The Western Conference and the Thunder

[thebig3]

Just glanced at the final ESPN Power rankings and noticed that the Thunder are ranked #5 behind:

Chicago
LA Lakers
Miami
San Antonio

So, we are currently thought to be the third best team in the West behind the AGING LA Lakers (Bryant, Odom, Gasol, Artest, Fisher all over 30) and the AGING Spurs (Duncan, Ginobili, McDyess, Jefferson all over 30). Unlike the Lakers and Spurs, the best players on the Thunder are all under 25 years old and are in the improvement phases of their careers - Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Harden. And, Perkins, at 26, may not get that much better, but one would expect he can continue playing at his current level for many years.

It will be interesting to see if there is a changing of the guard in the West during the playoffs this year. I don't expect it, but it could happen.

Unless the Lakers are able to reload, the Thunder look to be in prime position to be THE team in the West very soon.

Overly optimistic ... maybe. Excited ... definitely!

[Thunderstruck83]

Lol at the Lakers being ranked #2 after a 5 game losing streak. What a joke those rankings are. I dunno how much longer they can just flip a switch when they want. If so they wouldve won last night.

[reraom]

Perkins is only 26? ****, I never knew that, I thought he was around 29...

[KDisNotNice]

Perkins is only 26? ****, I never knew that, I thought he was around 29...

He went straight to the NBA from high school so that is why it seems like he has been around a long time but still nowhere near age 30 yet.

[Colonel Thunder]

But he's had about 8 years of NBA wear and tear on that body.

[misplacedsooner]

if i remember right he didnt play much at all his first 2 years with boston then his next couple averaged 18-20 minutes per game. funny thing is he was actually drafted by memphis and traded to boston.

[the worm]

Just glanced at the final ESPN Power rankings and noticed that the Thunder are ranked #5 behind:

Chicago
LA Lakers
Miami
San Antonio

So, we are currently thought to be the third best team in the West behind the AGING LA Lakers (Bryant, Odom, Gasol, Artest, Fisher all over 30) and the AGING Spurs (Duncan, Ginobili, McDyess, Jefferson all over 30). Unlike the Lakers and Spurs, the best players on the Thunder are all under 25 years old and are in the improvement phases of their careers - Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Harden. And, Perkins, at 26, may not get that much better, but one would expect he can continue playing at his current level for many years.

It will be interesting to see if there is a changing of the guard in the West during the playoffs this year. I don't expect it, but it could happen.

Unless the Lakers are able to reload, the Thunder look to be in prime position to be THE team in the West very soon.

Overly optimistic ... maybe. Excited ... definitely!

Ummm, what on earth does age have anything to do with it.

These aren't future power rankings. These are power rankings for THIS season.


Lol at the Lakers being ranked #2 after a 5 game losing streak. What a joke those rankings are. I dunno how much longer they can just flip a switch when they want. If so they wouldve won last night.

How about this for a reason for them being #2. They're the two time defending champs and at their best they're pretty much unbeatable.

Did we all forget their recent 17-1 run?

Worm Life

[ThunderObsessed]

Did we all forget their recent 17-1 run?

No. However, to some, such as the OP, it's all about what have you done for me lately.

[REDL1NE]

Until they are beaten, Im not counting them out.

[Thunder in NY]

Lakers are the favorite IMO. But, the Thunder can beat anyone.

[sprainedankle]

I'd put it:
LA
Miami
Chicago
SA
Orlando
Dallas

Dallas, LA and SA may be aging, but their ownership never lets them slide for long. I'd expect those three to still be in powers even after their current superstars are gone. OKC has put itself in a position to contend and be considered right at the same level as those franchises. Three years from now we could be #1 on this list or #7...as long as we're in the mix that's perfect.

[thebig3]

Ummm, what on earth does age have anything to do with it.

These aren't future power rankings. These are power rankings for THIS season.

Worm Life

Guess you didn't understand my post. Age has nothing to do with THIS season's power rankings. But, it has a lot to do with the future of the Thunder. In the West, the best players on today's two top teams are over 30 and on the downside of their careers. For the Thunder, the opposite is true.

I am wondering if and when the Thunder overtake both the Lakers and Spurs.

[misplacedsooner]

yeah, take kobe and phil from the lakers and they are hard pressed to make the playoffs even in the west.

[okcnba]

The Lakers, Mavericks, and Spurs have been too old for 5 years... and they're still better than us. Well run organizations are just well run organizations. I do think the Mavs will fall at some point. But the Lakers and Spurs are too well managed to falter for any more than a couple years at best.

[thebig3]

The Lakers, Mavericks, and Spurs have been too old for 5 years... and they're still better than us. Well run organizations are just well run organizations. I do think the Mavs will fall at some point. But the Lakers and Spurs are too well managed to falter for any more than a couple years at best.

Falter is too strong a word. The Thunder are one game behind the Lakers/Mavs and six games behind the Spurs. Even a small dropoff from those teams and a small improvement in the Thunder (and I believe there is a lot of improvement in front of the Thunder) can close or reverse the gap.

And, if you look at the Thunder post February trades, the Thunder have a better record than any of these teams.

What I am saying is the gap is not very large and the trends are in the Thunder's favor.

I am a huge Packers fan and the same thing has been happening there and this year the team did what few thought they would.

[sprainedankle]

yeah, take kobe and phil from the lakers and they are hard pressed to make the playoffs even in the west.

Take Kobe and Phil from the Lakers and their front office will have a ton of cap space and one of the most attractive coaching jobs in all of basketball.

[misplacedsooner]

this is true but will they be near the team? kobe wants brian shaw in there after this year. remains to be seen what kind of job he can do or if buss will even hire him to take over. and then when kobe retires sure, la is an attractive place for free agents but chemistry is huge. look at the knicks right now.

[okcnba]

Falter is too strong a word. The Thunder are one game behind the Lakers/Mavs and six games behind the Spurs. Even a small dropoff from those teams and a small improvement in the Thunder (and I believe there is a lot of improvement in front of the Thunder) can close or reverse the gap.

And, if you look at the Thunder post February trades, the Thunder have a better record than any of these teams.

What I am saying is the gap is not very large and the trends are in the Thunder's favor.

I am a huge Packers fan and the same thing has been happening there and this year the team did what few thought they would.

NFL, 1 game playoff match-ups... anything can happen like in the NCAA. 7 game series cause the best teams to win!

[rmpcsl]

Im confident that next season we can reach 60 wins plus and be the number 1 in the regular season guys.

[Colonel Thunder]

Im confident that next season we can reach 60 wins plus and be the number 1 in the regular season guys.We may only be able to win 30 or 40 games next year...if the year is shortened.

[DAK!]

Most NBA people say that players reach their peak at around age 26-28, so KD, RW0, Harden and Ibaka all have many years to get better than they already are, which is scary for the rest of the league. I would agree that Perkins has reached his peak, but that is perfectly fine with me as he's exactly what we need at the 5...I'm comfortable with that. I have no idea if him coming into the league straight out of h.s. makes him an old 26 or not, but he's already had a couple knee issues, so take that for whatever it's worth. Personally, I think Perk can stay at this level for the next 4-5 years before he starts to wear down physically. With as much pounding as he takes and the length of time in the league as he's been along with some physical injuries I'd say he can make it to his early 30's before he may become a liability. I'll take that.