Summary of the 2012-2013 NBA season of the Oklahoma City Thunder

Website design By BotEap.comThe top seed in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, was eliminated in five games of the Conference Semifinals round by the Memphis Grizzlies. After winning 60 games and hoping for a rematch against the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, the Thunder go home early and wonder what else they could have done to stay alive.

Website design By BotEap.comThe Thunder were the second team to be eliminated after the Chicago Bulls. While the Bulls’ season qualifies as a success despite injuries, the Thunder’s season is more of a wash. With point guard Russell Westbrook’s knee injury in the first series, the ceiling dropped significantly on this team. However, this year was make or break for the Thunder, who wanted another shot at their first title. Even losing to the Grizzlies in five games was a disappointing result.

Website design By BotEap.comThis begs the question: where would the Thunder have gotten if Westbrook had stayed healthy? His offense was No. 2 in the league, while his defense was No. 4, and they had home court advantage until the finals. It was conceivable that they could have made it all the way back to the Finals, but again be beaten by Miami. However, even the Heat may not be totally healthy this year, and a healthy Thunder team may have had enough to pull off the upset.

Website design By BotEap.comThe James Harden trade to the Houston Rockets will be seen as one of the worst decisions the franchise made this year. They were completely exposed at point guard after Westbrook went down, a position Harden could easily have gotten into. The Thunder may try to re-sign Kevin Martin, Harden’s replacement, but Martin is a pure scorer, while Harden was also able to handle the ball, spread it out for assists and make his own shots.

Website design By BotEap.comFortunately for OKC, the team doesn’t have to add much this offseason to be competitive again next year. Westbrook will come back healthy and Reggie Jackson is turning into a decent backup point guard. However, the team needs a pure point guard, especially to back up Westbrook. Jackson is more of a shooting guard who sometimes takes on point guard duties. However, it remains to be seen how they will face the Miami Heat next year, regardless of his lineup.

Website design By BotEap.comEven if nothing changes for the Thunder, they’ll still be the favorites to win the Western Conference next year, as long as they stay healthy. Even more fortunately for them, health has rarely been an issue. They’re still young and athletic enough to compete with any team in the league, and talented enough to win a seven-game series against anyone in the West.