Are the Thunder a Better Team with, or without KD? By Upstate Sports Zone Writers
About 2 months into the NBA season, it is time to breakdown the biggest signing off the offseason. Kevin Durant to the Warriors. It is without a doubt that the Kevin Durant, Westbrook duo was huge for the Thunder the last couple of years. The transition from Seattle to OKC was as smooth as possible with KD and Westbrook playing together. But with that duo not there anymore, are the Thunder a better team with, or without KD? Let our writers break it down for you...
Jake Martino: Like everyone else I was shocked when KD went to the Warriors, the team he lost to in the Western Conference Finals. All coming after the Thunder blew a 3-1 lead. I did though think it was a good fit, but was going to be a tough transition for the Warriors with all of the superstar talent. But recently it has been clicking for the Warriors. As far as the Thunder go, I don’t think they are playing as well as they did with KD. My main point I want to discuss is that Kevin Durant averaged 28 PPG last year. For example last tonight the Thunder took on the Rockets and lost 102-99. Only a three point margin that is one shot KD could have made. That is a big change to find someone to fill that huge role. The Thunder tried and failed. I do have to give credit to Russell Westbrook who is doing work for the Thunder right now. 7 straight triple-doubles breaking MJ’s record. The Thunder may be winning but they are losing close games because they don’t have KD’s veteran presence.
Jared McCabe: I was shocked and disappointed that Kevin Durant took the easy way out to join the Warriors. He’s was coming off a playoff run where they had the Warriors backs against the wall, but the Thunder ended up blowing a 3-1 lead. I think in that series you saw the frustration between Russ and KD because both of them wanted to take the shots and take the final shot to win the game. Ultimately they lose and KD hits the open market and he then leaves. Then out of nowhere Russ resigns with the Thunder and hopes to help bring a championship to Oklahoma City. Coming into the season i thought the Thunder would be a good team, but not a great team. But Russell Westbrook has put the team on his back and they haven't looked back.Splitting the defense left and right, finding open guys, and hitting threes like its nothing. Now he can be that number one guy for the team, without having to bother about giving the ball to Durant. Even though Durant says there's no hard feelings, I think he wanted to get away from Westbrook and play with a team that plays as a team and a team that acts like brothers off the court. In the end I think it was for their best interest to move on because I didn’t think Westbrook and Durant got along well on the court. Westbrook can be the star in Oklahoma City for years to come, while Kevin Durant will be the most hated person in Oklahoma, but possibly be known as the player that couldn’t beat them, to ultimately join them.
Andrew Martin: The Thunder were obviously better with KD, but there are some upsides from not having Durant this season. First and most importantly, we are seeing the best out of Russell Westbrook. He is averaging a triple-double this season. We are also seeing some good performances from players like Enes Kanter, Steven Adams, and Victor Oladipo. They probably won’t end up being a #1 team in the Western Conference this year, but they do have the talent necessary to at least make the playoffs this year. Of course last year, the Thunder blew a 3-1 lead to one of the best teams in the league last year in the Western Conference Finals. Kevin Durant can be called whatever he wants to. Trader, sell-out player, or maybe even a waste of 9 years, but if he decides to go to another team, that team will potentially be one of the best in the league. I predict they will be 4th in the western conference this year. The Thunder have done well without Durant so far, but I want to see what will happen in the future when it comes time for the playoffs. Could be a Durant-Westbrook matchup in the playoffs? Could be possible.
Camdyn Ames: Obviously the Thunder would be a better team with Durant, but they have been holding their own these past two months. Russell Westbrook has been carrying their team averaging 31 points per game, 10.9 rebounds per game, and 11.3 assists per game. The Thunder sitting at 14-8 (6th in the Western Conference) could be better but I think they make the playoffs behind Westbrook, and maybe get by in the first round. I can also see them going out and getting someone in a trade near the trade deadline. Someone who can counterpart with Westbrook, just like how KD and Westbrook were.
Austin Walsh: Of course the Oklahoma City Thunder were better off with Kevin Durant on their starting five, but the team has done well without their star player. The Thunder has surprised the NBA followers with keeping their significance in the league. They are 14-8 through the regular 2016-2017 season, and the team holds the sixth place in the Western Conference. OKC looked to Russell Westbrook to carry them throughout the season with the loss of Kevin Durant this season. Westbrook has met everyone’s expectations and then some. Russell has six straight triple doubles and is averaging 31 points this season. It’s obvious that OKC would be better with KD and make the team even better than they are looking. Kevin’s choice to move to Oakland and join the Golden State Warriors shocked everybody. OKC fans were outraged that KD left their beloved city behind without giving them a ring. He was criticized by mostly everyone- except for those rooting for the Warriors- for leaving to go to the team that they blew a 3-1 lead to in the playoffs. The Thunder’s coaches and staff did very well with transitioning their team from being built around Kevin to being built around Westbrook’s all around performance.
Mike Fritz: The Oklahoma City Thunder finished 55-27 last season, good enough to place third in the Western Conference. They reached the Western Conference Finals, only to blow a 3-1 lead to arguably the best basketball team of all time. During the offseason, Kevin Durant decided to take his talents to Golden State. So far, I have noticed that the Thunder can definitely carry their own without Durant. Currently at 14-9, the Thunder have found new ways to win games. They rely more heavily on superstar and potential MVP Russell Westbrook, who is currently averaging 30.9 points, 11.3 assists, and 10.8 rebounds. He has had a triple double in the past seven games, tying Michael Jordan for most consecutive triple doubles in NBA history. With a supporting cast of starters such as Victor Oladipo and Steven Adams, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a chance to be a very special team. I believe they can be a top five team in the Western Conference this year.
For continued coverage of the NBA, stay with Upstate Sports Zone… @upstate_sports
By Upstate Sports Zone Writers
