The Oklahoma City Thunder made history on Monday night by sweeping the New Orleans Pelicans in four games, marking the franchise’s first playoff series win since 2016. Not only did this make them the youngest team in NBA history to win a playoff series, but they also became the youngest roster to earn the top seed in the Western Conference. Throughout the regular season, the Thunder’s success was attributed to their young and energetic team with deep rotations.
The Thunder’s advantage in the first round against the Pelicans was further amplified by a significant rest advantage. While New Orleans had to play two games to secure the No. 8 seed, including an elimination game just two days prior to Game 1, the Thunder had an entire week off to rest, recover, and scout. This advantage will continue into the next series, as the four-game sweep allows them another full week of rest before facing the winner of the LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks in the second round.
Regardless of who their next opponent ends up being, both teams are currently tied at 2-2 in their series. The Thunder’s next series is scheduled to begin on May 7, giving them even more rest time as their potential opponents may have just one or three days off between the first and second rounds, depending on how long their current series goes. The amount of rest the Thunder has accumulated for their roster has been remarkable and could potentially give them a significant advantage in the upcoming series.
With the regular season concluding on April 14 and the postseason starting the following day, the Thunder will have played just four games in the 21-day stretch between the regular season ending and the start of the second round. This could prove to be a huge advantage for Oklahoma City as they enter the next series fresh and ready to compete. The postseason schedule has worked out perfectly for the Thunder, with the extra rest potentially making them even more formidable opponents in the playoffs.
Assuming the rest doesn’t negatively impact the team’s momentum or performance, Oklahoma City will have benefited greatly from the extended breaks between games. The Thunder’s young roster has proven that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level, making them a formidable force in the playoffs. By securing a historic playoff series win and earning much-needed rest before the next round, the Thunder are well-positioned to continue their success and potentially make a deep playoff run. Fans will be eagerly watching to see how this young and energetic team performs in the upcoming series.
