OKC Thunder: How each teams injuries could affect seeding and playoff results

Western seeded teams injury report:

A scan across the Western Conference points to specific teams who logically would be in a different spot if they were healthy.

Although everyone will focus on the Warriors  current slate of injuries to be fair almost every squad in the mix was hurt equally by injuries.

Leonard-less Spurs:

At the top of the list is the San Antonio Spurs. Fans and scribes can debate all day long whether LaMarcus Aldridge is a superstar, but let’s throw a simple fact into the equation. If Aldridge had played nine games this season and Kawhi Leonard had played the entirety of the season where would the Spurs be seeded?

Right. Odds are the Spurs would be sitting up with Golden State and maybe higher. So, let’s just stop pretending Leonard isn’t the best two-way player in the NBA and if healthy an MVP candidate. As OKC Thunder fans know fully well, some stars are super, but what makes a player a superstar is their ability to affect the game outcome and every teammate on the court.

Tony Heim’s low-key MVP:

To that end, although Andre Roberson wasn’t about to win a scoring title or be in consideration for MVP his contributions were no less important. It can be argued Corey Brewer has plugged a hole and results in the postseason will answer just how much OKC missed ARob.

Recalling the copious stories this season which repeatedly asked how long it would take for the OK3 to gel as the answer for how the team would fare. But, I’d argue the loss of Roberson was far more critical to the Thunder and set them back exponentially. One need only watch the Celtics winning games without three or four main contributors to agree defense can win games.

And, as my valued counterpart readily points out when given a chance, Andre Roberson might not be the first player fans focus on in OKC, but his contributions to the team made him the low-key MVP. Roberson will miss this postseason, but Thunder Nation will readiy welcome him back next year. And, regardless what happens with two free agents knowing there is a core of Westbrook, Roberson and Steven Adams in place bodes well for the future.

Wolves still trying to figure out defense:

Prior to losing Jimmy Butler the Wolves appeared destined for a home court seed and a return to the playoffs. Albeit, the Wolves still weren’t killing anyone defensively, but strides were being made.

Depending on how you look at the Wolves, Butler’s injury came at a terrible juncture or the perfect time (assuming he returns for playoffs). One side of the argument is the loss of Butler could result in the Wolves falling out of the playoffs. To this point that seems unlikely.  It also means the porous defense is unlikely to improve and that Tom Thibodeau, notorious for over extending his starters will run Karl Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins until they drop.

Contrarily, Butler being out for the stretch run could be viewed as positive. Injuries are never good, but the timing of Butler’s allow him presumably to return in time to shake off the rust and lead his team into the postseason for the first time in 13 seasons.

In addition, without Butler there to rely on it afforded Towns and Wiggins a chance to show what they’ve learned since Butler arrived and potentially improve to the point Jimmy’s return could provide tangible growth. To this point, the Wolves are no worse defensively without their captain. Pre-injury they ranked 26th (108.9), post injury they rank 25th (111.6).

Twins forced to go solo:

Whether you’re a fan of DeMarcus Cousins or not, it hurt to see him go down to a Achilles injury. The player with the best big man pout in the NBA was finally going to get his shot at playing in the postseason and was entering a contract year.

Anthony Davis has channeled his best MVP archetype and along with Jrue Holiday is keeping the Pelicans in the equation. But, how much will his required extended effort to push New Orleans into the playoffs cost him once they get there.

The Sultan of Swat:

Compare the defensive stats of the Jazz with and without Rudy Gobert — enough said. And, if that doesn’t convince you, the fact Gobert and Roberson are still getting the most talk for Defensive Player of the Year it should explain the defensive effect they provide for their teams.

Also back for the Jazz is Dante Exum. The report is still out, but should the Jazz make the postseason Exum’s playmaking for a team short of playmakers could prove huge.

Doc wishes his name was literal:

Of all the teams who could make the playoffs the Clippers were hit hardest by injury. One after another players hit the injured list and for extended stays. Just as Blake Griffin returned he was traded, and just as that happened Danilo Gallinari returned only to get injured again.

Unfortunately, Coach Rivers first name is simply a moniker not a license which he probably wishes was the case given how many G-League players he had to utilize this season.

Given the difficult stretch run schedule of the Clippers it’s unlikely they remain in the playoff mix. Otherwise Doc might have drawn strong support to win Coach of the Year.

Roster depth helps, but defense suffered from loss of Millsap:

Without Paul Millsap the Nuggets stayed afloat with their offensive prowess but were abysmal defensively. Millsap missed 44 games. Initially head coach Mike Malone got his troops to pick up the slack for the missing power forward, but by February they returned to old bad habits and plummeted to 30th.

Although the team has struggled with Millsap’s return not necessarily moving the needle much they are gaining some ground improving by eight spots to 22nd.

Depth helps two top seeds :

Like the Raptors in the East the Rockets suffered some injuries to multiple players, but they tended to be short term absences. Chris Paul did miss some time, but with his propensity to get injured in the postseason getting him time off in season may pay huge dividends in April (or May).

And, like the Pacers in the East, the Blazers also benefited from going deep into the reserves and got lucky no major injuries occurred.  Malone who doesn’t suffer fools recently benched Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray for their lack of intensity and poor defensive effort. They responded by beating the Wizards in Washington.

Warriors limp into postseason:

So, basically every team competing for seeding other than Houston and Portland had to deal with some form of major contributor being out.

Yet, the Warriors who dealt with injuries all year are either entering the playoffs with all their core contributors rested or with not at 100 percent.

The starting five are the hardest hit. Klay Thompson will miss at least 10 games possibly more with his broken thumb and the question here is how that will affect his shooting stroke when he returns. Kevin Durant is expected to miss at least two weeks with the broken rib. Draymond Green has also fought through a myriad of injuries and the Warriors will need him as close to 100 percent as possible since he is the captain of the defense.

Both Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston though not in the starting lineup are equally important contributors. Each has been dealing with nagging injuries throughout the season.

But, clearly the issue is Stephen Curry’s recent MCL sprain and precisely how much time he’ll miss. All these injuries could be a moot point if the core end up rested and ready to conquer come April. But, if Durant isn’t 100 percent, Thompson takes time to find his stroke, Green’s copious injuries begin to impact the defense and Steph misses the first round, could this all add up to the team playing them in the first round having an opportunity to upset?

For example, should the Spurs fall to seventh and Kawhi Leonard returns, it might not be a surprise to see them ousted.  The same could be said for OKC who already offer issues for the Warriors in terms of their height.