5-5 over the past 10 games. The record stings, doesn't it? If the Thunder would have merely won one of their past 5 games against playoff teams, they would be the number one seed right now. Tonight, they get a chance to redeem themselves against a borderline playoff team that has gone 20-10 over the past 30 games: the Phoenix Suns.
Remember that awesome game we had with the Timberwolves where Kevin Love had 51 points and Durant and Westbrook both went over 40 in a double-overtime thriller? Well, the T-Wolves have hit the crapper since then.
The Kings are actually winning the season series. Yep, you read that right. If you'll remember, back in February, the Kings dropped 106 points on the Thunder and destroyed them in terms of offensive rebounds and forced turnovers.
The two games played between these two teams this year couldn't be more different. Both were blowouts of epic proportions. The January contest saw Oklahoma City outscored by some red hot perimeter shooting, and the March contest saw Blake Griffin score a career low.
The reason I'm honing in on this team's defense is this: The Thunder will have to outscore the Bucks in order to win tonight. And it's going to be a serious test of our offensive might after four straight games of mediocrity.
The Raptors are probably this year's most inconspicuous team. Nevertheless, the Raptors are here, and they're as formidable an opponent as anybody. They've won 3 of their last four (including a win at the Sixers), and they bested the Nuggets last week.
The Thunder, who have endured a couple of losses in their tough schedule, now have their backs against the wall. After losing two games in a row for the first time since January and with the Spurs facing a pushover opponent tonight, they must now win in order to keep the conference lead.
So, after a blowout win two weeks ago that was part of a massive streak for success for the Thunder, the Heat come to town looking for revenge. But both teams have shown chinks in the armor since their last encounter.
The Thunder last played the Bulls on December 6th, 2010. Back in the days of Nenad Krstic, Jeff Green, and Keith Bogans. It seems like eons ago, doesn't it?
Derek Fisher has been a Laker for the vast majority of his career. So it's going to be strange....surreal, even, to see him play against the Lakers while wearing Thunder blue.
