Oklahoma City Thunder

NBA insider thinks the OKC Thunder have the ability to upset a top seed in the 1st round

Published by
Jonathan Sherman

The playoff chase in the Western Conference is as hot as it gets, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are a surprise team that are right in the the thick of it.

Right now, the Thunder are one of the four teams projected to compete in the play-in tournament and are the No. 8 seed in the conference. However, they are just one game back from the No. 6 seed, the final spot to advance straight into the playoffs.

Whether the Thunder end up having to compete in the play-in tournament or manage to leapfrog into the playoff bracket, NBA insider Zach Lowe believes that they are a team to watch.

In fact, he thinks that the Thunder have what it takes to upset a high-seeded team in the first round of the playoffs.

“Either Minnesota or Oklahoma City is going to get into the playoffs, and they’re going to be like 2-2 with a big name in the first round and be like, ‘Oh my God, how did that happen?'” he said. “I think both the Wolves (Minnesota Timberwolves) and the Thunder could win a first-round playoff series.”

It is definitely a hot take coming from Lowe, but there seems to be a real path both for the Wolves and Thunder in the playoffs. Both teams are filled with young talent and have been getting some good momentum at the right moment.

For the Wolves, they just got Karl-Anthony Towns back from a long injury absence. Fellow star Anthony Edwards is now out with an ankle injury, but there appears to be hope that he’ll be back soon.

As for the Thunder, they’re currently riding an incredibly strong string of games in which they’ve gone 8-2 in their last 10. They’re being led by star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is clearly the player that they are building the franchise around. Along with him, the team is being led by players like Josh Giddey and Luguentz Dort.

What’s scary for the rest of the league is that the Thunder have taken a huge leap in their rebuild without the contributions of the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Chet Holmgren. He’s missed the entire season with a Lisfranc injury. Once he returns next season, the Thunder could become a major threat in the West.

The Thunder have 10 more games on their regular season schedule before the postseason gets underway. If they can keep winning at the rate that they have been lately, a playoff berth is not at all out of the question.

Jonathan Sherman

Jonathan has worked as a sports writer covering NBA and NFL news since 2017. He's a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Vikings.

Published by
Jonathan Sherman

Recent Posts

Report: NBA GM believed Grizzlies would have had to shop Ja Morant this summer before they fired Taylor Jenkins

Earlier on in the year, long before the Memphis Grizzlies dismissed Taylor Jenkins after he…

11 hours ago

Ja Morant opens up about Grizzlies firing Taylor Jenkins: ‘It’s tough for me’

Guard Ja Morant suited up for the first time since the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor…

1 day ago

Tyrese Haliburton on ‘easy decision’ to name SGA MVP: ‘If you took a player poll, I’m sure he would win’

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a compelling case to win this season's MVP…

3 days ago

Report: ‘Early expectation’ is that Clint Capela will sign elsewhere this summer

Big man Clint Capela is in his fifth season playing for the Atlanta Hawks, and…

5 days ago

Stephen A. says LeBron is in his feelings: ‘Could it be because I don’t believe you’re the G.O.A.T.?’

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith claimed on Wednesday that if his confrontation with Los Angeles Lakers…

5 days ago

LeBron James reflects on 2007 Cavs roster that he took to NBA Finals: ‘How is that possible?’

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently reflected on the 2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers and their…

6 days ago