No. 5 1997-98 SuperSonics vs. No. 12 2019-20 Thunder
5 seed: 1997-98
Regular season record: 61-21
Playoff result: Lost Western Conference Semifinals
Despite losing star power forward Kemp the offseason before, the Sonics’ 61 wins was best in the Pacific Division and earned them the second seed entering the playoffs.
Key players:
Payton – An All-NBA First Team season for Payton, the point guard posted 19.2 points, 8.3 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.
Vin Baker – In his first year with the Sonics, Baker was named to the All-NBA Second Team after averaging 19.2 points, eight rebounds, 1.1 steal and one block per game.
Schrempf – Averaged 15.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and made 41.5% of his 3s.
Dale Ellis – The sharpshooter led the NBA with a 3-point percentage of 46.4% while taking 3.5 per game en route to averaging 11.8 points per game.
Hersey Hawkins – Hawkins averaged 10.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
Perkins – In his final season with the Sonics, Perkins averaged 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 21 minutes per game.
12 seed: 2019-20
Regular season record: 40-24 (postponed)
Playoff result: Fifth seed as of March 11
Hopefully this year’s Thunder team will get more games, because they were one of the biggest pleasant surprises of the league. Despite trading Westbrook and Paul George, Oklahoma City was in the thick of the playoff race.
Key players:
Chris Paul – Statistically the best player during crunch time this season, Paul has averaged 17.7 points, 6.8 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – The key player return from the George trade, the second-year player is posting a team-high 19.3 points with 6.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
Danilo Gallinari – Gallinari, one of the best stretch-fours in the league, is posting 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting above 40% from 3.
Dennis Schroder – Schroder has been an elite sixth man this season, averaging 19 points with 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds and often closing out games as part of the three-guard lineup.
Adams – Adams is averaging 10.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game to go with about a block and steal apiece in 27 minutes per game.
Luguentz Dort – Dort played himself into a key piece of the rotation with fierce defense. He averages 6.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
Nerlens Noel – In 18 minutes per game, Noel is averaging 7.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, one steal and 1.5 blocks per game.
Terrance Ferguson – Ferguson has started 37 games this year, and in 23 minutes per, he is averaging 4.2 points and 1.5 rebounds.
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