Oklahoma City Thunder: League Pass Ranking

Oct 17, 2014; Wichita, KS, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives in for a basket past Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) during the second quarter at Intrust Bank Arena. Toronto won 109-90. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 8, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 114-101. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Category No. 2: Hoops Nerdgasm Potential

With Kevin Durant in the lineup, the Thunder get a low score on this category. With him, the Thunder just go to their two top guns (Westbrook and Durant) and play isolation ball. They are exceptional at it, but nothing too out of the ordinary at this point.

However, with him out and never being without him before, they are going to be experimenting a lot early on in the season.

We could see them turn up the tempo and unleash Westbrook with a bunch of young guys running the floor with him. We could see them spread the floor and play wacky lineups such as a lineup of Westbrook-Reggie Jackson–Anthony Morrow–Perry Jones III-Serge Ibaka (five 3-point shooters), have the floor be as spread as possible and let Jackson and/or Westbrook get to the basket or find open teammates for 3s. So there is potential here.

But Durant is going to be back after 15-20 games and the Thunder will most likely get back to what has won them 50 games every year for the last five (except lockout year in 2011-12 when they went 47-19) and not contributing to any Zach Lowe 4,500 word breakdowns of unique Thunder offense.

Grade: 6

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