Maybe I should stop handing out pre-season championships. Not too long ago, I previewed the Oklahoma City Thunder and declared that they would overcome Kevin Durant’s injury and run the table to win the 2014-2015 NBA Championship. About that…
Since my bold declaration, Oklahoma City has absolutely fallen apart. They are 1-4 on the young season, but the problems have nothing to do with their record. Since Durant fractured his foot, the Thunder have lost literally half of their team to injury. The list:
Anthony Morrow: Sprained MCL – out 4-6 weeks
Russell Westbrook: Fractured hand – out at least 4 weeks
Perry Jones III: Knee contusion – status unknown
Andre Roberson: Foot injury – status unknown
Jeremy Lamb: Back injury – status unknown
Mitch McGary: Fractured foot – out 5-7 weeks
The injury-riddled Thunder suited up eight players against the Toronto Raptors, a game that they lost by 12, and ended the game with six players eligible to play. Sebastian Telfair was ejected, Jones was hurt, Reggie Jackson battled through several injuries just to give the Thunder a fighting chance. While this team certainly showed it has heart and the desire to win, you simply cannot win an NBA basketball game with seven healthy bodies.
Going Forward
The real question here is: What does this mean going forward? The Thunder somehow have to hold down the fort until their stars return at the end of November and into December. They were going to rely on Lamb and Jones III to help carry the scoring load, but with those two getting injured as well, the whole game plan has to change.
For one, Serge Ibaka has to show his elevated level of play can translate to a primary scoring option role. Steven Adams has to grow up quickly and assume a larger role as well. Jackson has to play through his injuries to give this team some semblance of depth at the guard position. In the NBA it is extremely difficult to bring on new players and have them assimilate quickly enough to be effective, especially this early in the season.
Second, the Thunder need to play exceptional defense. Right now there is virtually no offensive firepower to keep up with teams who cannot currently fill a hospital wing with their players. Ibaka is always at the top of the league in terms of blocked shots, but the overall defense on the perimeter has to be better as well. Lance Thomas, Jackson and Telfair have to effectively guard the three point line.
Finally, Scott Brooks has to show his coaching chops. Many coaches never are faced with this type of predicament, but Brooks finds himself at the center of an injury thunderstorm. He has to scheme more efficiently and put his players in the positions where they are most likely to be successful. This is certainly no easy task, especially given how young this roster is. If the Thunder are going to make any noise in the west, however, it is a task he must be capable of handling.