NBA: Biggest surprises and disappointments midway through 2019-20

Oklahoma City Thunder – New Look Underdogs

When the Houston Rockets traded Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook last summer, it shook the NBA world. Almost everyone thought the Thunder’s days of playoff contention were behind them, but with the way this incredibly odd team has been playing, that may not be the case.

The Thunder currently hold the 7th seed and are neck and neck with Westbrook’s new Rockets squad. Who would’ve thought the team who traded away all hopes of true competition in Brodie and Paul George would be in the running for a playoff spot led by CP3, Danilo Gallinari, Steven Adams, Dennis Schroder, and promising sophomore Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (who’s averaging 20 points a game).

This team who’s intention seemingly was to tank for the future has found new life in a player performance that has attracted a lot of fans to see them as an underdog to root for down the road.