Things are fascinating for fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder, as they have been all season. With a strong roster full of depth led by an MVP winner in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, there’s much to be optimistic about, not just for this season’s conclusion.
The current iteration of OKC was the market leader in the NBA Playoffs odds most of the season, and rightly so, with many believing this is the most talented OKC team since the early 2010s, particularly the great team of the 2011/12 season where everything almost came together.
Ibaka Was An Underrated Hero
The core of that 2011/12 team was three young players who would go on to have stellar careers – Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden.
Yet, there were other vital pieces in the puzzle, including defensive star Serge Ibaka, whose rim protection was game-changing. Others, like Kendrick Perkins, played their part, and there was room for veteran Derek Fisher (who joined late in the season) to have an impact.
The OKC started the 2011/12 season with plenty of buzz about the team. There was a consensus that Scott Brooks was the right man for the head coach position, having quickly turned the team’s fortunes around after taking over from PJ Carlesimo several seasons earlier.
Former ROY of the Year Durant was getting established as a bona fide superstar at 23, and Westbrook was challenging him as the face of the franchise. Harden had an X-factor, offering a unique threat off the bench.
Vengeance Over The Mavs Would Come
OKC had been outclassed in the Western Conference Finals by the Mavericks in the 2010/11 season, but everyone agreed that this was a young team with more to offer. The regular season did nothing to dissuade fans of that notion, with the OKC powering through the shortened (due to the lockout) 66-game campaign with a 47-19 record, 3rd best overall in the NBA.
Perhaps most importantly, the team mostly stayed healthy. Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka played and started all 66 regular season games, and Harden missed just three games overall with minor injuries. Brooks really couldn’t ask for more.
The OKC impressed many people through the Playoffs, going on a brutally tough run through the Mavericks, Lakers, and Spurs, swatting each aside with room to spare. The First Round victory over the Mavs was particularly pleasing for OKC fans. While the Mavs had declined from the previous season, a 4-0 whitewash over the team that ended their season the year before felt like an important statement.
The Semi-Finals against the Lakers had that changing-of-the-guard-type energy, with the young and hungry OKC coming up against the fading veterans of the Lakers led by Kobie Bryant and Pau Gasol. Kobie had his moments – he always did – but the pace of the OKC players overwhelmed the veterans. Harden was especially effective as a not-so-secret weapon coming on to close out games. A 4-1 series scoreline maybe flattered OKC a bit, but it showed the young team had nous and knew how to grind.
A Classic In NBA Playoffs History
Looking back, the Western Conference Finals was – and still is – considered a classic. It was another clash of the eras, but this time, most considered San Antonio a dynasty team in its prime. The Spurs had been on an 18-game winning streak from the regular season to the Playoffs, winning the first two games of the series on the performances of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, putting their streak at 20. At this point, everyone thought OKC’s season was over. As we know, things turned out very differently.
The series comeback had a bit of everything: close-run contests, dominant performances, heroic performances, and instances of failure. Everyone was talking about the axis of Durant, Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka, each playing their role perfectly. Some of it was seen as the Spurs’ failure to close games, but we all watched Durant become an elite player as the series unfolded—one of the most exciting postseason series in modern sports history.
OKC Had No Answer For Lebron
As for the NBA Championship odds, you might argue today that it was narratively more about Lebron James and the Miami Heat than OKC. That’s a fair comment. While everyone was genuinely enthused about OKC’s trajectory, the media was focused on the Lebron redemption story and the pressure to deliver from Miami’s stars.
OKC came out strong at home in Game 1 (Westbrook and Durant starring), but Lebron took charge in Game 2 and Game 3 to turn the series’ momentum. OKC had a 17-point lead in the first quarter of Game 4, but they again let things slide. Lebron wasn’t with it entirely, but Mario Chalmers was the difference-maker.
Game 5 felt like a procession. OKC had no reserves left in the tank, which characterized the stunning comebacks in the series versus the Spurs. It was Lebron’s moment, even if OKC fans long remember the campaign. Harden’s departure would soon break up the band, and while Durant and Westbrook would continue to shine, things would never be the same again.
Of course, this is the cycle of sports, and right now, OKC fans know they have another great team to follow this season and beyond. It’s markedly different under Mark Daigneault now, although there are many similarities. It is a team with a young core of exciting players, potential superstars in the making, and at least one generational talent. The question is whether the team can take the extra step lacking in 2012. Many pundits think that they will sooner rather than later.