The most games the Thunder can win is 72. The most the Blazers can win is 79. So if Portland wins at their current pace (which is not likely), they'd win 59 wins. For the Thunder to pass them, they'd have to go 57-12, or 82% winning %. Over an 82 game season, that would be 67. Not unreasonable, but difficult. If Portland repeats last years pace, 54 wins, the Thunder would have to go 52-17, 75% winning %. Over a 61 game wins per 82 games. Ideally, if Westbrook and Durant are back by December 1st, it's really just 2 or 3 more losses (Utah and Golden State). But the Thunder have the opposite problem Portland does. they've played 8 road games, so they're going to get a lot of them coming up. If OKC is 4-12 by the time W and D come back, to win 50 games they'll need to go 46-18 (just a hair under 72%). Over 82 games that's 59 games. Again, not unreasonable. If they both miss another 3-4 weeks (returning a week before Christmas), these #'s and figures obviously change.
Great work. So buckle down and hope they are out just a little longer and it gets really challenging for them. This where we need to improve from last year anyway. We can't afford to lose game to teams like the Sixers.
Bro, we lost to Memphis. The season is over. You should start watching college b-ball so we know who to draft with our lottery pick.
I'm not sure we do. DET? IND? OKC (after losing to them once)? LAL? CHI minus Rose? They beat (after losing to) PHX, so ok. They beat CLE (after losing to them), so ok. They got swept by us and SAC. I'm ok putting DEN in the "spunky, but not contender" category.
Nope. As much as I love Lillard, Westbrook is at a whole 'nother level when it comes to taking a team on his back. Good or bad, he could carry that OKC team (without Durant) to the playoffs on his own, imho.