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OKC Thunder: An early look at possible first round playoff matchups

By Albert Dadson

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- MARCH 13: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 13, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- MARCH 13: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 13, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The OKC Thunder are one of the best teams in the West and they should be a force to be reckoned with. Here is an early look at some of the matchups they could possibly face in the first round.

The Oklahoma City Thunder won their matchup against the Brooklyn Nets at home on Wednesday night, 108-96. Now the OKC Thunder are back in the third spot in the Western Conference.

If the playoffs were to start now, they would have to face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. That matchup would be a tough one because of San Antonio’s prestige.

The Spurs have head coach Gregg Popovich leading them. He has led them to five titles already and they would be a tough out in the first round. DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge are All-Star players and their abilities would make this series an interesting one.

It would come down to Russell Westbrook and Paul George having a better series than those two stars. The series could easily go to seven games, but they Thunder should ultimately come away with the first round win in such a matchup.

The plucky Los Angeles Clippers are another possible candidate to move up to the 6-seed, as they’re only 0.5 games behind San Antonio for the 6-seed. Oklahoma City finished 2-2 against the Clips this season.

Another possible matchup if the Thunder end up being the third seed would be the Utah Jazz, who are currently 0.5 games behind San Antonio in seventh place. That would be an interesting series because it would be a rematch of last year’s first round matchup.

The Thunder would definitely wake up for this opponent because of how last year ended. The Jazz are scrappy. They would play great defense and Donovan Mitchell would always give them a chance, but the Thunder are having a better season this year.

With an MVP-caliber Paul George and Russell Westbrook always playing like himself, the Thunder should be able to come away with that series in five games.

OKC could also fall to fourth or fifth in the standings and face either the Houston Rockets or the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. In such a matchup, having home-court advantage as the 4-seed would be key.

Against the Rockets they would need home-court because of the way Houston can take over a game with its 3-point shooting. The Thunder would have to go into that series with some kind of advantage.

The Rockets should not fall lower than the fourth seed, so for the Thunder, it would be best to avoid this team altogether in the first round. That means either getting the 3-seed or dropping to the 4-seed as long as the Rockets move up to third.

james Harden is having an MVP-caliber season again and the Rockets should have a deep run in the playoffs. If they do face the Thunder in the first round, then Houston would most likely win that series in six games, even though OKC is up 2-1 in the regular season series.

There is a chance that the top five defense of OKC would show up against Houston and they would be able to take home a seven-game series, but Houston looks like the better team with the combination of a healthy Chris Paul and Harden.

If OKC has to face Portland, home-court would be nice but they wouldn’t need it as much. The Blazers with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum would be a tough opponent, but they don’t strike fear in the hearts of people like Houston would.

Last year, the third-seeded Blazers were swept by a sixth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans team that was without DeMarcus Cousins.

With how George and Westbrook are playing this season and with the improved play of the rest of the roster, they should be able to take care of the Blazers in five games or so.

If you’re the Thunder, getting that 3-seed remains the top priority despite the odds. Moving up to No. 2 is out of reach with the tough schedule they have to play to close out the season.

Next. Week 22 NBA Power Rankings. dark

The playoffs will be tough as always is in the Western Conference but the Thunder have had too good a season to not make it out of the first round. Earning a favorable matchup will put OKC in a better position to not only advance, but put together a legitimate playoff run.

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