The Oklahoma City Thunder are +9000 big time underdogs to win the NBA Orlando Playoffs. But, they’re -1 favorites over the Utah Jazz in their first game on August 1. The Jazz are +5000 dogs to win the NBA Championship. So, which is it? Is Oklahoma City good enough to beat Utah, but not good enough to offer less than +9000 to win the title? Or, is it a bit of both? Let’s try to answer those questions in our NBA Oklahoma City Thunder Analysis so you can star planning ahead your bets against their NBA odds.
NBA Oklahoma City Thunder Analysis Before Restart
State of Oklahoma City Thunder heading to Orlando
A quick look at the Oklahoma City Thunder depth chart reveals no issues. The Thunder appear ready to roll in Orlando.
Before the shutdown, the Thunder averaged 110.8 points per game. Alone, that doesn’t impressive since it ranks eighteenth in the NBA. But OKC shoots 47.3% from the field. That’s a great shooting percentage.
Not only that, on defense the Thunder allows 34.4% from three, which ranks fifth in the league. Oklahoma City allows teams to flourish from the field, 45.6% per game. Overall, though, the Thunder allow just 108.3 points per.
How will the Thunder handle the NBA Orlando Bubble?
Of the 22 teams participating in the NBA Orlando Bubble, none should be as well prepared as the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 19.3 points per. But, he doesn’t lead the Thunder. That’s Chris Paul’s job. Paul, a future hall of fame player, not only leads the Thunder but he also leads the NBA Players Association. He’s the organization’s president.
Paul will make sure the Thunder play by the coronavirus rules because he worked with commissioner Adam Silver to put the rules in place.
And, that’s the gist of it, right? Teams that lose players due to coronavirus contact or players breaking rules won’t win games.
No matter what a player believes about the NBA Orlando Playoffs, if that player can’t get onto the court, that player can’t help his team.
The Thunder follow Chris Paul. CP3 will make sure their heads are in the right place for success in the Orlando bubble.
Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Title +9000 Odds Betting Analysis
How good is Oklahoma City? On paper, they don’t look great. Their top scorer, Gilgeous-Alexander, averages less than 20 points per.
Paul averages less than 7 assists per game while top rebounder, Steve Adams, averages less than 10 rebounds per.
But Oklahoma City can do something that other NBA teams can’t. They can send a totally different starting five onto the court.
Dennis Schroder can spell either Paul or Gilgeous-Alexander. Hamidou Diallo, can play the other guard position. Nerlens Noel steps onto the court for Steve Adams while Terrance Ferguson allows Luguentz Dort to take a breather. Darius Bazley allows Danilo Gallinari to rest his legs.
The Thunder can come at you in waves. That gives them an advantage playing on basketball courts without fans.
Expect leader Chris Paul to ratchet up the defensive intensity. The Thunder seem to take care of the basketball. They don’t turn it over a lot. So, if Paul can get his teammates to play tighter defense, OKC could surprise some folks.
The Thunder are worth a shot on some moneylines if they come up dogs. They’re also worth a look to win rings at the ridiculously overlay price of +9000.
