Thunder Player Power Rankings: Looking up

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Perk said this last week, talking about the current condition of the Thunder:

“When you add your two franchise players it’s going to be that much better. My thing is, I just know, around the league you better watch out.”

That’s been the line all along from the organization, that regardless of record, to be a better team when Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook return. The idea being, plug two superstars back into an already solid foundation, and you get could some really, really good on the other end.

The fear remained that while the Thunder worked through that, trying to get better, that the results would trump the process. Lose too many games, get too deep, and even with an improved team for Durant and Westbrook to join, it might be too late.

Well, guess what: It’s not.

The Thunder’s record is improving, but still ugly at 7-13, but think about this: There are still 62 games remains. Sixty-two! Win 71 percent of those games as the Thunder do when Westbrook and Durant play, and they finish with 51 wins. That’s almost assuredly in the postseason, and might even nab them the four, five or six-seed if the West levels out.

But again, that’s assuming Durant and Westbrook return to the team they’ve been playing with the last four years. If they return to a better one, one that has a new focus and constant sense of urgency? Couldn’t they play .750 basketball? That’s 54 wins.

Now, all of that is contingent on a lot of things, most notably being that both Westbrook and Durant remain healthy and that the reintegration period isn’t elongated. But the Thunder win some 90 percent of their games when they hold opponents to fewer than 103 points per 100 possessions. And during the Dark Time, they played some ridiculous defense, all things considered.

Three games at full strength, and we’ve yet to see the payoff Perk was talking about. The defense has slipped, but not as severely as you might think, allowing 100.2 points per 100 in the last three games. The offense has been better — 103.4 per 100 — but not overly explosive. Fact is, this is like preseason all over for the Thunder as they work everything back into working order. The problem that everyone knows is there isn’t time to ease back into this. Every game has value, and every loss could be potentially devastating.

But now they’re both back. And the race to the finish is officially on.

Rankings:

1. Kevin Durant

All things considered, Durant’s first week back was fairly absurd. This is a guy who hadn’t played competitive basketball in six weeks and was able to walk on the court and drop 27 in 30 minutes like it was nothing. His game against the 76ers showed obvious rust, but as you’d expect, Durant bounced back with 28 points in 29 minutes.

The one area of concern, and it’s not really even a concern because it’s so early, is the defensive end. The numbers are in KD’s favor right now — allowing 95.8 per 100 with him on, 100.8 with him off — but that’s been skewed by a good second half against the Sixers and a good second half against the Pistons. It’s been obvious watching that OKC’s defense has lapsed often with Durant and Westbrook on the floor, which is easily one of the more correctable issues.

2. Russell Westbrook

Westbrook has played six games this season. He’s averaging 23.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists with a PER of 31.31 in 27.3 minutes per game. And he’s doing things like this:

It’s good to have him back.

3. Jeremy Lamb

Lamb will cool off here eventually, but you can’t deny how outstanding he’s been the last six games: 15.2 points on 74.3 percent shooting, 75.0 percent from 3 in 22.4 minutes. Lamb was asked on Monday what’s made the difference for him and he couldn’t pinpoint anything. I asked if he feels like he’s taking better, smarter shots right now. He said no, it’s just that they’re dropping now. I think he’s selling himself short there, as does Scott Brooks who credits Lamb focusing in on the defensive end more releasing his mind a bit on the offensive side. As in, care more about defense and it means you stop overthinking offense and just let it come to you.

When Lamb does inevitably come back down to Earth at some point, bookmark this run to remind yourself that the kid can, in fact, play.

4. Serge Ibaka

Ibaka was solid in his run as the de facto best player for the Thunder, averaging 16.1 points on 45.2 percent shooting with 7.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in November. Very good. But everyone wanted more out of him, expecting him to go down on the block like he was possessed by the ghost of Kevin McHale’s post game all of a sudden and take over. Ibaka is a role player in every sense of the word, but only because he excels when he’s placed in one. He can get you 25 points in a game, but it’s going to come from offensive execution that produce him looks. He’s not going to go out and get himself 25, if that makes sense.

Already, you can see the difference in having Westbrook and Durant back makes for him. His numbers are down a bit, but he’s able to play more center which places him closer to the basket in the Thunder’s offense, and creates better interior looks. There were a lot of building complaints about Ibaka taking too many 3s, but that was as much a product of the Thunder’s offense as it was him choosing it. The Thunder want their power forward to space the floor — which in a lot of cases will be Kevin Durant this season — but because of the personnel choices, Ibaka played barely any center.

5. Reggie Jackson

Don’t overreact about the dip in Jackson’s numbers. That’s going to happen because he’s going to see less time on the floor, and less of the ball. He’s a player that excels with the ball in his hands, and with him spending so much time on the floor with Westbrook and Durant, he’s going to go long stretches without it. A lot of his points will come from open perimeter shots, or out of transition. He has to settle into that dynamic of running the second unit and fitting in with the closing one.

6. Kendrick Perkins

Per 36 minutes this season: 7.9 points and 10.3 rebounds. Perk has quietly played wonderful basketball for the Thunder this season, anchoring the defensive glass at times and providing the kind of interior defense he’s known for. Flat out: He’s played better than Steven Adams thus far. Like last season where it was often the opposite, that doesn’t mean there immediately needs to be a lineup change, but it does mean that Perk is showing off that he still has a lot to give. On the court, OKC’s allowing 98.7 points per 100. Off, 101.5. And the offensive numbers are almost even.

7. Anthony Morrow

I wouldn’t say it’s been obvious that Morrow’s been getting incredible looks playing with Durant and Westbrook so far, but it does seem pretty clear to me what a superb pickup he’s going to prove to be. Having a player like him to use as a weapon off the bench gives the Thunder a great option, someone to give immediate offense and space the floor. By the end of the season, it wouldn’t surprise me if Morrow shoots better than 45 percent from 3.

8. Steven Adams

Don’t freak out about Adams. Remember, just a over a week ago he had put together back-to-back double-digit rebound games, including a career-high 13 against the Knicks. He’s just 21; he’s going to have some ups and downs. The fact he’s accelerated his development this much means he has new expectations placed on him. People expect him to produce nightly. He’s still a growing, developing young player. Some nights he shows his potential. Other nights, he shows how far he still has to go.

9. Nick Collison

Hasn’t hit a 3 since Nov. 19. Missed his last seven. But hey, shooters gotta keep on shootin’.

10. Andre Roberson

I watched Roberson take probably 50 3s during practice yesterday. (he was shooting with Anthony Morrow. It was like watching Charles Barkley run sprints with Usain Bolt.) He made a bunch of them, but he also airballed four, which is kind if incredible. An NBA guard, uncovered, airballing anything more than once in 50 shots is something. Roberson did it four times. His mechanics are still a bit of a mess, but he is getting better. His defense has slipped some since returning from his foot injury, but I still think he can be an elite wing defender.

Consider: With Roberson on the floor, OKC allows just 92.7 points per 100 (best on the team). With him off, 103.6. By far the biggest difference on the team. Gripe about his offense all you want and focus on the possessions where someone scores on him, but Roberson is making a big defensive impact.

11. Perry Jones

Boy, it really feels like he missed quite the opportunity, doesn’t it?

12. Lance Thomas

Wait, he’s still on the team?

13. Ish Smith

Inactives: Grant Jerrett, Mitch McGary