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The Oklahoma City Thunder head into All-Star weekend with only one All-Star representative, but the league's best record and most importantly, a winning run against the best teams throughout the league all without their #2 man, Russell Westbrook.
In lieu of evaluating the Thunder's 3-0 record this past week (Knicks, Trail Blazers, Lakers), we take a look back at how each player has performed during this surprising but remarkable first portion of the season.
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KEVIN DURANT | Games Played | PPG | REB | AST | BL | ST | TO | +/- |
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(Average Stats) | 54 | 31.5 | 7.8 | 5.5 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 3.6 | +6.5 |
JUAN | ![]() |
This is the easiest grade of the night. Kevin Durant is the favorite to win the MVP this season (although, I'm not counting out LeBron) and he's dominating the league. His performance in January was amongst the all-time greats and he's carried his team despite having Westbrook battle injuries this season. He's the best player on the court every night and he's making sure everybody remembers that. If he continues to play at this pace, the Thunder might just be playing in June. | ||||||
SHERMAN | ![]() |
Is it possible for the 2nd best player in the entire world to make The Leap? The kingdom has belonged to LeBron James for the past 4 years. Everyone knows this. Durant has been firmly entrenched in the #2 spot, yet here we are, watching this guy elevate his game month by month so that he's actually in the MVP conversation with LeBron while James is still in his prime. I can't think of a single player in recent history who could lay claim to such a thing, we are watching it unfold. |
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THABO SEFOLOSHA | Games Played | PPG | REB | AST | BL | ST | TO | +/- |
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(Average Stats) | 51 | 6.8 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.9 | +2.7 |
JUAN | ![]() |
Thabo Sefolosha has had a bit of an inconsistent first-half of the season on the offensive side of the ball. The problem with that is, that sometimes he lets his lack of scoring, hold him back on defense, and that can't happen. He's been a little more effective as of late, but his ability to make shots is crucial to this teams' success, especially in the playoffs. | ||||||
SHERMAN | ![]() |
Sefolosha has gone through the type of season that makes me feel bad for him as a player as well as a member of the team. He's in a contract season playing for a championship contender, and if we had to guess, the pressure has impacted his performance. Thabo has struggled doing the things that he has proven that he is adept at and it makes his future with the team uncertain. To the Thunder's credit, they have never stopped believing in his importance, and I hope that they don't give up on him as the trade deadline approaches. |
REGGIE JACKSON | Games Played | PPG | REB | AST | BL | ST | TO | +/- |
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(Average Stats) | 55 | 13.6 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 2.3 | +5.9 |
JUAN | ![]() |
Reggie Jackson has had a really productive year. The inconsistency and the headache come with his youth and the pressure of being the starting point guard for a tittle-contender, but he's been excellent filling in for Westbrook. Before the Westbrook injury, he was the leader of the second-unit and it was a huge advantage for the Thunder. Once he returns to that sixth-man role, I expect him to play a little more freely and dominate the opposing backup point guard. | ||||||
SHERMAN | ![]() |
Reggie Jackson has had a promising yet sometimes frustrating experience operating as the de facto starting PG while Westbrook rehabs. There are times, like against the Spurs, when Jackson looks like he's ready to run his own team, yet there are numerous others where he plays looking like he's unmotivated or lost on the court and OKC has to resort to Fisher. It's always important to remember in those moments that he is still a 3rd year guy who started earning rotation minutes only a season ago. He does have a higher ceiling and needs more consistency, but for now his play has helped keep his team moving forward. |
PERRY JONES III | Games Played | PPG | REB | AST | BL | ST | TO | +/- |
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(Average Stats) | 44 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | +1.4 |
JUAN | ![]() |
Perry Jones has had a decent first half of the season. Sometimes you see flashes of a guy who was great at Baylor, but then sometimes you see a guy who lacks confidence. It's all about consistency for Perry Jones and hopefully he can find it in the second half of the season. | ||||||
SHERMAN | ![]() |
Jones has shown flashes of brilliance interspersed with youthful inconsistency. He has the talent, but still has a lot of work to do, especially on offense. Where he earns a passing grade however is on the defensive end of the court and in doing all of the little things that help his team win. He was a decisive factor in OKC's win over the Heat, playing 30 minutes against the champs and helping to shut down Miami's 5-out system. He definitely has a place in this rotation and he simply needs to focus on what he does well. |
TEAM GRADE | Record | OffRtg | DefRtg | AstRatio | REB% | TS% | PACE | +/- |
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(Advanced Stats) | 43-12 | 107.6 | 99.3 | 16.6 | 52.9% | 56.5% | 97.59 | +7.4 |
JUAN | ![]() |
I think it's incredible what the Thunder have done so far. Kevin Durant has turned into an unstoppable force and he's been playing like he has something to prove and he's been dominant. But aside from that, you take a look at some of the guys who have stepped up: Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb and even Derek Fisher. Everyone understands what their role is on the court and they've executed exquisitely. This might be the best team in the NBA, when healthy, and we'll get a chance to see them at full strength again, possibly against the Heat. Exciting times in Oklahoma City. | ||||||
SHERMAN | ![]() |
I don't think it is hyperbole to state that the Thunder went so far above and beyond expectations during this opening stretch that this grade is too low. Let's start with the pre-season expectations for this team. People expected a major step backward because the team would be without Westbrook and they were relying on a number of unproven players. The Harden effect would become fully realized. A funny thing happened though. The Thunder as a team grew in ways we always hoped but had not yet seen and Durant morphed into the Slim Reaper. Every game became one where each Thunder player understood their roles and fulfilled them. Instead of receding behind the new chic picks like the Warriors and Rockets, OKC has outpaced them all. And Westbrook is waiting in the wings. |
*All player images via US Presswire
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