Oklahoma City Thunder Russell Westbrook Out With Hand Injury, How Much Trouble is Team in?
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook suffered a fractured right hand in a 90-83 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
According to multiple reports, Westbrook is expected to miss 4-6 weeks because of the injury.
Their star player, Kevin Durant, fractured his foot earlier in October, and he isn't expected to return until late December or early January. The Thunder are now without their two best players, both of which led this team to an NBA Finals in 2012. So how much trouble are the Thunder in this season?
Head coach Scott Brooks has an extremely difficult task ahead of him. Durant is the best scorer in the entire NBA, having won four scoring titles including one last season. Durant is an irreplaceable player because of his size and skill, and losing Westbrook will only make things worse. Westbrook isn't the best pure passing point guard. But he plays good defense, and he is a great scorer.
Competing in the Western Conference won't make things easier either. The Thunder have to contend against teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Clippers. If the Thunder played in the Eastern Conference, this would be a different story, but unfortunately for them, they don't.
To make matters worse, Reggie Jackson is battling an ankle injury. Not only is Jackson a decent scorer, but he plays a lot of point guard minutes for this squad.
With so many high quality players out with injuries, Serge Ibaka will be the most important player in the month of November. Ibaka has led the NBA in blocks the last four consecutive seasons, but can he emerge as the offensive leader of this team?
Because the offseason and draft is over, options are very limited for the Thunder. The best scoring free agent still available is shooting guard Ray Allen. Rashard Lewis is still a free agent, as well.
Kendrick Perkins will have a big responsibility along with Jackson when he returns. The Thunder should still be able to make the postseason, but getting home court advantage is now harder than ever. The Thunder have won more than 66 percent of their games every single season over the last four years and made the Western Conference Finals three of the last four years. Without the No. 1 or No. 2 seed, the Thunder will have to travel and win road playoff games most likely.
Without Durant and Westbrook the Thunder are down but not out. Other players will have to step up in their absence and weather this storm. This team can still win the North Western division over the Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trailblazers.
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