You could be forgiven for thinking that without Russell Westbrook there is no headline to write when it comes to Oklahoma. Fact is, the Thunder’s supporting cast that surround the MVP candidate are much of the reason for OKC’s recent form.
This all, despite losing their leading rebounder and shot blocker Serge Ibaka and reigning MVP Kevin Durant, both to injury.
Throughout the course of the season the Thunder have made an array of trades that see five new faces that didn’t start the season in Oklahoma. Despite losing starting centre Kendrick Perkins and back-up point-guard Reggie Jackson, the slack has been more than picked up by the remaining bunch.
Worth the Waiters
The first new face was former Cleveland Cavalier Dion Waiters. Despite some streaky shooting in his opening few months with the Thunder, Dion’s recent play has been positive for Thunder fans. In the month of March he has scored more than 20 points on three occasions, the most of any month this season with three games left.
In the last five games Waiters has averaged 16 points a game while the Thunder have gone 4-1. In fact in wins with the Thunder, Waiters averages 12 points, above his season average. Finally, his point average of 12 for March is his highest month point average of his season. Waiters is warming up at the right time, with Durant still out indefinitely and playoffs looming.
Kanter’s breaking out
The other high profile talent acquired this season by Oklahoma City was Enes Kanter. The former Jazz centre averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds before being sent to the Thunder, and he has averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds since his arrival.
Kanter is averaging the most points in a single calendar month of his career with 18 points in 10 games, the third most of any centre in March. In fact in the last nine games while the Thunder have won seven, Kanter has averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds.
In a recent game against the Lakers, Enes Kanter notched his ninth double-double of his tenure with the Thunder, in just the first quarter. He finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds in just 28 minutes of play. Kanter is proving to be the reliable, efficient offensive-minded centre the Thunder have been longing for.
The quickest trigger in the wild west
One of the more intriguing prospects signed by the Thunder in free agency in some years was Anthony Morrow. Since the James Harden debacle, Thunder management have attempted to fill the void in points that Harden left behind, in the form of Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and even Caron Butler. All previous attempts failing.
In just his second regular season game with the Thunder, Morrow shot 11 of 16 from the field and four of five three-pointers, scoring 28 points and exciting Thunder fans as a legitimate bench scorer. After that his production off the bench was minimal with Durant in the line-up.
Since Durant’s injury and Morrow’s insertion into the rotation, however, he has started to catch fire from three-point territory. In the month of February Morrow shot 52 per cent from three, seventh in the league among eligible shooters. He had similar numbers in the month of March shooting it at a 49 per cent clip.
March is the magic month for Oklahoma City and Morrow is thriving off the team’s confidence. Recently working with Thunder’s shooting coaches, Morrow’s been able to increase the speed of his shot release and it’s paying off in recent play.
In the past eight games, where the Thunder have won six, Morrow has averaged 16 points shooting an efficient 55 per cent from long range. In the month of March Morrow has averaged his greatest total of points of any calendar month this season, hitting the fifth most threes in the league.
Along with the career season Russell Westbrook is having, these essential pieces of Thunder are key to the team’s success heading into the post-season. If all players can continue the recent form that has seen the Thunder win 16 of their past 21, they could make a dangerous run in the West.
Oklahoma City currently sits eighth in the conference, three games ahead of the ninth placed Phoenix Suns.
Andrew Croft is a second year Bachelor of Sport Journalism student at La Trobe University. Follow him on Twitter @andrewcroft12
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