YOU DOWN WITH OKC YEAH NO K.D

The fan favorite Oklahoma City Thunder have tread light this NBA season for obvious reasons. Superstar Kevin Durant suffered injury to his surgically repaired foot in February and has missed over 35 games this season. Hopes regarding his return were ended last week when reporters confirmed that his lengthy recovery requires him to miss the remainder of the 2014-15 season. Though the Thunder acquired a few quality role players to complement their roster before the trade deadline, the absence of Durant has depreciated both vitality and leadership for the team on the floor. Guard Russell Westbrook assumed Durant's role as leader, using his headstrong offensive approach to uphold the inhibited production thereof. Westbrook has produced 10+ triple doubles this season and averaged 27.7 points per game making himself a clear candidate for MVP. Just when it seemed things could get no worse, Thunder forward Serge Ibaka began to tell team physicians of a lingering soreness in his knee. Ibaka is expected to miss at minimum another 3 weeks of basketball. The 2012 Western Conference champions watch bitterly as their progression is halted by shortcomings.

Yesterday afternoon, Oklahoma City fell short against their Western Conference rival Houston Rockets. Bill Simmons vented at the conclusion of the game analyzing ways Oklahoma could have retained James Harden before his departure in 2012. After several pestering tweets Kevin Durant simply requested that Simmons just "let it go." It is clearly frustrating to watch your team be socially criticized for insignificant factors like would've but didn't situations. After a Western Conference Finals appearance last season the Thunder certainly shown themselves to be successful without Harden. The Thunder though, are reasonably not as successful with both Durant and Ibaka out of the line-up. After yesterday's loss, Thunder are now tied with the New Orleans Pelicans for the 8th slot in the Western Conference Playoff picture with a record of 41-36. Tomorrow night on TNT they'll face off against the San Antonio Spurs who destroyed the Golden State Warriors last night at the AT&T Center. Hopefully the OKC saga can continue with a 2014 NBA playoff berth this spring. They'll have to take it one game at a time.

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