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OKC Thunder: All-Star Break Report Card

By Austin Denean

Feb 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after a made three point shot against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after a made three point shot against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) celebrates with teammate Kevin Durant (right) after being named MVP of the NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) celebrates with teammate Kevin Durant (right) after being named MVP of the NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Overall: A-

In any normal NBA season, the Thunder’s 40-14 record at the break would put them atop their conference in prime position for the playoffs.

However, this is not any other year and the Thunder sit in third place in the Western Conference. It is unlikely that catching the Warriors will happen, but OKC has been closing the gap between themselves and the San Antonio Spurs over the past month, trailing by five games.

Health and defensive effort will be the difference-maker for the Thunder once the playoffs roll around in the spring. When KD and Westbrook are both on the floor, the Thunder are one of the toughest teams to beat. This duo is capable of winning an entire series by themselves, which could cause a lot of trouble for the defending champs.

As good as the Thunder have been, they have let some winnable games slip away, which can’t happen when your team is gunning for a championship.

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Losses to teams like the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and New Orleans Pelicans could be the only thing keeping OKC from catching the Spurs for the second seed.

The Thunder still have time to improve their team before the end of the season through a trade or a rotational change. With two healthy MVP candidates on the roster, things are looking up in Oklahoma City.

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