How will History look back on the OKC Thunder

[JohnnyMax]

It's evident their title window has closed.

[Horse]

A bunch of whining, underachieving douchebags. The whole league and all the refs were behind them and they couldn't get it done.

[Mr Bones]

I think the main thing people will remember is them trading Harden to save money.

[Mori Chu]

Harden trade + Scott Brooks as coach + Westchuck + injuries = lost chance at a title.

[FlAVaK]

"Ein Sturm im Wasserglas", we say in german...

[Brunodf]

The refs could only take them to the Finals

[Brazil]

Like that...

http://images.complex.com/complex/image/upload/t_article_image/otivox4d6ac9o5qu8qkq.jpg

http://images.sportsworldreport.com/data/images/full/10122/kevin-durant-shirt-ugly-nba-playoffs.jpg?w=640

http://opinionatedmale.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/russell-westbrook-polo-shirt-opinionatedmale-com.jpg

[Darth_Pelican]

I would say similar to the 2004-2010 Suns. Volume regular season wins, marginal postseason success.

[Legacy]

http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1068213/westbrookurkel1.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/paredfia/OUTDOORTVSHOWGIRLSGONEFISHING.jpg

[Trill Clinton]

steal threads verbatim from thecoli, brehs

[lefty]

As short lived as an actual thunder

[ambchang]

I still think they can make noise with the right coach. They are not done done, but they are close to it.

[lefty]

Also: "at least they won a title in Seattle, lulz!"

[cjw]

I'm just waiting for this to be bumped when we're down 2-1 to them in a series in May. If they even make it to May.

Don't discount how crappy energy prices might be impacting their willingness to endure the luxury tax this year (both as it relates to owner spending and corporate fan spending).

[baseline bum]

The Harden trade will go down as the worst move in league history should they not win a title either this year or next (can't imagine Durant staying if they don't, and then show's over).

[Raven]

"for a few dollars more"

[lefty]

James Harden All Star

[Chris]

I remember it was fun to play them in 2k and make my opponents rage :lol

[cantthinkofanything]

It's evident their title window has closed.

won't look back on them much at all. Maybe like the Blazers back when they had Clyde, Kersey, Porter, etc.

I remember them being pretty damn good. Just not good enough. And probably not remembered at all for anyone not watching the NBA. Just a team that Drexler was on before he had to change teams to win a ring.

[Malik Hairston]

A super team that played in the wrong era, tbh..

The Thunder would be the perennial West Champs in the 90s, they play the exact same style as a 90s team, and they have 2 of the top 7 players in the NBA, including a legendary talent like Dominos Durant..if they played in the ISO era of the 90s, they would have destroyed the league..

Unfortunately for them, they played in the era of the Heat and Spurs..the Heat combining superstar talent with advanced spacing/ball-movement, and the 2014 Spurs were the greatest team in NBA history, forever changing the game of basketball..in 2015, even if they were healthy, they would have to compete with Spurs-influenced teams like the new Warriors and Hawks..

It's a shame they didn't adapt to the advanced NBA..I was very worried they would hire coach Bud or SVG, thankfully they kept Brooks and stayed in the 90s mentality..

[Budkin]

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/files/library/claybennett.jpg

http://media.komonews.com/images/090211_bitter_sonics_fan.jpg

[100%duncan]

James Harden

[cd021]

The Harden trade will go down as the worst move in league history should they not win a title either this year or next (can't imagine Durant staying if they don't, and then show's over).

I don't think so yet. They still have a couple of shots at winning a title before KD hits FA. if Harden win a chip with the Rockets then its its up there. They already gave another team in the west a legit star to build around then they got Howard.

[Pelicans78]

They're gonna miss the playoffs once the Pelicans stop coasting. They don't have anyone as good as Anthony Davis.

[100%duncan]

I don't think so yet. They still have a couple of shots at winning a title before KD hits FA. if Harden win a chip with the Rockets then its its up there. They already gave another team in the west a legit star to build around then they got Howard.

It's up there already imho. They could have won atleast a title or 2 already if they kept Harden.

:lol Perkins
:lol Abaka

[Pelicans78]

They're gonna be similar to Harbaugh's 49ers.

[313]

They're gonna be similar to Harbaugh's 49ers.
Good comparison tbh

[benefactor]

I would say similar to the 2004-2010 Suns. Volume regular season wins, marginal postseason success.
Was my first thought as well...and as others have said the Harden trade and the poor financial decisions that led up to it will be remembered too.

[Seventyniner]

"Ein Sturm im Wasserglas", we say in german...

The English equivalent is "a tempest in a teapot."

[ambchang]

Was my first thought as well...and as others have said the Harden trade and the poor financial decisions that led up to it will be remembered too.

Harden and the Joe Johnson move have some parallels, only Harden >>>> Johnson.

Sarver was also a cheapskate that destroyed the Suns chances with questionable financial moves.

Then those two coaches who overplay their superstars in meaningless regular season minutes only to have them exhausted in the playoffs.

Or a retarded 2nd fiddle who make questionable decisions during the most important times.

The more I think of it, the more the two team parallels.

[Leetonidas]

Yeah, pretty much 2005-2010 Phoenix Suns, Pt. II

[Jenks]

Two superstars
A run of about 6 years with about 55 wins in each
Usually underachieve in the postseason
Make it to one finals and don't be very competitive in it

Same team different city, they're the 92-97 George Karl Sonics

[K...]

Durant can go elsewhere and win a champ and get pretty close to Hall of Fame status. Kind of like KG or Pierce, no one doubts his talent and if he wins a champ as a second option he'll be fine. Durant is a unique player in size and talent, no team is going to turn him down.

Westbrook is less likely to be absolved. Mainly because i don't see him easily melding to another team. I don't know if a talented team would take a chance on him because of his attitude and injury history. He'll probably want to be the main option on another team and would take a leading role over a title heavy team. Westbrook is a crazy athlete with an attitude. His career won't be as long as Durant's due to relying on athleticism.