Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


OKC Thunder can be serious NBA title contender, too


PhilBoxing.com




Can the Oklahoma City Thunder do what the Dallas Mavericks did six years ago?

Like the Thunder, that 2011 Mavericks team was built around future Hall-of-Famer Dirk Nowitzki whose liabilities and shortcomings caused people to doubt his team as a legitimate title contender.

Nobody questioned Nowitzki?s reputation as an All-NBA player in 2010-11, but nobody took his team seriously that season even though the Mavericks had surrounded him with excellent role players like Tyson Chandler, Shawn Marion and Jason Kidd, who covered for his defensive shortcomings.

Despite all this, the Mavericks made it to the Finals after steamrolling the Blazers, Lakers and Thunder in the West. Everybody knew what happened next: Dirk made mockery of Miami Heat defenders, Rick Carlisle put LeBron James? mind in a pretzel, and NBA commissioner David Stern handed Mark Cuban the Larry O?Brien Trophy, albeit reluctantly.

Could the same happen for Russell Westbrook and the Thunder? Could this roster constructed to cover for Westbrook?s defensive allergies quietly round into form this spring and peak during the playoffs?

It looks the 2017 MVP and teammates need more than luck against such a competitive Western Conference field. But experts and plain fans alike saw it happen with Nowitzki, and the sweet-shooting German didn?t even have anyone named Paul George on his team. So why not at least give the Thunder a puncher?s chance.

The Thunder, who couldn?t even get past the first round last season, re-signed George. OKC disposed of an ineffective, one-dimensional Carmelo Anthony and turned to a talented, yet enigmatic point guard Dennis Schroder this summer.

And a potential three-and-D wing Timoth? Luwawu-Cabarrot. The Thunder also took a low-risk, high-reward flyer on the once-promising Nerlens Noel. All three of these acquisitions are young, athletic and have the ability to be high-level defenders.

Trading Anthony, likewise, opened up more minutes for the likes of Jerami Grant and Andre Roberson. Although the offense wasn't quite the same, when the Thunder were at their best last season, they absolutely overwhelmed teams with their defense and rebounding, which resembled the 2016 Thunder when they jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals against the pre-Kevin Durrant Warriors, the eventual champs.

To win a championship though, the team would need Westbrook to do something he?s struggled to do his entire career: play like a team man. Under no circumstance should he shoot the ball 43 times (and scores only 46 points) like he did in the elimination game against the Jazz.

If the Thunder want to advance in the playoffs, Westbrook needs to facilitate and keep his teammates involved on the offensive end, because the Warriors and other contenders are not about lose a seven-game series to a one-man team ? just ask LeBron.

Could this be the year Westbrook finally grasps that concept?

To borrow from the name of Westbrook?s foundation, ?Why Not?"


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.