The NBA is coming back July 30 and not a moment too soon for basketball fans who have been deprived a proper conclusion to the 2019-20 season since Rudy Gobert’s positive coronavirus test March 11 that set off the worldwide cascade of sports league cancellations. Now, the NBA will look to finish what it started with a 22-team “bubble” at the Disney Resorts in Orlando, an eight-game finish to the regular season and four best-of-7 playoff rounds to determine a champion. We take a look at each of the teams involved as we move closer to the official return and today we’ll look at the Oklahoma City Thunder team in our Sports Intel preview:

Oklahoma City Thunder Team Preview 2019-2020 Re-Boot

(40-24, 5th in West, 2 games behind No. 3)

Where we left off: The Thunder were ready to take on the Utah Jazz in March when the NBA was suddenly forced to call off all the action.  The front five continued to show tremendous ability inside the paint and the defense continued to improve all season.  The Thunder were already on the playoff radar when the season was suspended, and will be in a good position when it resumes.

Remaining schedule: Aug. 1, Utah Jazz; Aug. 3, Denver Nuggets; Aug. 5, LA Lakers; Aug. 7, Memphis Grizzlies; Aug. 9, Washington Wizards; Aug. 10, Phoenix Suns; Aug. 12, Miami Heat; Aug. 14, LA Clippers.

Projected starting lineup: C: Steven Adams, PF: Danilo Gallinari; SG: Luguentz Dort, SG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; PG: Chris Paul

Key injuries, absentees: F Isaiah Roby (foot)

Odds to Win Title: 80-1

Can they win it all? The Thunder have a really good shot at going all the way.  With Gilgeous-Alexander and Gallinari averaging more than 19 points a game, there has been a lot of offensive power that will be brought back to the NBA Bubble in Orlando.  Gilgeous-Alexander was also averaging over 35 minutes a game before the league suspension and, now rested, will be ready to bring his power from the first tip-off against the Jazz all the way through to the end of the season.

That wraps up out Oklahoma City Thunder team preview ahead of the restart of the NBA regular season. Come back tomorrow as we look another of the teams involved in Orlando.