Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 Midseason Takeaways For New-Look Squad

1 of 6

January 16, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) controls the ball against Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

As the sixth-best team in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder haven’t missed Kevin Durant too much. Here are five midseason takeaways from their start to the 2016-17 season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 25-19 in the gritty Western Conference this season. Point guard Russell Westbrook has been on a mission since the departure of Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors.

So far, the Thunder are 0-2 against Golden State, showing there’s still work to be done as a team. But Westbrook’s play has him in early discussions for the MVP award.

The Thunder are 4-6 in January with five more games left this month. So far, the team ranks fourth in the NBA in rebounds per game (45.5) and 10th in points per game (106.3). But they’re 19th in the league in assists per game (21.5).

As a team, they are 18-5 when they have 22 assists or more this season.

Westbrook is averaging a triple-double this season at 30.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game. He has 21 triple-doubles to lead the NBA. He is on pace to become the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62, and just the second ever, to average a triple-double for a season.

The ninth-year point guard looks to breaks Robertson’s record of 31 triple-doubles and then some.

Westbrook will need to start trusting his teammates more. And that’s no shade at Westbrook. But in the teams’ 17 losses, Westbrook has 163 assists and 214 free throw attempts.

Compare that to his 295 assists and 245 free throws in wins, it isn’t hard to see where the point guard may need to adjust.

Granted, he’s got new teammates in shooting guard Victor Oladipo and rookie power forward Domantas Sabonis, but there’s still time and they’re still in the playoff picture. Here are five midseason takeaways for the Thunder as they approach the All-Star break.

Home/Oklahoma City Thunder