After the All-Star break, NBA teams kick it into high gear as they strive for playoff seeding. In addition, certain teams are trying to avoid the play-in tournament. While the Thunder almost certainly have the number one seed lock, there are still a couple of reasons why the last stretch of games is important. The first reason is that these past two games and the next 26 are the only games where this team will be fully healthy. This is their chance to see how these teams can mesh and play with different lineups to have the best ones ready come playoff time. However, the most important reason is OKC has back-to-back games against three potential playoff matchups.
The Thunder played Minnesota back-to-back, which was last night and today. Then, in March, they get Denver in back-to-back games. Finally, in April, right before the season ends, they play the Lakers back-to-back. These are three great tests for OKC to have right before the playoffs happen. The Thunder started this test on a high note, defeating the Timberwolves 130-123, in which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put out another MVP performance. They will try to make it 2-0 against the Timberwolves tonight. Let’s dive into why OKC’s back-to-back games against potential playoff matchups are beneficial for them.
OKC has 3 Back-To-Back Tests Against Potential Playoff Matchups
The Thunder Could Play Minnesota in Round One
Right now, the Timberwolves are tied with Dallas for the seventh seed. In addition, they are one game from the sixth seed and .5 games ahead of the ninth seed. If Minnesota loses again to the Thunder tonight in Oklahoma, they will be tied with the Warriors for the eighth seed. With only about 25 games left, there is a good chance that the Timberwolves fall into the 7-10th seed when the season is over. This means they will be a play-in tournament team and one of four teams that the Thunder could end up playing in round one.
If the Thunder do draw the Timberwolves in round one, this will be a much harder first-round series than OKC had last year with the Pelicans. However, this matchup would be good for the NBA, seeing two young superstars, Anthony Edwards and Gilgeous-Alexander, battle it out. Regardless, the Thunder getting a chance to play the Timberwolves at full strength and seeing how they will play them is very beneficial. The Timberwolves have plenty of lengthy wing defenders to throw at Shai and the height to compete with the Thunder. OKC seeing a preview of that will go a long way if this is who they play in the first round instead of going in blind.
The Thunder Gets to Preview the Luka-LeBron Duo
The next important potential playoff matchup OKC will see before the end of the year is the Lakers. The Lakers shocked the world at the deadline when they acquired Luka Doncic and paired him up with LeBron James. Right now, as it stands, the Lakers are tied with Houston for the fourth seed. They are two games behind the third seed and are 3.5 games ahead of the sixth seed. With around 26 games left, there is potential for the Lakers to move up or down in the standings. However, if they stay as the fourth seed and fifth seed, this would be the potential second-round matchup for the Thunder.
One thing the Thunder won’t be able to get a chance to see is the new-look Warriors with Jimmy Butler, as they already played their games with them. However, the Thunder will get to see the other big pairing of Luka and LeBron. The Lakers are probably the most dangerous team in the West. The reason for that is there is no ceiling to the duo of LeBron and Luka. Since OKC plays them in April, they will have plenty of time to mesh together, meaning the Thunder should get their best shot. This will be the perfect time for the Thunder to practice how they plan on matching up with this team. However, since it is so late into the year, there is a good chance that both teams are resting guys for the playoffs.
Thunder Vs. Nuggets a Potential WCF Preview
Finally, the last big test for the Thunder is the Nuggets, which could be the WCF matchup. The Thunder will face the Nuggets in back-to-back games on March 9th and March 10th. The Nuggets are currently tied with the Grizzlies for the second seed. In addition, they have a two-game lead over the Lakers, who are the fourth seed. With the one seed pretty much out of reach, the only thing they can do is fall in the standings. However, the Thunder would like to see the Nuggets on the other side of the bracket from them. Even though the Thunder are the favorites to come out of the West, the Nuggets are still the team to beat in the West. They are the last team to win the Finals in the West and have arguably the best player, Nikola Jokic.
The Thunder split their previous two meetings together, but that was with them not being at full strength. The Thunder getting a chance to see the double big lineup against a team like Denver is huge for them. Seeing how Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren together fair against Jokic, before the playoffs will pay great dividends for OKC. They will see it before the playoffs, so if these teams meet in the WCF, they will be prepared.
The Last Word on OKC’s Potential Playoff Matchups
The Thunder, seeing these teams before the playoffs, is huge. Not only are these three teams the possible three teams OKC will have to beat in the playoffs to reach the Finals. They are also going to be high-level games that feel like a playoff atmosphere. This will help a young OKC team with little playoff experience even more when the games matter most. Crucially, the Thunder will be able to get data and information on how to play these teams in the playoffs in what they hope to be a long playoff run.
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