(#8) ThunderSonics - (#1) Lakers Series

This is another series (like the Bucks-Celtics) that I thought was going to be a "no doubt about it sweep" mostly because of the strength of the Lakers roster: 9 Hall of Famers, and Shaq, Kobe, and Pau, players with 100%, 100%, and 45.9% chances, respectively, of making the Hall of Fame according to basketball-reference.com. Also, my "Greatness Factor" has Shaq ranked as the 6th greatest player ever with a score of 687.0, Kobe as the 10th with 630.1, and Pau as 68th with 196.9 (at the start of the season.) But the ThunderSonics made short work of, what I thought, was a pretty good Blazers team, so we'll see what happens here.

(#9) Trail Blazers - (#8) ThunderSonics Series

I love how this worked out, where the Blazers and Sonics get to renew a rivalry in this thing. Also, for the record, I'm going to refer to the Thunder as the Oklahoma Seattle City ThunderSonics whenever I have to refer to their combined history. It just works for me. Both of these teams seem incredibly stacked for me, at least 7-8 deep, for 8 and 9 seeds anyway. Whoever wins will be going up against an incredible Lakers team, but I think either of these teams could give them a pretty good run for their money. Anyway, this is our last first round series, so let's get to it.

Oklahoma Seattle City ThunderSonics Ultimate Roster

Oklahoma Seattle City ThunderSonics, 1177.2 rating, 14th overall (8th seed in West)


1. Gary Payton (286.4 rating)
2. Jack Sikma (147.4)
3. Shawn Kemp (145.7)
4. Gus Williams (135.0)
5. Spencer Haywood (110.9)
6. Dennis Johnson (76.0)
*7. Ray Allen (69.0) (on Bucks roster)
8. Kevin Durant (57.7)
9. Fred Brown (56.5)
10. Detlef Schrempf (52.3)
*11. Lenny Wilkens (44.2) (Hawks)
12. Rashard Lewis (42.6)
13. Dale Ellis (35.4)
*14. Vin Baker (33.7) (Bucks)
15. Lonnie Shelton (31.3)