder 106

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401267478

NBA Standings 2021 https://www.espn.com/nba/standings

[Laramie]

Rockets @ Thunder
Wedesday, February 3
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Fox Sports Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

[Laramie]

Rockets 87 @ Thunder 104

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401267493

[Laramie]

Timberwolves @ Thunder
Friday, February 5
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
Fox Sports Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

[dankrutka]

If we could lose two straight to Minnesota it would be some great momentum off the competitive cliff.

[Laramie]

Hey Dan, my Man,

There seems to be an argument for going off the cliff or getting in tank mode. Just how detrimental this is to players psyche remains to be seen.

Am I correct or dreaming that Shai was sent to the G-League (temporary) as was Pokusevski, Thunder had a starter out and Dort got hurt and we still won...

My prediction, Sam Presti will bring an NBA championship to OKC within the next five years. Get the downtown parade route ready and Thunder Alley finished.

[Bill Robertson]

Hey Dan, my Man,

There seems to be an argument for going off the cliff or getting in tank mode. Just how detrimental this is to players psyche remains to be seen.

Am I correct or dreaming that Shai was sent to the G-League (temporary) as was Pokusevski, Thunder had a starter out and Dort got hurt and we still won...

My prediction, Sam Presti will bring an NBA championship to OKC within the next five years. Get the downtown parade route ready and Thunder Alley finished.

This team almost has a feel kinda like last year. If they really need to tank the management is going to have to force the issue. These guys seem to have chemistry and most are young enough to just want to go play hard. And when they play hard they're not too bad. I think that has something to do with winning even though Shai didn't play and Dort didn't play much. Could it be that building up these guys confidence/psyche and just adding some key pieces could go as well or better in the long run than continuing with the apparent plan of only keeping a couple of guys and blowing up everything else?

[dankrutka]

I actually think the losses will come without any changes. OKC has a pretty bad point differential, which is usually a better indicator of team quality that wins/losses. I suspect they'll start losing regardless. While I love the way this team competes, I don't think they could make the playoffs if they tried... maybe not even the play-in. Tanking is still the way.

To Laramie's point about the team's psyche, I just think it's important to have a good culture and the players keeps trying to win when they're playing . I think the Process 76ers that tanked had a good strategy, but a losing culture that wasn't beneficial. I think this OKC Thunder organization can maintain a good culture while losing.

And, lastly, you did dream the Shai-to-GLeague part. It's just Poku, Ty Jerome, and the two-way players Moses Brown and Josh Hall going to the G-League.

[Laramie]

Timberwolves 106 @ Thunder 103

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401267508