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If somebody had asked me this question a week back, I would have said that they have a pretty good chance to do so. In fact, they were the second most favourite team to win the title. But there has been one crucial event since then.
Russell Westbrook underwent his second knee surgery, on Thursday.
According to an official release from the Thunder, Westbrook underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his surgically repaired right knee in order to reduce swelling. He’ll miss the first four-to-six weeks of the regular season.
Westbrook is one of those players who depends on his athleticism and raw power to get things done, which is what makes this scenario all the more worse. Any complications after a surgery is generally a bad thing, but it seems like a punch to the stomach when the same occurred to this All-Star Point Guard, who despite his flaws, is a joy to watch.
The question is: How long can OKC Thunder survive without a healthy Russell Westbrook?
All of us vividly remember how the entire OKC team crumbled down in the postseason. And we also remember the reason behind their fall: Russell Westbrook’s injury.
Last season, the Memphis Grizzlies mauled the Thunder in a way which we hardly see in the NBA. Without another offensive threat, Marc Gasol and Co. focused their defensive ammunition on Durant, double teaming him, denying him the ball and forcing him to take difficult shots. In short: They shut him out. Durant scored a paltry(by his standards) .423 from the field.
Now, The Thunder will be aiming to get off to a good start sans the no. 2 player on this roster. Kevin Durant will once again suit up without his partner in crime. How much damage can KD actually cause without his wingman?
Also, now that Westbrook’s out for the first 6 weeks, this means reserves Jeremy Lamb and Reggie Jackson have to kick it up a notch or two this season. The reserves have suddenly become key pieces.
Jackson will probably start for a month or two and Lamb is one of the few wing options on bench. Jackson’s performance in the summer camp was a tour dé force, but Lamb is as untested as they come. While he’s performed well in the last two summer camps, he was a dud during the season. So until he proves himself in games which actually matter, one can’t really tell if he’s good enough to fill the void left by Martin.
With Westbrook out, the onus on offense falls on Durant’s shoulders. But we’re forgetting someone aren’t we? Oh, it’s Serge Ibaka! The third piece of OKC’s “Big three”.
Ibaka is an excellent shot blocker, good rebounder and is a menacing presence around the rim. But when it comes to offence, he’s displaying an ability to simply not reach the next phase in his development. Ibaka’s more of a catch-and-shoot big man. And he’s OKC’s no. 2 guy on offence, at the moment.
Good luck with that.
Ok, enough with the pessimism. Let’s focus on the brighter side.
The Brighter Side
The Thunder have the league’s most prolific scorer in Durant. Yes, he did choke up against Memphis but in all fairness, he was up against the Defensive Player of The Year, Marc Gasol. And he had Gasol and Co.’s undivided attention.
Even without Westbrook, OKC still form a dangerous offensive team. And few teams have players who defend as well as Marc Gasol. Which means that Kevin Durant will probably manage to shoulder the offensive load, provided his teammates step us as well.
This season will be Durant’s most crucial one so far. He’s without his wingman and is the sole offensive spearhead. This season, we’ll know how well Durant is without Westbrook helping him. He’ll also be the one everyone looks up to, on both sides of the court and off the court.
During the initial six weeks, OKC play 23 games, who’s difficulty level ranges from comfortable to average. Out of the 23 games, they have 10 games against team’s which made it to the playoffs last season.
The first six games of the season come against clubs that were in the lottery this past June. If OKC needs a couple of weeks to test out their makeshift offense, and I’m sure they will, it’ll get that chance by opening the season against the Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards.
Kendrick Perkins is a physical center who’s average on both ends of the court. This is where Ibaka’s true potential lies. His vicious shot blocking skills and ability to gobble up rebounds will be a huge help for the Thunder this season too.
Thabo Sefolosha is another handy player. He’s good for 25 minutes each game to come off the bench and provide the team with some solid defence, a few points on the other end and some energy.
The Verdict
OKC’s offence will definitely miss Westbrook. But they’ll get by without him for the first 6 weeks, if Scott Brooks plans ahead. As we all know, Brooks is no good on the fly.
However, there are more crucial issues at hand. Will Westbrook ever manage to come back to his full potential? Or will he, like Derrick Rose, decide he needs an entire season to recuperate? If he does decide so, will Thunder be able to win it all?
Even without Westbrook for the first six weeks, the Thunder can still make it to the playoffs, probably as a top 4 seed. However, if Westbrook doesn’t regain his form, then Thunder’s chances look slim.
