The 2017-18 iteration of the OKC Thunder possibly deepest ever
2013-14 Thunder
This was Kevin Durant’s MVP season, that ironically was highlighted by his scoring outbursts when Westbrook was injured. Westbrook only played 46 games during the regular season after setbacks from his meniscus injury during the 2013 playoffs.
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This season was similar to the 2016 one. Durant and Westbrook carried the team to a near title, but depth ultimately cut the Thunder short. Game six of the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs showcased this lack of depth. The game went into overtime, meaning 53 minutes of game time were played. Durant was just below 52, Ibaka (who was battling a calf injury) was at 48, Reggie Jackson fouled out with 46 minutes, and finished with 43. Only three other players, Adams, Kendrick Perkins, and Derek Fisher played at least ten minutes. Most notably, only five players (Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Jackson, Fisher) scored. San Antonio on the other hand, played 11 total players, all logging at least six minutes of action, and all but one scored.
This Thunder team badly needed a backup guard off the bench to create shots. The once reliable Thabo Sefolosha was having the worst season of his career, and ultimately became unplayable in the playoffs. This forced Head Coach Scott Brooks to move Jackson from the bench to the starting lineup. Derek Fisher was 39 at the time and should have been no more than a locker room presence. The team also brought in a washed-up Caron Butler, who had nothing left in the tank. With Sefolosha in a massive slump and Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones disengaged from the Thunder mentality, this team had no backup wings to give Durant a rest. Finally, the big man rotation was also weak. Perkins had clearly lost a step or two, ditto for Nick Collison. Steven Adams was just a rookie and wasn’t half the player he is today.
Again, this Thunder team could have been an Ibaka injury away from overcoming the Spurs and winning a title. But this team’s lack of depth was noticeable. The current team is much deeper at guard, forward, and center.