OKC Thunder: Opponent lessons to help structure next era of the franchise

Southeast Division:

This division features two franchises that won championships early in their history, two clubs without titles, and only one franchise that has consistently been competitive and has three titles to show for it and is a team the OKC Thunder should look to emulate.

Atlanta Hawks: 71 seasons (52 as Atlanta) – 1 title as St. Louis Hawks

After 10 consecutive trips to the playoffs including nine in this 12-year segment the Hawks have missed the last three postseasons.

Of the nine trips made since 2008-09 Atlanta got to the conference finals once, semi-finals four times, and ousted in the first round the other four occasions. The franchise’s longest consecutive period missing the playoffs was eight years occurring from 1999 to 2007.

All four trips to the Finals came during the St. Louis Hawks era, where they won once and lost three times.

Charlotte Hornets: 30 years – no titles

In the 12 year period, the Hornets underwent a name change and reached the playoffs on three occasions. All three appearances were first-round ousts plus Charlotte has missed the postseason the past four years in a row.

For a city with such a strong base in basketball, the fact the Hornets have never reached the finals is disheartening.  In fact, the team has only 10 playoff appearances in 30 years and have never got past the second round.

Miami Heat: 32 seasons – 3 titles

Of the 15 teams in the East, the Miami Heat hold the most successful record in the 12 years the Thunder have been a part of the association. Obviously, LeBron James’ presence made a difference as the club won two championships with him but the Heat continued to win even after his departure. In all, they’ve played in six NBA Finals winning half. More impressively, when they reach the conference finals they tend to win having won six of eight of those series.

The Celtics have a better record in terms of reaching the playoffs and they along with the Raptors have been the most successful East clubs in the past five seasons. But the Heat have the best overall record in this period getting to the NBA Finals five times, winning twice as well as a semi-finals appearance and three first-round exits.

Much like we can credit LeBron James for how the Cavaliers performed the same could be said of Pat Riley’s effect on the Heat. Whether as a head coach or front office executive his impact is undeniable. The initial seven years of the franchise are the pre-Riley years and in that period the club experienced their longest consecutive playoff absence (three years) and more than half (six) of the 11 occasions the team didn’t play in the spring.

If Sam Presti wants to take some cues from a winning front office exec the OKC Thunder should look to Riley’s example.

Orlando Magic: 31 seasons – no titles

The beginning of the 12-year segment was the most prosperous for the Magic who got to the NBA Finals and followed up with a conference finals appearance and made four consecutive playoff appearances.

This was followed by six consecutive lottery trips; also the longest consecutive playoff absence in franchise history.  Orlando returned the last two seasons losing in the first round as they have in their last four playoff appearances.  The Magic have been to the NBA Finals twice – losing on both occasions.

Washington Wizards: 59 seasons, 24 as “Wizards” – 1 title as “Bullets”

A five-year absence from the postseason was followed by four trips in five years with three consecutive semi-finals appearances. Washington missed the playoffs the last two years but the bigger question on the table is whether the John Wall and Bradley Beal tenure in Washington is the biggest disappointment by superstars in the modern era.

The Wizards don’t seem to have a culture or identity and subsequently tend to go for long periods of consecutive years missing the playoffs.

All four NBA Finals appearances came with the Bullets including their one victory.