Oklahoma City Thunder Fans on Palm Sunday: Church or NBA Finals Preview?

The Oklahoma City Thunder will play the NBA's best team April 1. The Chicago Bulls come to Chesapeake Energy Arena in a clash of the titans that may be a preview of a possible NBA Finals matchup in June. The Thunder are 39-12. Chicago played at home against the Detroit Pistons March 30. The Thunder get an extra day of rest before the showdown. The Bulls will be 42-11 by the time they roll into Oklahoma City.

The game starts at 1 p.m. ET which is noon CT. Churches may just be letting out in time for the game. Church isn't usually a factor for Sunday NBA games except Oklahomans are usually Protestant Christians with devout beliefs. April 1 is Palm Sunday on the Christian calendar, the day in which Jesus came to Jerusalem. Followers laid palm fronds along the path Jesus took.

Will Oklahomans choose church or basketball?

If it were any other visiting team, no one would have to make such a choice. ESPN reports the Thunder have sold out every home game this season. Palm Sunday should be no different. The game will be nationally televised on ABC. The hype is real as the top two teams in each conference will duel it out.

Derrick Rose hasn't been playing yet the Bulls are still formidable. Although the superstar has missed nine games in a row with a groin injury, Chicago is 7-2 in that span. Five players score in double figures, yet the most complete player is Rose.

Oklahoma City has some weapons of their own. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook get most of the scoring glory even though James Harden and Serge Ibaka contribute valuable minutes.

The Bulls score six points less per game yet hold teams to around 89 points per game. Oklahoma City normally scores 103.7 points per game. It's the classic unmovable object against unstoppable force. Both squads are at the top of their games.

In Texas, the saying goes there is God and football, not necessarily in that order. Indiana and Kansas are known for their obsessions with basketball. On April 1, the choice between one religion or another will be at the forefront of the minds of Thunder fans in Oklahoma City.

William Browning has been a fan of the Oklahoma City Thunder ever since the team relocated from Seattle. As the closest NBA team to Branson, Mo., the Thunder serve as the regional team for southwest Missouri.

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