ESPN analysts Jackson, Van Gundy discuss Thunder’s playoff chances

Posted by Mel Bracht

on December 24, 2009M at 1:29 pm

Mark Jackson

ESPN/ABC analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy discussed the Oklahoma City’s Thunder chances of making the playoffs on a recent conference call.

Mark Jackson:

I think they have a very good chance of making the playoffs. The reason why is they’re well-coached and they’re loaded with talent. It’s a team that plays extremely hard every single night. They play with a chip on their shoulders. The thing I love about them is they are young guys that love the game of basketball. That’s what separates them.

I watched a bunch of those guys in Vegas in the offseason just together working out. It’s no accident why those guys are growing and getting so much better. They are a team to reckon with, not just in the future, but right now. And the thing I love about it is when you look at a kid like (James) Harden, people do not mention him when they mention the bunch of good young guards, and he is in the discussion just as much. He is playing on a better team with better backcourt play. That’s a team that I certainly see making the playoffs and being around for the long time. And Kevin Durant has put himself in the elite group.

Jeff Van Gundy:

I think they have a chance. I think the Western Conference is top heavy where there will be a lot of people competing for 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 spots. You have the real bad teams at the bottom, but there are a lot of teams that circumstances will determine whether they descend or ascend, whether it’s injuries or stars playing their best. I think Oklahoma City, with Sam Presti, Scott Brooks and Kevin Durant, they have a great start to being a really fine franchise.

I think their fan base, having played there when New Orleans relocated there, is the most collegiate of all NBA arena atmopsheres. It’s just a great place to play where they have a distinct homecourt advantage.

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