Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City came into 2013 with championship aspirations, only to be beaten by the San Antonio Spurs in 6 games. Sam Presti is one of the best GMs in the league even though trading James Harden was a colossal mistake; OKC still has the second best player on the planet in Kevin Durant and another top ten player in Russell Westbrook and an elite shot blocker in Serge Ibaka. Durant will miss time with a broken foot which might end up helping him in the long run: 82 games plus a long postseason is a lot for a guy who puts up the numbers that KD does. Durant averaged 32 points a game, shot over 50% from the field and 39% from the three-point line. Durant will miss approximately the first 6 weeks of the season. 

          It would be interesting to see what public perceptive would be if Durant and Lebron switched places in terms of when they started their career. Durant is in Lebron’s massive shadow but would people still think Lebron is better if Durant came first? Durant’s offense is downright historic and we might never see a player like him again. We won’t see a player like Lebron again so the debate is moot. I do think Durant will be better than Kobe, who has never come close to matching Durant’s efficiency. How much pressure is there for OKC to win a title? OKC nucleus is still very young and entering their prime: Durant is only 26 while Westbrook and Ibaka are both 25 but age is not the problem for OKC. Kevin Durant was not happy when Presti decided to trade his buddy James Harden and they’ve made it clear that they aren’t willing to spend because they are a “small market” team. Sure. Presti is playing a dangerous game, as Durant has two years left on his deal. If Durant leaves, OKC is doomed to rebuild again as Westbrook would almost surely demand a trade or walk the following year when his contract expires. While Durant claims that he was talking about returning home for a commercial, after what happened with Lebron,  fans deserve to get excited about a nucleus of John Wall, Bradley Beal and Durant.  

Sure Kevin you're talking about going home to shoot a commercial. Sure.

            Jalen Rose once predicated that Durant would follow Harden to Houston which, along with Howard, might be the scariest big three possible. Durant wouldn’t be going home (he’s from DC) but he did play college hoops at the University of Texas.

             

            After Durant and Westbrook, OKC gets less exciting. Serge Ibaka has developed into an all-star and will help take the load off of Westbrook. Steven Adams should take the starting role from Kendrick Perkins, as he look like he can be a very good center (the one good piece from the James Harden trade). Reggie Jackson (Presti might be facing another Harden situation to a lesser degree) was another great pick and will look to improve his decision making and jump shot. Jeremy Lamb has not been the player that OKC thought they were getting when they traded for Harden but is still a valuable shooter off the bench. If OKC believed in Lamb, they wouldn’t have signed Anthony Morrow. Morrow is an elite shooter whose true value will be seen when Durant returns to the Court. Journeyman Nick Collison provides a boost off the bench and Perry Jones will get a chance to show why he was once projected as a top-five pick.

Question: Why does everybody hate Westbrook?

OKC will struggle without one of their superstars but Russell Westbrook will pick up the slack. Westbrook is number three on my list of players who are irrationally hated and pick on by NBA pundits and fans alike, behind only Lebron James and Dwight Howard. Westbrook is the most athletic point guard in the league (sans a healthy Rose) and does things that only a handful of players can do. His shot selection can be a little rough but nobody in this league is perfect. Westbrook is constantly bashed for taking so many shots but I don’t remember people bashing him after he scored 40 and dished out 10 assists against the Spurs in game 4 of the Western Conference finals. Westbrook is part of the new breed athletic scoring point guards but is the antithesis of Derrick Rose in terms of public perception. The two players have very similar playing styles, carried by their athleticism. Everyone adores Rose and hates on Westbrook. I love Derrick Rose (I trade for him in every 2K) but if you asked me whom I’d rather have right now, I’d say Westbrook. Rose has been hurt for the last two years yet he still walks on water. Westbrook is not the same player as a healthy Rose but we need to see a healthy Rose before we deem him back.

X-Factor: Serge Ibaka

            Sergie Ibaka might be the most important player on OKC. OKC can survive a bad Durant or Westbrook game because if one struggles, the other is probably on. Ibaka is the key cog that makes everything work. Ibaka fills the role that Bosh did on the Miami Heat, with much better defense and without a three pointer. Ibaka is an elite mid range shooter and finishes well inside the paint. Ibaka’s elite mid range helps open the floor for Westbrook and Durant.

Ibaka's shot char

            Ibaka’s defense helps OKC in more ways than one. Other than affecting shots and scaring opponents from driving inside, Ibaka’s blocks usually lead into a fast break dunk for either Durant or Westbrook. Ibaka’s development has been so important in OKC taking the next step, as an injury to Ibaka would make Kendrick Perkins important which ends any hope for OKC.

Best Case: Durant is fresh and healthy, leads the league in everything once again, Westbrook shines without Durant, Ibaka brings his stellar defense and mid range and the role players gain confidence in Durant’s absence.

Worst Case: Westbrook struggles without Durant, Ibaka doesn’t have the same impact, role players struggle and OKC barely makes playoffs.

Bold Prediction: Westbrook averages 25 8 and 6 in Durant’s absence.