Oklahoma City Thunder: All that’s lacking is an NBA title

Did you catch the stat the Thunder trotted out while announcing Scotty Brooks’ new contract? That the Thunder has the NBA’s third-best record over the last three seasons? I hadn’t thought about it, but when you remember that the Thunder has had three straight strong seasons – 50-32, 55-27 and 47-19 (equivalent to 58 wins in an 82-game season) – it stands to reason.

Here’s the top five teams in terms of regular-season record the last three years:

1.San Antonio 161-69

2.Chicago 153-77

3.Oklahoma City 152-78

4.Miami 151-79

5.Orlando 148-82

5. Dallas 148-82

But franchises don’t aim for the greatest regular season. The playoffs are where bread is buttered, and the Thunder has been a force the last three years, winning five series out of eight. All that’s missing from the Thunder resume’ is an NBA championship. Of course, that’s the hardest puzzle piece to solve.

In the last three years, here is how the franchises rate in terms of playoff series records, which also shows just how far up the flag pole the Thunder has scaled:

1.Miami 7-2

2. LA Lakers 6-2

3.Boston 6-3

4.Dallas 4-2

5.Oklahoma City 5-3

6.San Antonio 3-3

7.Chicago 2-3

7.Orlando 2-3

7.Atlanta 2-3

10.Phoenix 2-1

11.Utah 1-2