NBA 2018-19: Are Oklahoma City Thunder out of excuses for "storming out"?
The Oklahoma City Thunder have lost the first round of the NBA playoffs, again. It is the same result the Thunder had seen in last year’s playoffs, and in the post-season the year before.
It's been a recurring theme for the past three years. The Thunder come into the season with high aspirations. Then they come into the playoffs with huge expectations. But then they end up making a first round exit.
Here is a look at the Oklahoma City Thunder in the last three playoffs.
Post Durant Era: Westbrook for MVP
Any sporting franchise hits turbulence when a generational cornerstone player leaves the team. OKC were no different and they were in that exact situation after Kevin Durant left. They had reached the Conference Finals and given the Golden State Warriors a tough fight with Durant, and his departure created a giant hole in the team.
But that was the season when Russell Westbrook went on a rampage. He averaged a triple-double in the regular season and became the regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Westbrook carried his team through the regular season and the Thunder clinched the sixth seed. But not having another superstar on the roster became a challenge in the first round. Westbrook and the Thunder fell to the Houston Rockets in five games.
Melo and PG13: Westbrook's second triple-double season
The Thunder were forgiven for their first round exit the previous year as the entire team was riding on one single player. But they had huge expectations the following year.
Superstars Carmelo Anthony and Paul George came to OKC and along with Westbrook they became the Thunder’s big three. The team also had Steven Adams, Andre Roberson and a good set of role players.
The OKC were said to be the team that would disrupt the Western Conference and possibly challenge the Warriors. But while they were a strong team on paper, on the court they didn’t find any rhythm.
It was not just that each of the big three wanted the ball more. Issues both on and off the court had a huge impact on the Thunder that year.
Carmelo Anthony was one of the reasons for the on-court issues, while Paul George’s free-agency was also causing a stability issue off the court.
Right from the start of last season Anthony had trouble adjusting to the pace and play of the Thunder. He was not a good defender and his style of play was always ball-dominant.
George had just come to the Thunder from the Indiana Pacers, and it was the year before he would become a free agent. There were strong rumors that PG13 would play for a year at Oklahoma and then move to his home-town team Los Angeles Lakers.
The Thunder came together towards the end of the regular season and made it into the playoffs. But they faced a shocking series defeat at the hands of the rookie-led Utah Jazz.
The Jazz were the underdogs coming into the series but they played as a team and knocked out the mighty Thunder. The Jazz exploited Carmelo Anthony’s defensive frailties and showed everyone the vulnerability of his team.
Russ, PG13 & Adams: Westbrook's third triple-double season
The Thunder became a more stable team by trading away Anthony and signing a long-term contract with George. They started the season on a high note too.
Westbrook started giving the reins to George, who got himself into the MVP conversations. The Melo trade helped OKC in getting good second-options players like Dennis Schroder.
However, since the All-Star break the Thunder have been in a slump, and PG13’s shoulder injury has been a big reason for that.
The Thunder entered the playoff at the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Westbrook averaged a triple-double for the third straight season and George seemed to be getting back in rhythm too.
The Thunder had another huge advantage in the first round. Their opponents, the Portland Trail Blazers, were missing a key player due to injury.
OKC were the favorites to win the series despite being seeded lower. They were seen as the team that would reach the Conference Finals since the heavy-weights of the West, the Warriors and the Rockets, were in a different draw.
But once again the Thunder failed and lost in the first round. The OKC superstars did not shine and their schemes and strategies did not work out.
The Thunder managed to win just one game at home and then exited the series by losing to Portland on the road.
The team has been getting better for the last three years, but the result has been the same. They were not expected to win the championship or even win the Conference. But at the same time, they were also not expected to lose in the first round.
This post-season loss will raise questions of the organization, the coach and of course the players. They were blaming Durant’s departure for the earlier setbacks, but they have nothing to blame now.
The Thunder have run out of excuses for not making a mark in the post-season. It's time for some kind of change.