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Will the OKC Thunder miss their home floor in the NBA playoffs?

By Ryan Love

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 01: Utah Jazz players sit on the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on August 1, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 01: Utah Jazz players sit on the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on August 1, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Ashley Landis - Pool/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
OKC Thunder (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

The OKC Thunder could be a dangerous team in the playoffs in Orlando, but they won’t have the fans in “Loud City” backing them up this time.

The new-look OKC Thunder are gaining notoriety headed into the 2020 NBA playoffs in Orlando, but only from fans in the comfort and safety of their own homes.

The Thunder can no longer go back home after a tough loss and come back out to the fans at Chesapeake Energy Arena to regain some momentum.

Instead, they’ll stay on a neutral floor sometimes altered to appear as a “home game” in television broadcasts.

The fans who turned Oklahoma City into “Loud City” in the playoffs for nine of the last 10 seasons are now at home, sending in videos of themselves for a pseudo-home-court advantage.

“I’m so used to coming out that tunnel and then if we’re at home, seeing all the fans,” said rookie forward Darius Bazley.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDH2kovj93P/?utm_source=ig_embed

Chris Paul told Thunder writer Nick Gallo that the hardest part was running out of the tunnel onto the court.

“It’s one of those things a lot of guys on the team say — ‘bring your own energy,'” Paul said.

The Thunder has yet to have any major surprise appearances in their virtual home crowd but did play in front of rapper Lil Wayne who appeared in the Lakers’ crowd during OKC’s 105-86 win over the West’s No. 1 seed.

No hostile environments. No jet lag.

Thunder head coach Billy Donovan has prided himself on his mix of young talent and veterans in his latest squad. Before the season resumed, he said this:

"“We’ve got a lot of really good guys, the veterans like Steven [Adams] and Chris [Paul] and Gallo [Danilo Gallinari] Dennis [Schroder] even Andre those guys aren’t only really really good leaders but, they’re great people.”"

“I think there’s a lot invested, and all the guys understand what’s really important.”

However, how important is it for the Thunder to play in front of their home crowd?

This season indicates it might not mean much — but the team’s history may tell another story.

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