Mrofir
11-22-2014, 02:41 AM
Thunder are currently 3-11, 8 games under .500.
Let's say:
1) Westbrook comes back Dec 7
2) KD comes back after xmas
3) Both of them are 100%, no adjustment period
4) Thunder win .700 when both are on the court.
5) Thunder win .600 when Westbrook is on the court.
Here is the schedule from now till Dec 7 along with projections --
VS Golden State -- L
VS Utah -- L
VS Knicks -- W
@ Orleans -- L
@ 76ers -- W
@ Pistons -- L
Taking the record to 5-15.
Westbrook returns for 10 games, they win 6. Record -- 11-19
Xmas! Durant returns, they win .700 the rest of way, finishing 36-16. Final record -- 47-35, on the very fringe for the western conference, likely out.
This is a best case scenario as far as I'm concerned. If any of the following happens, chances drop even further.
1) Westbrook has difficulty adjusting
2) KD has difficulty adjusting
3) Either player returns after expected date
4) Any other injuries
5) Too many transitions for the team to adjust on the fly
6) They play worse than I've projected above for any stretch
Etc etc etc.
Obviously they're a great team but when you look at the math they are going to need to play .800+ ball for the entire second half of the season to have a chance to catch up, and that doesn't seem likely to me.
sac, phx, and no will be fighting for that 8th spot.
Let's say:
1) Westbrook comes back Dec 7
2) KD comes back after xmas
3) Both of them are 100%, no adjustment period
4) Thunder win .700 when both are on the court.
5) Thunder win .600 when Westbrook is on the court.
Here is the schedule from now till Dec 7 along with projections --
VS Golden State -- L
VS Utah -- L
VS Knicks -- W
@ Orleans -- L
@ 76ers -- W
@ Pistons -- L
Taking the record to 5-15.
Westbrook returns for 10 games, they win 6. Record -- 11-19
Xmas! Durant returns, they win .700 the rest of way, finishing 36-16. Final record -- 47-35, on the very fringe for the western conference, likely out.
This is a best case scenario as far as I'm concerned. If any of the following happens, chances drop even further.
1) Westbrook has difficulty adjusting
2) KD has difficulty adjusting
3) Either player returns after expected date
4) Any other injuries
5) Too many transitions for the team to adjust on the fly
6) They play worse than I've projected above for any stretch
Etc etc etc.
Obviously they're a great team but when you look at the math they are going to need to play .800+ ball for the entire second half of the season to have a chance to catch up, and that doesn't seem likely to me.
sac, phx, and no will be fighting for that 8th spot.