OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 19: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts ... [+] after being fouled during the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Paycom Center on March 19, 2023 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
Getty Images“The core of your team gets built on the road,” said Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault on Sunday evening before the team hit the road for a trip out west.
To him, road trips are great for a developing young team and there are plenty of lessons to be learned.
“I love playing on the road. It’s a great test,” said Daigneault. “It’s strips away everything except for your team. It’s just you. I actually think road games, wins and losses, build a lot of chemistry because it limits a lot of distractions.”
While these games are great tests, they’re extremely difficult to win. In fact, only two teams in the entire Western Conference have a winning record on the road this season.
Oklahoma City is currently 13-21 away from Paycom Center in the 2022-23 campaign and facing a pivotal a four-game road trip. Over the course of the next week, the Thunder will play the LA Clippers twice, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers before returning home.
The reality is that the results of this trip will directly impact the Thunder’s ability to make the postseason. Entering this road trip, they’re the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference with a record of 35-36. Each of the teams OKC will play on this trip are within just a few games in the standings one direction or another.
Heading back home from this stint, the Thunder will have just eight games remaining in the season. They could be as high as the No. 5 seed at that point, or as low as the No. 12 seed. There’s so much variability at this stage in the season with how tight the standings are.
“It’s going to be a great test for us this week,” said Daigneault.
It’s a tough task for the youngest team in the NBA to go take care of business on the road against teams with superstar talent and high stakes. However, the Thunder have exceeded expectations all season and risen to every occasion.
Regardless, given they’ve only won 38.2% of their road games this season the odds aren’t in their favor.
But what makes it so hard to win on the road outside of the travel and opposing team having the crowd behind them?
“I don’t know, I really don’t,” said Daigneault.”
What he does know is just how much a home crowd can do for a team. In fact, on Sunday against the Phoenix Suns at home the Thunder were fueled by the largest crowd of the season to a victory.
“We don’t win without being at home and without the crowd being like that. That exists on the road [for the opposing team],” said the Thunder coach after the win.
From a player’s point of view, there’s also a level of comfort playing at home along with the energy the crowd brings.
“When you make runs, it amplifies it. Also, every teams plays on their home floor 41 times a year. You get comfortable with the arena and the backdrops and all that.”
There’s a clear correlation to the Thunder’s performance and where they’re playing. At home, most of the individual players are more efficient and productive than on the road when looking at their respective numbers. Additionally, Oklahoma City is 22-15 when playing at home this season. This is also the case for most of the teams the Thunder will play this week on their respective home floors.
As the Thunder enter what might be the most crucial road trip of the season to this point, the level of difficulty playing away from home should be acknowledged.
Nick Crain, Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholascrain/2023/03/20/okc-thunder-to-face-most-pivotal-road-trip-of-season/
By: Nick Crain, Contributor
Title: OKC Thunder To Face Most Pivotal Road Trip Of Season
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/nicholascrain/2023/03/20/okc-thunder-to-face-most-pivotal-road-trip-of-season/
Published Date: 03-20-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NBA salary cap
The NBA salary cap is a limit on the salary of each team's roster. Each year, the league decides what this limit is. It's designed to prevent teams from signing multiple high priced players, creating unfair advantages and ensuring parity among teams. To sign free agents and make trades, teams must not exceed the cap. They can exceed it if they use certain exceptions, such as signing a player with Bird rights or offering a player a contract with portions of their salary counted against the cap and the remaining portion paid out as a bonus. The league has a salary cap that is integral to the league. It helps ensure a level playing field for all teams.
Which NBA player has blocked the most shots in a single season?
Mark Eaton's 1984-85 season set new records in blocks (456) as well as blocks per game (5.56). Eaton's all-time total that year was the greatest single-season number in NBA history.
Hakeem Olajuwon holds the NBA record for most consecutive blocks with 3,830. Olajuwon's 18-year NBA career saw him average 21.8 points, 11.1 rebound, 2.5 assists, and 3.1 blocks per match.
Which NBA star is currently the most dominant scorer?
The answer is subjective as each player has a different style of play which makes them unique and successful. Kevin Durant and LeBron James are some of the most popular options for NBA's top scorer.
Kevin Durant's not just a great shooting player, but he is also an offensive force! With two NBA Championships and 2 Finals MVPs under his belt and a regular season MVP title, this player has some serious game.
What is a restricted player free agent in NBA basketball?
An NBA restricted free agent is a player who has fulfilled their rookie contract but becomes an unrestricted-free agent. Their rights remain with their former team. The team may match an offer sheet from another team for the player. If they decide to do so, the player will remain with their former team and must honor their existing contract. This allows teams retain players who are proven valuable, but cannot afford them because of their salary caps. Restricted free agents are a type of free agent that can provide teams with valuable flexibility when building their rosters.
Statistics
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
- The opening game of the 2020 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat brought in only 7.41 million viewers to ABC, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (en.wikipedia.org)
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How To
How an NBA Getty Images Photographer Captures Perfect Shots
This article will show you how a NBA Getty Images photographer can capture the perfect shot. Selecting the right spot is the first step. Next, you must choose the best angle from which to shoot your photo. Finally, anticipate what might occur next.
- Step 1: Finding the right place
You can get the best out of every photograph by choosing the right time and place to take it. If you have too many people around you, it is possible to lose the moment in case something happens during exposure. It is important to not have people blocking your view. Try to find a spot in which they will not be able see you taking photographs.
Once you have found a good spot for your camera, begin snapping away. It is always easier for you to move closer and not further back.
- Step 2: Selecting the Best Angle
After finding the best location, you need to consider the camera angle. This is the second thing you should consider when creating a great photograph.
Choose a position that will allow you to have a clear view of the topic without getting in your way. For example, look at him through the basket hoop if you're trying to catch a basketball player doing a layup. That'll give you a nice, tight frame without obstructions.
Next, look for interesting angles. The angle should show something special about the individual. He will look taller if he is viewed from a low angle. A high angle will emphasize his athleticism.
The last is framing. Framing describes the arrangement of items relative to one another within a frame. It is important to balance the foreground and background when creating the perfect composition.
- Step3: Anticipating Next What
Finally, think ahead. You should always be prepared to respond quickly to any unusual activity, such as a person diving into the lane or a ball rolling towards the rim. Do not hesitate in calling out "action", or "cut."
You can freeze the scene when you hear those words. After that, wait for the action in order to move forward. You can freeze the scene to ensure sharp focus when pressing the shutter button.
Follow these steps to ensure you get the perfect shot everytime. With patience and practice, you can become a skilled NBA Getty Images photographer. You'll take beautiful photos that will last a lifetime.
