Is OKC Falling Apart? Yes, they are. Now that Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are sitting on the bench I don’t even know who is going to be playing. Do they actually have other players on that team?
Well this has happened before to teams, but usually management is able to turn things around and find some role players to step up. Then again, just in case you forgot the coach of OKC is Scott Brooks. And last time I checked he hasn’t positively contributed to the team since nam.
Even though Westbrook and Durant will be back this season, it seems as though the entire organization has lost its mojo. Just a year or two ago OKC was the young guns of the league and once they got momentum they were impossible to start.
If I go back even further to the James Harden era it feels like the glory days. I still can’t get over the fact that the Thunder basically chose Ibaka over Harden. To me, ever since then the whole team hasn’t been the same. Even though they have been successful in the playoffs they will never have the same energy that they used to.
So now that the two star players are hurt, it will have a lasting effect. Not only because it is tough for players to come back from injuries, but because the rhythm and flow of the team has been completely disrupted.
My next point is will Westbrook ever be part of a championship team? We all know that one day Durant will, but eventually when the two superstars split I think Westbrook will struggle. Yes His stats were better when he played without KD, but I don’t think he has what it takes tot lead an entire team. He comes across as the type of player who will ask for a different coach everytime something goes wrong. He has already had some problems with Scott Brooks so my prediction doesn’t seem far fetched.
But overall it’s pretty clear that the Thunder are on the decline. The roster is looking bleak and worn out. Besides Ibaka the bigs on this team are just awful: Perkins, Steve Adams, and Nick Collison. They really need to be looking for some young potential talent in the big man department.
I do however think that Reggie Jackson has a promising future. Once his contract with the Thunder is up I think he is going to receive some high offers. My only concern with him is that he gets a lot of money to a garbage team where he won’t be able to grow as a player. He needs to join up with some young talent…maybe the Celtics? (Once Rondo is gone of course). If OKC management can see his potential they should trade westbrook for a top center and a role player, and increase Jackson’s role on the team. Westbrook has skills, but Jackson will win games. Jackson will let Durant score while still being a threat on offense. Especially if they can get a scoring big man for Westbrook the Thunder offense will be way more spread and diverse.
Some people might think it is crazy to get rid of Westbrook, but I think it is what the team needs. A little bit of rebuilding and the team can be revived. However, with the way things are going, they are falling apart.
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Main Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
