A tale of two Thunders through 25 games

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Through 25 games the Thunder sit at 21-4, which is exactly what they were at this stage last season. The 2012-13 installment went on to win 60 games with an average scoring margin of +9.2, finish atop the Western Conference and land in the top three in both offensive and defensive efficiency.

Obviously that campaign ended in disappointment, but certain circumstances were the main reason why, namely Russell Westbrook’s injury.

This season’s team is mostly the same group, minus their sixth man, Kevin Martin. And while the Thunder didn’t make any additions outside of drafting Steven Adams and signing Ryan Gomes, they appear to be taking another step forward. Question is, are they better?

As Scott Brooks said Thursday before their game against the Bulls, the Thunder’s offseason roster moves were in their existing players coming back better. Kevin Durant is reaching new levels. Westbrook is healthy and dominating. Serge Ibaka is improved on both ends. And players like Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb have assumed a combo role of sixth man for OKC, replacing Martin’s production, and then some.

So with the records identical at this point in the season, how does this year’s group compare to last year’s through 25 games?

Points per game
2012-13: 105.6
2013-14: 104.8

Points allowed per game
2012-13: 96.2
2013-14: 98.3

Margin of victory
2012-13: +9.4
2013-14: +7.4

Offensive efficiency
2012-13: 111.1
2013-14: 105.9

Defensive efficiency
2012-13: 100.2
2013-14: 99.3

Pace
2012-13: 94.7
2013-14: 96.9

Turnovers per game
2012-13: 15.8
2013-14: 16.2

Assists per game
2012-13: 22.1
2013-14: 21.8

Free throws per game
2012-13: 27.4 (made 23.2, 85.4 percent)
2013-14: 25.7 (made 21.0, 81.8 percent)

3-pointers per game
2012-13: 18.4 (made 7.5, 40.9 percent)
2013-14: 18.4 (made 6.2, 33.8 percent)

eFG%
2012-13: 53.3 percent
2013-14: 50.7 percent

Home record
2012-13: 14-2
2013-14: 13-0

Road record
2012-13: 7-2
2013-14: 8-4

Longest win streak
2012-13: Eleven
2013-14: Eight (twice)

Durant’s numbers
2012-13: 27.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 3.5 turnovers, 51.9 FG%, 43.5 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 65.3 True Shooting, 39.5 minutes, 26.4 usage rate, +13.8 net rating

2013-14: 28.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 3.3 turnovers, 49.4 FG%, 42.5 3P%, 88.0 FT%, 62.7 True Shooting, 37.9 minutes, 28.4 usage rate, +8.8 net rating

Westbrook’s numbers
2012-13: 21.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 3.2 turnovers, 41.2 FG%, 36.3 3P%, 78.4 FT%, 51.0 True Shooting, 35.8 minutes, 29.8 usage rate, +13.1 net rating

2013-14: 21.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 4.1 turnovers, 41.6 FG%, 30.0 3P%, 78.0 FT%, 51.0 True Shooting, 32.9 minutes, 31.2 usage rate, +6.4 net rating

Ibaka’s numbers
2012-13: 14.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 57.1 FG%, 84.2 FT%, 61.0 True Shooting, 31.5 minutes, 16.9 usage rate, +11.2 net rating

2013-14: 14.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 51.4 FG%, 78.8 FT%, 55.4 True Shooting, 32.2 minutes, 17.5 usage rate, +7.4 net rating

Kevin Martin 2012-13
15.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 46.9 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 93.5 FT%, 65.2 True Shooting, 29.6 minutes, 20.6 usage rate, +14.7 net rating

Reggie Jackson 2013-14
12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 48.2 FG%, 31.1 3P%, 95.3 FT%, 55.9 True Shooting, 24.7 minutes, 22.3 usage rate, +15.5 net rating

Jeremy Lamb 2013-14
9.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 47.3 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 100.0 FT%, 56.6 True Shooting, 20.8 minutes, 17.8 usage rate, +10.3 net rating

Two things about those three players: 1) Martin got off to a terrific start for the Thunder before trailing off fairly significantly as the season went along. He dropped down to 14.0 ppg and had his percentages dip with it. 2) As I look at them, is it possible that the Thunder could have versions of both James Harden and Kevin Martin on this team? Jackson obviously has a lot of similarities with Harden in how he plays and the numbers he puts up, and same could be said for Lamb with Martin.

Best lineup (min. 15 games)
2012-13: Westbrook, Martin, Durant, Sefolosha and Collison (137.0 offensive rating, 98.9 defensive rating, +38.0 net)
2013-14: Jackson, Lamb, Durant, Collison, Adams (119.0 offensive rating, 92.7 defensive rating, +26.4 net)

Something I noticed while looking at the lineup data is that Brooks has used a ton more combinations this season. Through 25 games last season, five lineups had played more than 60 minutes together. Two played more than 100 minutes together, and there were 63 different lineups used. This season, only three lineups have played 60 or more minutes together, with just one — the starting five — playing more than 100 together. And Brooks has used 128 different lineup combinations this season. Something seems to be happening there.

Last season’s team lost two straight games (to the Timberwolves and to the Heat on Christmas) to drop to 21-6. The Thunder’s next two are at San Antonio then home against the Raptors. Also, something to note: Last season’s team played 16 of their first 25 at home. This season’s has had 13.

Here’s what I think we’ve learned: This season’s team hasn’t been quite as dominant through 25 games as the 2012-13 squad was, but it’s obvious that this group is improving. And I hate to be the eye test guy, but this season’s team looks better to me. The Thunder are just now getting back the real Russell Westbrook and they’ve only played 16 of their 25 games at full strength.

Will they win 60? Will they finish on top of the West? Are they actually better? Lots of time to find those things out, but if the first 25 games are any indication, it kind of looks like the Thunder are getting a do-over for last season.

Stats via NBA.com/stats