I agree, I really don't want to get matched up against a healthy OKC whose bench got to play a lot and whose stars are fresher than usual. Still think it's something of a longshot though.

Leaning towards no at this point.

And if they do, they'll be pretty gassed by the time the postseason rolls around from having been in "playoff mode" the majority of the season, IMO.

They are getting dangerously close to the point of no return. As of right this minute I think they still make it because Westbrook and Durant are THAT good and they'll be extremely motivated. It wouldn't shock me to see them go on a crazy 20 game win streak at some point.

That being said, one more set back and it's done. I'll be curious how they re-integrate. Jackson, Morrow and Ibaka are getting a lot of shots right now and that will evaporate. How quickly can they reset roles? Will Westbrook immediately start putting up 25 shots despite the rust?

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And if they do, they'll be pretty gassed by the time the postseason rolls around from having been in "playoff mode" the majority of the season, IMO.

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I almost said that, but then decided that they are in playoff mode the majority of every season, so the shorter season would be a benefit. It really depends on whether Durant and Westbrook can come back and win right away. Lets say they don't really hit a rhythm until January, resulting in losses to every team over .500 plus the Cavs in December. They have a rough stretch coming up, so that puts them at 9-24 going into the new year. They would have to go 41-8 (84%) the rest of the way.

Three more losses and they're done, imo.

What I don't want to see is them pull a Spurs maneuver and just sit their guys the rest of the way and try to out tank the 76ers. If they got a top 3 pick to go along with Durant and Westbrook they'd be a monster for years to come.

No one can out tank the 76ers.

I would prefer them tank then run the risk of a 1st round match-up. What a disaster that would be for a team to have to face them fully healthy round 1.

Plus, I wouldn't be surprised to see Durant make his way back home to D.C. when he becomes a FA.

Also, they are never winning a championship as long as Scott Brooks is head coach.

I want them in the 8th or 7th spot. The teams resting guys and making excuses late in the year will be fun.

I would like them there as well as long as they aren't playing the Spurs in the first round.

Agreed. If we have to run into them again, I'd rather it not be a round 1 WCF rematch.

I would. Don't be scared, homie.

I would rather get the Thunder than the Mavs, tbh. I doubt it'd be a tougher series than that one was last year.

uh.. there's a lot of teams that don't look very fun to face in round one.

OKC
Dallas
Clips
Golden State
Memphis
Houston
Portland

Anyone?

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uh.. there's a lot of teams that don't look very fun to face in round one.

OKC
Dallas
Clips
Golden State
Memphis
Houston
Portland

Anyone?

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I would prefer to avoid Memphis & OKC and play Dallas and maybe GS.

Yeah, for the Spurs. They seems to match up well with GSW, Portland and LA. Dallas worries me mostly because of Carlisle.

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Yeah, for the Spurs. They seems to match up well with GSW, Portland and LA. Dallas worries me mostly because of Carlisle.

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Which one of these is not like the others?

Fairly sure LA = Clippers, not the Kobes.

Unrelated - do you ever post without the popcorn icon?

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Fairly sure LA = Clippers, not the Kobes.

Unrelated - do you ever post without the popcorn icon?

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Hah my bad. My mind was thinking LAL automatically. I forget about lob city.

I use others when needed. But I usually don't have a strong feeling so I just click the popcorn.

Whoever finishes with the 1 seed might have a chance to get a Phoenix/NOLA/Sac first round matchup but seeds 2-7 I think will end up being pretty set between SA,DAL,HOU,MEM,POR,GSW, LAC in no particular order. I could realistically see any order between those 7 teams.

If stuck playing one of those first round then I would prefer Portland or Los Angeles.

The West should be able to send one team to the Eastern Conference Playoffs each year.

Thunder waived Sebastian Telfair

It's gonna be extremely tough to make the 8 seed, but good Lord how amazingly different this team is with just Westbrook back tonight.

Westbrook 32 points, 7 rebs, 8 assists

But we would totally be a better team if we traded him

OKC is only 6 games back from 8th place & 8 from 4th place.

If healthy, they will be in the playoffs, comfortably.

Given how tight the West is, health is going to be a big deal for a couple teams. Injuries will hit them all.

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But we would totally be a better team if we traded him

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You absolutely could be depending on what you get in return. The goal is to build the best team, not to have the highest scoring, most athletic point guard.

And come on. Westbrook isn't going to shoot 12-17 and 3-4 from three every night or close to it.

Well Durant is supposed to play tonight. I'll say they get in.

OKC should get in, and will still be competing for a top 6 seed, unless someone like Kendrick Perkins goes down. In which case, they might get a top 4 seed.

Disagree, I think their hopes of a top 6 seed are basically gone. They're still very much in the fight for a 7 or 8 seed, but no higher than that. Unless one the current playoff teams suffers a major injury of course.

Well I didn't think either of them would be back this soon, especially Durant. Saying that, if they truly are healthy now then they should be able to make it. If they are rushing Durant back then they could still miss due to another future injury.

Yes, that is probably right, 7th or 8th, depending on injury situations. They are now 5-12.

To get to 50 wins, I think they need to win about 70% of games. That is about 7th or 8th (45-20).

To get to 55 wins, about 4th to 5th, they would need to win about 77% of games (50-15).

Barring another set back I would currently project them to get to 55 wins. Theyll probably go on a 20 game win streak at some point.

They will not win 77% of their games, that's ridiculous