2024 Playoffs Western Conference First Round: (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (8) New Orleans Pelicans

[InstaFace]

Welp, that was kinda a whimper of a play-in game. OKC is gonna get eased into this whole playoff thing.

NBA series preview: https://www.nba.com/news/2024-nba-playoffs-series-preview-thunder-pelicans

Game schedule:

Game 1: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Sunday, April 21 (9:30 p.m, TNT)
Game 2: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Wednesday, April 24 (9:30 p.m., TNT)
Game 3: Thunder vs. Pelicans; Saturday, April 27 (3:30 p.m., TNT)
Game 4: Thunder vs. Pelicans; Monday, April 29 (TBD, TBD)
Game 5: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Wednesday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)*
Game 6: Thunder vs. Pelicans; Friday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)*
Game 7: Pelicans vs. Thunder; Sunday, May 5 (TBD, TBD)*

They got the late game tomorrow, but they've also got two days off between each of Games 1 & 2, and Games 2 & 3. I think theirs is the only series where this is true.

Odds (FanDuel): OKC -650, NOP +440 (implied: OKC 82.4% to win)

Fan podcast preview:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao6tdNPt3no

 

[AMS25]

As the resident Thunder fan, I deeply resent the late start times for the first two games of this series. Both NOLA and OKC are in the Central Time Zone! Why not schedule teams from further out west for the night cap?

 

[Ale Xander]

As the resident Thunder fan, I deeply resent the late start times for the first two games of this series. Both NOLA and OKC are in the Central Time Zone! Why not schedule teams from further out west for the night cap?

ratings

No one cares about NOP for sure, and perhaps OKC too even though they have 2, maybe 3, super fun to watch players.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

As the resident Thunder fan, I deeply resent the late start times for the first two games of this series. Both NOLA and OKC are in the Central Time Zone! Why not schedule teams from further out west for the night cap?

I mean you guys got THE Primetime television slot. Of course the suits can’t be happy with no Giannis at 7pm and no Zion at 9:30pm EST but that was their intent.

 

[Ale Xander]

I mean you guys got THE Primetime television slot. Of course the suits can’t be happy with no Giannis at 7pm and no Zion at 9:30pm EST but that was their intent.

An event ending midnight on Sunday night is NOT prime time. Unless you mean primetime for SPokane/Zags fans watching Chet.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

An event ending midnight on Sunday night is NOT prime time. Unless you mean primetime for SPokane/Zags fans watching Chet.

Sun night 8-11pm is Primetime. The networks squeezed the majority of 2 games in that window with the likelihood high of retaining viewership of a good game. It will almost certainly attract the highest viewership.

 

[lars10]

This is the best game of the weekend so far.

 

[Euclis20]

This is the best game of the weekend so far.

Especially if you like final scores in the 80s.

I don't expect NO to be able to stick around (without Zion) once OKC gets their playoff legs, but this is pretty fun so far.

 

[lars10]

Especially if you like final scores in the 80s.

I don't expect NO to be able to stick around (without Zion) once OKC gets their playoff legs, but this is pretty fun so far.

It's just that it feels even.. I think every other series had a 10-20 point lead or more?

New Orleans has a little experience playing without Zion so it's slightly familiar territory to them. This series would be more fun if he were out there though.

edit: that may be currently changing.

 

[lars10]

Man.. SGA gets some extremely light calls..

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

This game is pretty damn awesome.

 

[8slim]

An event ending midnight on Sunday night is NOT prime time. Unless you mean primetime for SPokane/Zags fans watching Chet.

You should talk to the folks at NBC. Those Sunday night NFL prime time games do fairly well.

 

[8slim]

This game is a blast.

 

[osori]

This game is pretty damn awesome.

Yup. NO is on a mini run now.

 

[InstaFace]

McCollum got a lot of shit this week, and he wants you to just know that he heard it. Pepperidge Farm remembers.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

This game is a blast.

Yeah, it's fun to watch a competitive game purely for enjoyment, totally stress free

 

[osori]

I just noticed, BI and SGA both have 0 3P-attempted lol.

 

[dhellers]

With okc's lack of size, would Zion have 40?

 

[InstaFace]

With okc's lack of size, would Zion have 40?

No, somewhere in the mid 3rd quarter he'd be on the sidelines gulping oxygen

 

[dhellers]

No, somewhere in the mid 3rd quarter he'd be on the sidelines gulping oxygen

doesnt mean he wouldn't have put up 40 before fainting

Is SGA tired .... or suffering from JT/JB style 4th quarter whoopsies?

 

[DeadlySplitter]

I can see why Denver wasn't worried about beating out OKC in seeding.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Pels length is a problem for OKC

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I can see why Denver wasn't worried about beating out OKC in seeding.

This was OKC’s best chance to win a game in this series catching the Pelicans on short rest 36 hours after an elimination game. So not ready for prime time.

 

[Mystic Merlin]

I’d just take the jump ball with Chet on my side, that isn’t clear enough to challenge IMO.l and they’re down to one TO.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Ouch

 

[riboflav]

That's embarrassing lol

 

[DeadlySplitter]

And yeah I love OKC but it's not a surprise they're a year or two early.

 

[Mystic Merlin]

Wait how do they ‘win’ the challenge (and keep their TO) but lose the ball? Totally counterintuitive.

 

[radsoxfan]

What a dumb challenge with Chet about to jump.

Lucky they didnt lose their challenge/TO I guess, but still so dumb.

Edit:

or I guess they do lose the TO?

 

[dhellers]

Thats a flop

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Lu Dort Grift

 

[osori]

Dort missing a bunny, than taking a charge against Ingram. Must be tantalizing rooting for this guy.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Uh, that was a blatant goaltend.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

I don’t know if this is good or bad basketball.

 

[mikeot]

SGA takes charge for the win!
Edit: or not.

 

[ManicCompression]

I simply cannot watch a Tony Brothers game without thinking about him calling Jeff Teague’s mom a hoe

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Dort missing a bunny, than taking a charge against Ingram. Must be tantalizing rooting for this guy.

He’s a modern day Marcus Smart. He can win and lose a game for you on consecutive possessions.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Gotta foul

 

[riboflav]

super aggressive but you gots to foul here

 

[Mystic Merlin]

I simply cannot watch a Tony Brothers game without thinking about him calling Jeff Teague’s mom a hoe

He was channeling a legend.

 

[8slim]

How does Holmgren play basketball on those super skinny legs?

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Willie Green has coached a hell of a game

 

[Ed Hillel]

That was poo

 

[osori]

That is the best attempt you can draw up?

 

[riboflav]

He even slowed a bit in his final shooting motion to make sure he got his hand right

 

[Ed Hillel]

McCollum switched his pivot foot on that 3 lol

 

[DeadlySplitter]

That soft foul SGA got, and the missed goaltend, marred this ending for me.

 

[riboflav]

Headlines tomorrow:

One Seed Celtics Disappointing and Fortunate to Hold On
One Seed Thunder Gritty Win

 

[chilidawg]

I don’t know if this is good or bad basketball.

Fun, competitive game. Some pretty bad offensive basketball offset by great energy defensively. I think SGA's two buckets at the end were OKC's only scores in the last 7 minutes.

 

[Ed Hillel]

That soft foul SGA got, and the missed goaltend, marred this ending for me.

Nobody said anything about the goaltend. Looked pretty obvious to me.