Oklahoma City Thunder: How Could We Forget?
The Oklahoma City Thunder haven’t played at this high of a level since reaching the 2012 NBA Finals. That’s no coincidence.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the process of shocking the world. Matched up against, arguably, the greatest team in NBA history, the Thunder have jumped out to an improbable 3-1 series lead over the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
This follows what was categorically labeled an upset of the 67-15 San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. In most other seasons, San Antonio would’ve been a No. 1 seed receiving all-time praise, and OKC sent them packing in Round 2.
For as improbable as this all may seem, we really shouldn’t be surprised.
We should’ve seen the Thunder coming.
This isn’t so say that the 73-9 Warriors aren’t the proper favorites in the Western Conference Finals. It isn’t to say that the 67-15 Spurs were overrated by anyone who offered them praise.
It’s simply the first time we’ve seen a healthy Oklahoma City Thunder team in the playoffs since the 2012 NBA Finals.
Finally Healthy
It’s not that Kevin Durant is approaching unrestricted free agency for the first time in his NBA career. It’s not that Russell Westbrook is making a statement, Serge Ibaka is resurgent, or that Steven Dams is resilient.
The story for the Oklahoma City Thunder is quite simple: for the first time since OKC made the NBA Finals in 2012, it’s healthy in the playoffs.
That may seem like a silly statement, but trace the Thunder’s history back over the past four seasons. Don’t use clouded judgement or allow your personal disappointment in or enjoyment of the events that transpired sway you.
Simply evaluate what’s transpired
Battling Injuries
In 2013, the Oklahoma City Thunder were the best team in the Western Conference. The Miami Heat won an NBA-leading 66 games, but Oklahoma City went 60-22 and had the league’s highest point differential at 9.2—1.8 points higher than Miami’s mark.
Within a blink of an eye, it was over.
Following a 120-91 decimation of the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the 2013 NBA Playoffs, Oklahoma City lost Russell Westbrook to a season-ending knee injury. Patrick Beverley hit him with a cheap-shot on a routine play, and the rest if history.
Just like that, the Thunder’s 2013 championship aspirations had been lost.
In 2014, the Thunder were just as impressive. Despite playing without Westbrook for 36 games, Oklahoma City went 59-23, and Kevin Durant ran away with the NBA MVP award during one of LeBron James‘ greatest seasons.
Through two rounds of the NBA Playoffs, OKC looked like a true favorite to win a ring.
Unfortunately, Serge Ibaka missed both Game 1 and Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals due to left calf injury. The San Antonio Spurs took both of those games, and went on to win the series by a count of 4-2.
In other words, OKC was 0-2 against San Antonio without Ibaka, and 2-2 with him during that closer-than-it-seems series.
In 2015, it was Durant’s turn to take the hit. He never fully recovered from a lingering foot injury, missed 55 games, and forced the Thunder to address longstanding needs at the 2015 NBA Trade Deadline by dealing for post player and pick-and-roll threat Enes Kanter.
In 2016, the Thunder are at full health in the playoffs for the first time since making the 2012 NBA Finals—and the results are as we should’ve expected.
Closing The Series Out
For as much as it isn’t about the previously alluded to narratives, it is. Kevin Durant will be an unrestricted free agent in 2016, Stephen Curry is considered to be a better player than Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka does need to redeem himself, and Steven Adams is fighting injuries.
Even the slightest fracture in the perfect storm that’s forming could lead to a crippling collapse against the greatest regular season team in NBA history.
The Golden State Warriors aren’t an overachieving contender that’s happy to be in the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors are the defending NBA champions that won an all-time record 73 games during the 2015-16 regular season, and entered this series as the rational favorite.
Against a team of this caliber—and one could argue there’s never been one—no lead is safe. Not in a game, nor a series.
For that reason, 3-1 is as meaningless as 0-0.
The Thunder have an opportunity to complete, arguably, the greatest championship run in NBA history. Doing so could potentially require it to overcome the 67-win San Antonio Spurs, 73-win Warriors squad, and the best player of this generation: LeBron James.
A 3-1 lead is not a series win. It’s the longest 48 minutes of the Thunder’s life from it.
More hoops habit: LeBron James is turning a corner as a leader
It’s only fitting that the team positioning itself to pull off the unthinkable is the same Thunder squad that was once pegged as the NBA’s next great dynasty.
A long and injury-riddled four years ago.