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There is hope that at some point the NBA will resume the 2019-20 season, although, with the new recommendation that the CDC handed down on Sunday night, it looks like the earliest that the league could get back to business would be the middle of May, with some reports indicating that it’s more likely to be mid-June.
So what does that mean for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were one of, if not the feel-good story of the NBA before the current postponement?
Heading into their game against the Utah Jazz on March 11, the Thunder had won three-in-a-row and had climbed to fifth in the Western Conference standings.
It’s worth mentioning that Royce Young of ESPN noted Oklahoma City had won 71.1% of their games since Dec. 1.
The question will be whether or not the Thunder can maintain that type of consistency if and when the league resumes play.
Oklahoma City struggled at the beginning of the season and it will be interesting to see if the chemistry and rhythm they have built over the last three months will carry over despite having not played, practiced, or even seen each other in well over a month.
As with anything, though, there are positives that come along with potential negatives.
The mandatory hiatus gives Oklahoma City time to fully heal. Rookie Darius Bazley is still sidelined with a bone bruise in his right knee that he suffered ahead of the All-Star break.
Young points out that it could even “open the door for Andre Roberson, who hasn’t played in an NBA game in two years after multiple setbacks from a ruptured patellar tendon but who was making progress in recent weeks toward a possible return.”
However, at this point in time, when the NBA returns, if the NBA returns, and what the scenario could look like when it does … that’s anybody’s guess.