What If This Is OKC’s Last Shot? (Grantland)

Interesting article by Bill Simmons over at Grantland: What If This Is OKC’s Last Shot?

There’s a poignant moment in Jonathan Abrams’s oral history about the 2002 Kings, right after the section covering their gut-wrenching Game 7 defeat, when a Sacramento employee named Devin Blankenship remembers his coworkers consoling one another. They were saying all the right things about losing to the Lakers. It’s just the beginning. This is the start of something bigger. You can’t win the big one until you lose a few tough ones. Their boss overheard and went the other way, wondering aloud, What if that was it? What if that was our shot?

That moment resonated for a simple reason: That WAS their shot. And that WAS it.

The boss wasn’t describing a “shot” as much as a window. If you’re blessed with Michael and Scottie in their mid-twenties, that window should last for a decade, as long as nothing funky happens. If you’re catching C-Webb right as he’s hitting his prime, and you’re surrounding him with quality veterans who connect with his unselfish playing style, maybe that’s four or five guaranteed years. If you’re teaming up Pierce and Garnett and Allen at the tail end of their primes, you’re publicly hoping for five healthy years and secretly praying for three. Every A-list contender has a built-in window, and almost always, you know what it is. When that window slams shut well before you’re ready, you never really get over it.

Will we remember Oklahoma City that way someday?

It's interesting to ponder, not just for the Thunder but also some of the other contenders who are projected to stay together for a few years to come. The mention of the Bulls teams of recent years certainly resonated with me; in 2011, things were looking up, as it appeared they were emerging as a contender that would be in the thick of the title hunt for years to come, just needing to add an extra piece or two as they tried to get over the hump. Fast forward a few years, and we've seen what some terrible luck can do to a team that looks like it's going to be in the championship conversation for the next few seasons. It just goes to show that there's no guarantee that a team will remain among the NBA's elite once they do crack the upper echelon.

Personally, I hope that isn't the case. I'd like there to be at least three or four teams - preferably at least two from each Conference - that have a realistic shot at winning it all, year in and year out. Needless to say, I'd like the Bulls to become one of those teams, but at the very least I want to see some exciting clashes and a touch of uncertainty come the Playoffs.

I gotta say, this is actually a good write-up

Just four months later, they stunned the basketball world by dealing James Harden to Houston for financial reasons; even worse, they didn’t obtain a guaranteed blue-chipper in return.

Agree with the Harden trade. If it was Harden who doesn't like coming off the bench then why would Brooks stop that? I'd go for him rather than Sefolosha.

Wow, the article just made me remember the 05, 07, and 08 Rockets. Those years were their best, their greatest chances of winning multiple titles.

The Harden trade is the worst thing the Thunder did.

Sacramento got robbed at the time. But the Thunder robbed the Clippers this time. LoL

Yeah, you don't know when your run is going to end. Look at the Nuggets. We thought they'd be fine this season but they now need to regroup and retool. I think the Thunder will have plenty of chance for years to come as long as Durant remains to be the best player along with LBJ, CP3. When you look at their competition, they're getting weaker. The Spurs (though amazing) should eventually run out of legs, the Clippers have CP3 a point guard closing in to 30 in age.

But look at the Thunder. Both Durant and Westbrook are 25, Ibaka 24. These guys are winning at young age. Imagine them playing together at 28-29. When did LBJ get his first ring? Oh yea. No, this isn't their last shot. Which other contender has such bright future at the very moment? None.

Nuggets were just like the Portland last last season. Their stars are injured

But look at the Thunder. Both Durant and Westbrook are 25, Ibaka 24. These guys are winning at young age. Imagine them playing together at 28-29. When did LBJ get his first ring? Oh yea. No, this isn't their last shot. Which other contender has such bright future at the very moment? None.

Absolutely...on paper. But the point of the article is, a team like that might be an injury, a feud between its stars, a couple of bad trades, or some other misstep/mishap away from having its championship window slammed shut. Hopefully that isn't the case, but it's food for thought nevertheless.

Yep. Injuries and management matters big time. Nothing's certain in this league even with tons of talent. BKN I think was the good case this season. Brook Lopez was supposed to be their best player but he was gone, so was the team's chance at the title.

As a fan of Durant, I hope none of that happens for the Thunder. The kid's too real and likable. He's your daily average nice pal around you that made it big. Humble and real unlike so many douches. I have a feeling we're seeing more of beginning of something great to come, not the Thunder's last shot, especially to consider their age and caliber.

As management goes, it's pretty good.

Why look at the glass half empty, when we can look at it half full.
Instead of comparing the Thunder to teams like the 12/13 Bulls, 05-08 Rockets, why don't we compare them to the Spurs or even the Mavs? I think Sam Presti is doing a great job establishing a culture, and having the players believe in it. While the Harden move is frowned upon, it had to be done in a financial standpoint, and got Steven Adams, Jeremy Lamb and this years 21st overall pick.

lol Jeremy Lamb.

I know. lol. But I think he can still be something.

I'd agree with Adams but with Lamb...nah

He's never gonna replace what Harden, or even what Kevin Martin did...but pre all-star break stats: 10 points on 45%, 36.6 3 point % on 22 minutes per game is decent considering his weird role.

He was supposed to fill in the role of Harden.