Miami versus Oklahoma City. For some time this match-up seemed like the inevitable end to the NBA season, a tantalising battle between the game’s two brightest stars and a clash between two highly talented teams.
That all changed on Wednesday when the Thunder’s All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook went down with a meniscus tear to his right knee.
Russell Westbrook had never missed an NBA game in his career, or a college game, or a high school game for that matter. His injury represents a huge loss for the defending Western Conference champion.
The big question is whether the Thunder can overcome this loss and return to the finals?
It is difficult to know how the Thunder will reaction to not having Westbrook in the line-up.
The main reason is because they have never faced this problem before since Westbrook never misses games.
Teams such as Miami and San Antonio have explored how their offence and defence will adjust without their stars.
A mixture of health concerns and list management has ensured that the coaching staff understands exactly what their role players are capable of.
The same cannot be said for Oklahoma City. It is a new challenge for the franchise, and coach Scott Brooks and the players will have to make a number of adjustments if they are going to successfully navigate their way through the Western Conference.
Replacing Westbrook will not be easy.
At times he seems to be literally the worst decision-maker in the NBA, making decisions that leave coaches, players and fans scratching their heads.
At other times, he is a dynamic playmaker and shot taker who has been the catalyst of so many big plays. On balance, his positive influence vastly exceeds his poorer qualities.
As a result, it will take a number of adjustments to cover for Westbrook’s absence.
Kevin Durant will be asked to do more and that is actually a good thing.
Durant is one of the greatest scorers in the history of the game and also one of the most efficient.
More shot attempts for Durant could actually be beneficial for the Thunder as a whole.
In game three, the first without Westbrook, Durant took 30 shots, his second highest total of the year.
Durant is going to need that aggressive mentality throughout the playoffs and he will likely need to put up at least 25 shots a night for the Thunder to get through to the NBA Finals.
Kevin Martin is another player who can take up some of the slack. Martin has been an excellent sixth man all season but he is capable of greater offensive responsibilities.
While Durant can take on a greater scoring load he will still need a secondary scorer to help spread the defence and Martin is the best candidate for that role.
Westbrook’s injury really highlights the value of James Harden had for the Thunder.
While Martin can replace his scoring ability he does not possess Harden’s all-round game which would have been so useful in the absence of Westbrook.
Reggie Jackson will take Westbrook’s place in the starting line-up. The second year point guard from Boston College has been a solid backup to Westbrook and can, at times, be a dynamic scorer.
It is a great opportunity for Jackson to show his wares, but although he is capable of making some big plays it is questionable whether he can bring the same attitude and drive to the floor that Westbrook does.
Although the Thunder is still well placed, the Western Conference is now wide open.
The Thunder were a hot favourite to return to the NBA Finals but teams such as San Antonio, and the winner of the LA Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies would now give themselves a good chance of downing the Thunder and taking out the Western Conference title.
Even without Westbrook the Thunder have a lot of talent, particularly on the offensive end, and should be able to score enough to beat most teams. Durant will obviously take on a much greater scoring load and it will be fascinating to see whether he embraces the greater responsibility.
At his best, Durant is practically unguardable and for that reason I believe he will have a career defining playoff series and return the Thunder to the NBA Finals.
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