The 2010-11 Oklahoma City Thunder And The "Sabbath Factor"; LDS Doctrine On The Sabbath

An interesting report from the Daily Oklahoman has triggered this post. The Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association are preparing to play the deciding seventh game of their playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies. Since the game takes place in OKC, one would think the Thunder have the home court advantage. In addition, the Thunder had a better regular-season record (55-27) than the Grizzlies (46-36); furthermore, while the Thunder were 30-11 at home, the Grizzlies were only 16-25 on the road.

Slam dunk for the Thunder, right?

Not so fast. The game is being played on a Sunday, the Christian Sabbath. And while the Thunder finished 55-27 overall, their Sunday record was only 6-9. The difference is also reflected in home games; while the Thunder's overall home record is 30-11, their record in Sunday home games is only 3-7. The trend has continued in the playoffs, where the Thunder are 1-1 in two Sunday games, both at home (I used the Thunder schedule record documented on ESPN as my reference).

So does that mean that God hates the Thunder for playing on Sunday? What about the Grizzlies? According to their schedule record, the Grizzlies are 6-2 in regular-season Sunday games, and 2-0 in Sunday playoff games so far.

Hmmm...so how could God hate the Thunder for playing on Sunday, but like the Grizzlies for playing on Sunday? Doesn't make sense, does it? But the dichotomy in the Thunder's Sunday record opens up an opportunity to present and discuss the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in regards to the Sabbath.

Update: Looks like the Thunder overcame their Sabbath jinx, beating Memphis 105-90. Next stop, Dallas.

The LDS Church fully incorporates and preaches the Fourth Commandment; numerous references are identified HERE. The Fourth Commandment is set forth in Exodus 20:8-11:

8. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.