Oklahoma City Thunder hanging onto Western Conference’s top spot by dear life – NBA Feature
Basketball is a strange game and the NBA the strangest of leagues. Up until last week, Oklahoma City Thunder had won 7 of their last 8 games, including 6 in a row, had a conference best record of 40-12, and were very close to grabbing home court advantage
for the whole of the Playoffs. However, two losses in a row this week, one to Memphis Grizzlies and the other to Miami Heat, and the outlook of the whole Western Conference has changed.
OKC lost first to the Grizzlies at home on Monday, and then to the Heat at Miami on Wednesday. This brought their win-loss record to 40-14. With just two losses, the Thunder is now at threat of losing their top position in the Western Conference. This is
because the San Antonio Spurs are red hot right now, arguably the hottest in the league at this point in the season. They have won 9 straight games and have a 38-14 record, two wins behind OKC.
Why the panic? Well firstly, San Antonio have 2 more games than Oklahoma City to play before the season finishes. Secondly, San Antonio have already won the three game regular season series against the Thunder 2-1, giving them a tie-breaker advantage. So,
if the Thunder finish even with the same record as the Spurs, come playoffs and the Spurs will have home court advantage in the event of a possible Western Conference final between the two teams.
San Antonio is much more experienced in Playoffs as compared to Oklahoma City, having won the NBA championship in 2003, 2005 and 2007. Hence, it is crucial for Oklahoma City to clinch the home-court advantage. Moreover, after being in the top position, The
Thunder would not want to lose their place whatever the case.
It is not that the Thunder have started playing badly or that alarm bells need to be rung. They are still 7-3 in their last 10 games and two losses in a row for a team with the best record in the western conference is acceptable. However, such is the nature
of this league that with 2 losses and San Antonio gaining momentum, their top position in the west, which they have been holding on to for such a long time, in now in jeopardy with only a few games left in the season.
The Thunder now have to regroup and play the way they have been playing all season. They are capable of still holding on to their position. All they need to do is play one game at a time and ensure win after win, like they have been doing throughout the
season. They next play Indiana, followed by Toronto, Milwaukee, Clippers and Kings. All are teams that OKC have beaten before and there is no real tough competition for them in the next few games. Who finished on top, we will know once the season finally ends.
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