OKC Thunder in the news: Examining how OKC will cope in Russell Westbrook’s absence

Westbrook made the news again, but for reasons we hate to see. His indefinite absence will show the true depth of the OKC Thunder. On a positive note, OKC’s new City Edition jerseys compensated for last season’s disappointment.

The injury plague strikes OKC Thunder again:

Westbrook let out a howl that momentarily stopped our hearts in the third quarter of Monday night’s OKC Thunder match with the Pelicans. The announcement of his indefinite treatment for a sprained ankle sent us back to the first of the season. We witnessed two games without Westbrook in the 0-4 start, that gave little to no confidence.

However, with the development of Schroder in an OKC Thunder jersey, the team extended its win streak with a 95-86 win over Cleveland last night, off Schroder’s 28 points. Though the game had moments that were nostalgic of a low energy high school basketball game, likely due to the absence of Westbrook’s monstrous fast-pace, it is the only bright light in the darkness of a Westbrook-less future.

The team’s upcoming schedule does not pose a threat to the momentum acquired and the progression of the roster and rotations (though, as OKC fans, we know anything is possible with this franchise).

Over at TheRinger.com, Dan Devine finds solace in the fact that we still have players that have the potential to battle the injury plague and rise above it.

"In theory, this season’s Thunder should be better equipped to withstand non-Westbrook minutes, thanks to the presence of George, the absence of complicating agent Carmelo Anthony, and the addition of Schröder, a quicksilver driver capable of pushing the attack at a ramped-up pace."

The addition of Dennis Schroder to the roster was a critical decision in hindsight, for this reason exactly. He was in a rather pressurized situation with the demand of a win over Cleveland without Westbrook. He handled it well with 28 points and 7 rebounds; though, a goose egg in the assists box is not the Westbrook thing to do, but I’ll let it slide this one time.

Statistics don’t always tell the full story:

In a game like basketball, statistical contributions aren’t always the only contributions to a team. The numbers are important, the score is important, but sometimes the exemplified chemistry in real-game action can give more hope than numbers can. And for the OKC Thunder, that is a narrative we are all too familiar with.

Adam Fromal with Bleacher Report offered a great analysis of what numbers are stand-outs at this point in the season and what they actually mean for the teams. For OKC, that number is 7.5.

"No OKC trio has spent more time on the floor together, and it’s helped the Thunder outscore foes by 7.5 points per 100 possessions. That’s actually an improvement upon last year’s mark (6.9), which offers hope for a continued return to form while the team, as a whole, recovers from a lackluster start."

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The trio consists of Westbrook, Adams, and George, who each have areas that beg for improvement, but are still making things happen for the team as a whole. The PNR with Adams has played an important factor in the team’s turnaround, further solidifying the significance in a team that just simply vibes well on the court.

Look good, play good:

TI’s Brayden Koch wrote in his article what we have all been thinking, “the way that these jerseys are able to show Oklahoma’s history through the use of symbolism and geometric design is absolutely astounding”.

The announcement of the new City Edition jerseys was a stark opposition to last year’s nearly depressing grey jerseys. Beyond the aesthetic appeal, the jerseys embrace a culture near and dear to Oklahoma.

"This year, fans were able to sigh in relief after the release of a much more cultural-based, and intricate designed jersey. The idea of the uniform was to present aspects of Oklahoma’s Native American heritage through the use of complex styles relating to the native tribes of Oklahoma."

The correlation is a great addition to the unique atmosphere of the Chesapeake Arena when flooded with blue and orange.

In order to make a fair decision, Koch also compared the new uniforms with others to form his top four. Can you guess the other three? Be sure to check out his article to see his selections of who earned a spot.

Now with a six-game streak, OKC Thunder will prepare to face a struggling Houston Rockets team, predictably without Westbrook. It will be a game that the team can either run through the motions with, or come out and make a big statement amidst the predicament.

TI will keep you up to date on all things Thunder, so stay clickin’.