So here we are, almost four years later and the Oklahoma City Thunder have yet to return to the NBA Finals. This is supposed to be their time. Since 2012, it’s been Lebron’s time, the Spur’s time, and now Steph Curry and the Warriors’ time. This isn’t how it was supposed to play out. Most figured the Thunder would be in the midst of their own dynasty, not just vicariously viewing LeBron, the Spurs, and the Warriors winning championships.
None of those three teams have two of the top four players in the world playing together. Only one team can make that claim and to be honest with you most in Oklahoma City only view the Thunder as a longshot to win the title as we near the beginning of post season.
So was it just losing Harden? That’s certainly part of it because Harden was the perfect co-pilot for Russell Westbrook. The same Russell Westbrook who despite the gaudy triple doubles has yet to show he’s a championship pilot on his own against elite competition at this time of the season.
Triples doubles against the bottom twenty teams in the league means nothing. That’s like Perrine rushing for 300 yards against Kansas or Texas Tech. Nobody cares…especially the Alabamas, Ohio States, and Clemsons. Make no question about this–if OKC gets past Dallas in the first round, they’ve then got Clemson, Ohio State, and Alabama in a row on the road waiting for them.
Think about that.
Russell Westbrook making smart basketball plays against the likes of the Spurs, Warriors, and Cavs and trying to win twelve collective games without home court advantage in any of those three series is to me the most paramount question the Thunder face as a team.
Can Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant do this in tandem without Harden or even Reggie Jackson?
I don’t know. NBA post season isn’t like the regular season. You can’t piss away possessions in the final six minutes of games. You can’t just jack up bad shots. You have to covert points off of possessions.
Sure, OKC has other questions. Can Roberson and Waiters produce at the shooting guard position? Can Serge Ibaka be consistent? Is Steven Adams ready to be an X-factor in NBA post season play? Will Billy Donovan be willing to pair Enes Kanter and Steven Adams together for minutes at meaningful points in game against teams much better than the Dallas Mavericks? Will the Thunder’s perimeter defense stand up or just melt?
All compelling questions, but to me it’s mostly about the two stars. Are the two stars ready to lead a team to a Finals without Harden or just be spectators watching LeBron, the Spurs, and the Warriors playing for what was supposed to have the Thunder’s name written on it almost four years ago when the Thunder beat the Spurs in a game which was supposed to be the passing of the NBA championship torch of sorts.
Are Durant and Westbrook finally ready to take the next step forward since 2012?
I can’t wait to see.