Is time running out in OKC for KD and Russy?
One team we truly feel bad for is the Oklahoma City Thunder and how they have yet to climb the hurdle of winning an NBA Championship. With two of the league’s top offensively gifted talents in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, their defensive front court of Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and now Steve Adams gives them a nice balance for play on both sides of the court. Unfortunately, the team has been unable to find a consistent low post scorer, in order to take pressure off Durant and Westbrook.
Outside of the Houston Rockets, no other playoff team in the West had a worse off-season than Oklahoma City. Coming into this season, the Thunder have been plagued by constant rumors of whether Durant will be leaving the team to return home to Washington; and judging by the team reluctantly being able to grab free agents, the two superstars are bound to become discouraged without the support from the front office. Durant’s expected to miss a significant portion of the first quarter this year, due to his injury earlier this month and could be out of action until mid-December.
Westbrook will have to carry the team offensively alongside Reggie Jackson and this should give insight on how much the team will be able to contribute heading forward this year. Westbrook has also been linked to returning home in California, whether its in purple and gold or not. Any significant failures the team endures in the next two seasons could lead to Kevin starting the domino effect of talent leaving Oklahoma for larger markets.