Thunder 2018-19 Schedule: Top Games, Championship Odds and Record Predictions

The Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the biggest winners this offseason. Their Paul George bet paid off, they got out from under Carmelo Anthony's contract and received a usable player in return, and they should slot into the top half of the Western Conference.

So the result is a Thunder team that looks a lot like last year's bunch without the looming specter of George's free agency around their necks.

Dennis Schroder will come in and essentially be the team's new Reggie Jackson. Their skills sets and self-confidence are almost mirror images of one another.

Jerami Grant was handed a $27 million contract to ostensibly be Anthony's replacement, albeit one without the same shooting skill and a much higher defensive potential.

The Thunder project as one of the longest, most athletic teams in basketball—and one of the worst shooting ones. George is the only plus three-point shooter in their playoff rotation, which is going to be an issue in April and May.

For now, though, let's check out how the Thunder shape up after the schedule was released Friday. 

2018-19 Details

Season Opener: Oct. 16 at Golden State Warriors, 10:30 p.m. ET

Championship Odds: 40-1 (via Odds Shark)

Full Schedule: NBA.com

Key Matchups

Los Angeles Lakers: Jan. 2

Not since Dwight Howard's first return to Los Angeles as a member of the Houston Rockets will we hear more boo birds from Lakers fans than we will for Paul George.

The native son of Southern California was as close to a sure thing as possible. Lakers fans—and most media members—believed George would be headed home. LeBron James was the pipe dream, George was the lock. 

The Lakers never even got a meeting with George, who instead signed a four-year contract to remain in Oklahoma City. He also had some not-so-subtle barbs for the Lakers when discussing his decision.

"It's been very stressful. It has not been an easy decision," George said in an ESPN docuseries. "I 100 percent appreciate Laker Nation for wanting me to come back home, for wanting to play in front of them. I wanted to come here a year ago prior to going to OKC. Unfortunately, I wasn't traded to the Lakers. The Lakers didn't grab me. I was traded to Oklahoma. And that has been a beautiful thing for me."

Reading through the context: The Lakers didn't want George bad enough last year, so he stuck with the team that did. It's an understandable stance, especially after he and Russell Westbrook grew close.

But don't expect Laker Nation, never one to take a slight lightly, to give George a hometown welcome.

Houston Rockets: Christmas Day at Toyota Center

The Rockets and Thunder have had a natural rivalry ever since OKC traded James Harden to Houston in one of the most fantastic blunders in recent modern sports. The Thunder drafted three of the last four players named MVP; they have just one remaining—and arguably the worst one.

Westbrook and Harden is now an interesting debate because you could envision a scenario in which Kevin Durant was still in Oklahoma City if the team had chosen the latter.

Westbrook and Durant have a famously cool relationship, while Harden appears to be friendly with all of his ex-teammates. We'd be going too far down an alternative timeline exploring this further, but Thunder fans do get a glimpse of what could have been every time they watch Harden.

Oklahoma City also fashions itself as a true contender for a top-two seed in the West this season. If they're going to do that, knocking off Houston is the only way to make it happen. Golden State will be the No. 1 seed this year unless a catastrophic injury wipes out at least two of its Big Four (Five when DeMarcus Cousins returns).

The Rockets are a worse team than their 65-win outfit a year ago, swapping out defensive-minded Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute for Carmelo Anthony. The Melo gamble is one that blew up in OKC's face a year ago, so it'll be interesting to see him go against his old foes.

Add in the Christmas stage, and we're set for a solid matchup here. 

Prediction

The Thunder are the definition of really good. They have two of the best 20 players in basketball and a stout defensive anchor in the middle who does all the little things. In eras past, this Thunder team might have competed for a Western Conference Finals berth.

This isn't eras past, though.

Oklahoma City projects as either a No. 3 or No. 4 seed, a clear tier below the Houston Rockets, who themselves are a clear tier below the Golden State Warriors.

The Thunder will compete with the Jazz for the 3-4 spot in the West, a battle that will likely come down to which team maneuvers itself furthest away from James' Lakers.

It would be a surprise not to see the Thunder trickle up over the 50-win mark this season regardless.

Prediction: 52-30