Oklahoma City Thunder: Can They Survive The Injuries?
I am not sure I have seen anything like it. Before Sebastian Telfair was ejected in the fourth quarter for a flagrant foul on Toronto big man Tyler Hansbrough in Tuesday’s loss, the Thunder were down to six healthy players and a gimpy Reggie Jackson. SIX!
When Kevin Durant went down with a foot injury before the season started, the consensus was the Thunder would survive the first 20-25 games without the reigning MVP and still be in a position to grab a top seed in the Western Conference. Fast forward to now and the Thunder are in a lot more trouble than just trying to get a top-four seed.
They are in danger of digging themselves into such a deep hole, they may never be able to climb out.
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Russell Westbrook is out until at least December with a broken hand. We don’t actually know when Durant will return. Andre Roberson injured his foot in the Thunder’s loss Monday to the Nets and missed the Raptors game yesterday. Perry Jones left the Raptors game with a knee contusion. Anthony, Morrow and Jeremy Lamb aren’t sure when they will play for the first time this year. Rookie Mitch McGary is still out with a foot injury.
The Thunder are in serious trouble.
Zach Lowe wrote a column on the Thunder Tuesday, breaking down the injury-riddled roster and the struggle they may have just making the playoffs.
"But this team is going to struggle badly for points. It’s 1-3 now, and even with a friendly early-season schedule by Western Conference standards, it’s not hard to imagine it at something like 8-17 when the stars come back. The math from there is daunting. Oklahoma City would have to go 41-16 just to reach the 49 wins it took to snag the no. 8 spot last season. And that 8-17 record, as bad as it looks, might be optimistic. (Via Grantland)"
Note: Thunder are now 1-4 after losing 100-88 to Toronto Tuesday.
I’m with Lowe on the 8-17 is an optimistic record. This team is really struggling and it does not look like they will be much better. Even when they get Morrow and Lamb back, neither are proven NBA players who can go out and get you tough wins. I think 8-17 may even be a little too optimistic for the Thunder.
The West is just so loaded. Winning eight of your first 25 minutes with guys like Sebastian Telfair and Lance Thomas playing over 25 minutes a night is not a recipe for success.
Expecting the Thunder to magically get healthy and win 50 wins may be a little too much too ask as well.
Durant and Westbrook are going to need a couple games to shake off the rest and get back in to usual form. However, that means the Thunder will drop a few games when they come back, something they cannot afford.
I haven’t seen a team be rattled by injuries like this in quite some time. It’s a shame because it felt like this could be they year the Thunder break through and finally get their first championship. Now they will have to fight and grind their way into just making the playoffs, something I could not even imagine discussing a month ago.
Injuries happen in the NBA, maybe not to this extinct, but it just means the Thunder have to find a way to survive. Can they is the question.