Before the start of the 2014-15 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder were a popular pick to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. Instead, thanks to the ever-present injury bug in OKC, the Thunder’s title aspirations were completely derailed in the team’s first non-playoff season since 2009.
With Kevin Durant playing only 27 games on the season, the Thunder became the Russell Westbrook show, as he led the league in scoring and cemented himself as one of the most electric players the NBA’s ever seen. Unfortunately for Westbrook and his monster season, OKC fell short of a postseason spot by virtue of a lost tiebreaker with the New Orleans Pelicans.
ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: The NBA’s 50 Greatest Players of All-Time
Heading into the 2015-16 season, the Thunder are hoping to have a healthy Durant, Westbrook and Serge Ibaka again, not only for the full regular season, but also for the playoffs — when their injury luck has typically ran out over the last few years.
But with Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka missing a combined 88 games last season, is that a realistic expectation? And with the Western Conference as top-heavy as it’s ever been, can the Thunder find the right balance between offense and defense to make a legitimate run at a title this year?
2014-15 Vitals
45-37, 2nd in Northwest Division, 9th in Western Conference
104.0 PPG (5th)/101.8 OPPG (24th)
107.8 Offensive Rating (10th)/105.5 Defensive Rating (16th)
Team Leaders
Scoring: Russell Westbrook, 28.1 PPG
Rebounding: Enes Kanter, 11.0 RPG
Assists: Russell Westbrook, 8.6 APG
Steals: Russell Westbrook, 2.1 SPG
Blocks: Serge Ibaka, 2.4 BPG
Honors
All-NBA Team (2nd): Russell Westbrook
Next: 2015-16 Roster