Thunder/SuperSonics “Semis” Notes

Opening the semi-finals on the road for the 8th time in 10 such appearances, the Oklahoma City Thunder nee the Seattle SuperSonics, gained home advantage in one of the first two games for the 5th time, this in game 1, stunning the 8 point favorite, Golden State Warriors.

“OKC” has now won 5 of 6 games (why did the great Marv Albert keep saying they won 3 of 4, when it was 4 of 5, during game 1, but still it is a pleasure to hear Mr. Albert broadcast?!) vs a 67 win and 73 win team, after being routed in game 1 by the 67 win Spurs and of course vilified by the media.

As the SuperSonics, the franchise went (3-3) in “semis,” breaking through on the road in one but ONLY one, of the first two games vs the Denver Nuggets in 1978, the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980 and Phoenix Suns in 1993.

Residing in Oklahoma City as the Thunder, they gained a split in Dallas vs the Mavericks in 2011 and now at least that vs the record breaking, defending champion Warriors.

Most likely, the Warriors will make it 5 of 5 times that the Thunder nee SuperSonics got only one of two, but the way this team is playing do not rule out (in Seattle Bob Rule was a star player) another road win in game 2 and certainly not an upset win in the series.

It would still be an upset according to those who seemingly know best as “G.State” is still an 8 to 5 series favorite, but that is a far cry from the nearly 4 to 1 “faves” they were before the series commenced.