If Durant Had Stay With OKC They Would Have Been The Favorite To Win The Title

[HornetsFan29]

after how last year ended for them I really Believe OKC Would had rebounded and won the title this year had Durant had stayed and its shame he took the easy way out cause winning the title being the #1 guy in OKC would have mean a lot more to his legacy then joining a super stack team which he get no respect for if he wins.

[Yoshun]

I don't think so. It's possible they get by GSW in a tough series, but I still think the Cavs beat them. Their roster, outside of Durant and Westbrook, really isn't that strong. They depended on those guys a lot, and too much on Westbrook now.

Durant's impact on the team should be pretty damn obvious by now though. There should be no question as to how good he is.

[RaptorsLife]

Durant obviously didn't think so. If his mind wasn't in okc. Then it was time for a change

[The_Hater]

After trading Ibaka, I don't think they would have been the favourite. Worse than last season IMO. Also remember that if Durant doesn't go to the Warriors they have money to spend on other players including likely Harrison Barnes.

[KingDavid]

LeBron received plenty of respect when he won with the Heat. The only ones that'll probably cry are the ones without jewelry, as per usual.

[Mamba4Goat]

OKC doesn't need Durant to be a contender, they have Kyle Singler.

[bondom34]

They supposedly had an offer ready for Horford and were setting up to get him as well. So Westbrook/Roberson/Durant/Horford/Adams with Oladipo off the bench was the plan. Sigh.

[HornetsFan29]

They supposedly had an offer ready for Horford and were setting up to get him as well. So Westbrook/Roberson/Durant/Horford/Adams with Oladipo off the bench was the plan. Sigh.

man that would have been a sick lineup.

[nbafan38]

I don't know about favorite but they would have been right up there with GSW and Cle.

[PKABOOICU]

They were one 3 and D guy away.

Adams emerged as a starter, keeping Ibaka and KD, and getting a legit SHOOTING guard who can defend the perimeter would have gone a long way for them.

A guy like Trevor Ariza or Wes Matthews would have gotten it done.

Thabo Sefolosha was the closest thing they had but he wasn't lights out....same with Anthony Morrow and Steve Novak to a lesser extent. Andre Roberson can't shoot. Kevin Martin SHOULD HAVE done it, and they were never high on Jeremy Lamb.... and they didnt want to pay James Harden.

OKC is functional and dysfunctional at the same time. They were so close to getting over the hump multiple times.

[nbafan38]

They were actually a KD and Russ chokejob away from being in the finals. We can say that lacked the role players all we want but if either of those two had stepped up in game 6, OKC would have been in the finals. The difference is instead of taking responsibility for the loss KD as usual allowed Russ to be his scapegoat and ran away from the pressure. Russ meanwhile is battling with a team that can't even compete but you know he'll go down fighting

[nbafan38]

I don't think so. It's possible they get by GSW in a tough series, but I still think the Cavs beat them. Their roster, outside of Durant and Westbrook, really isn't that strong. They depended on those guys a lot, and too much on Westbrook now.

Durant's impact on the team should be pretty damn obvious by now though. There should be no question as to how good he is.

Sure his impact is amazing, too bad it's being wasted on a team that can win without him. I'm okay with KD leaving OKC but he should have at least taken his talents somewhere where he'd really impact a contender.

[RaptorsLife]

They were actually a KD and Russ chokejob away from being in the finals. We can say that lacked the role players all we want but if either of those two had stepped up in game 6, OKC would have been in the finals. The difference is instead of taking responsibility for the loss KD as usual allowed Russ to be his scapegoat and ran away from the pressure. Russ meanwhile is battling with a team that can't even compete but you know he'll go down fighting

Imagine if dion waiters actually played like he does this season than he did last year lol

[Warriorfan]

They supposedly had an offer ready for Horford and were setting up to get him as well. So Westbrook/Roberson/Durant/Horford/Adams with Oladipo off the bench was the plan. Sigh.

Would have been a contender and would be trouble for warriors small ball death squad. If Curry Thompson had down years from 3 might be the favorite.

[Patches Perry]

I don't think so. It's possible they get by GSW in a tough series, but I still think the Cavs beat them. Their roster, outside of Durant and Westbrook, really isn't that strong. They depended on those guys a lot, and too much on Westbrook now.

Durant's impact on the team should be pretty damn obvious by now though. There should be no question as to how good he is.

I don't disagree that Durant is really, really good but this is a weird comment considering OKC will only have suffered a 5-7 game drop-off from last year after losing Durant for nothing (55 wins to probably 48 or so). And GS will win less games than last year with Durant added, and aren't really that much worse without him. Durant's actual impact on wins doesn't look that great if you're simply looking at teams before and after his presence. Compare that to LeBron for example, it was something like 40+ less wins for the team he left.

As far as the OP - OKC would have been in the mix with GS and CLE as co-favorites. All 3 teams would have had a chance at the title, which is why Durant's move pissed everyone off so much. It killed OKC as a contender and boosted GS above Cleveland. We went from 3 powerhouses to 1 super-powerhouse, 1 powerhouse and 1 team going from powerhouse to 2nd tier. It really was an anti-competitive move both individually and as a whole.

[nbafan38]

I don't think so. It's possible they get by GSW in a tough series, but I still think the Cavs beat them. Their roster, outside of Durant and Westbrook, really isn't that strong. They depended on those guys a lot, and too much on Westbrook now.

Durant's impact on the team should be pretty damn obvious by now though. There should be no question as to how good he is.

I don't disagree that Durant is really, really good but this is a weird comment considering OKC will only have suffered a 5-7 game drop-off from last year after losing Durant for nothing (55 wins to probably 48 or so). And GS will win less games than last year with Durant added, and aren't really that much worse without him. Durant's actual impact on wins doesn't look that great if you're simply looking at teams before and after his presence. Compare that to LeBron for example, it was something like 40+ less wins for the team he left.

As far as the OP - OKC would have been in the mix with GS and CLE as co-favorites. All 3 teams would have had a chance at the title, which is why Durant's move pissed everyone off so much. It killed OKC as a contender and boosted GS above Cleveland. We went from 3 powerhouses to 1 super-powerhouse, 1 powerhouse and 1 team going from powerhouse to 2nd tier. It really was an anti-competitive move both individually and as a whole.

Yea in the regular season Durants presence hasn't actually made that much difference in terms of win totals, in fact GSW regressed in wins compared to last year even before Durant got injured. However of course in the playoffs Durants impact will be massively felt.

[Dark Faze]

Durant might have won anywhere he went--Boston, Washington, OKC, whatever. GSW was not a necessary move at all. And yes OKC would have smashed them the second time around if they'd kept Ibaka.

[Throwback24]

Absolutely not. I can't even entertain this, strong no.

[millslapper]

Where they at their peak last year with Ibaka? If no, then the thread opener is right.

[SpreeS]

Could they get 1st seed in the West? I dont think so... In this case, no one from TOP 4 team could beat other 3 TOP oponents in row.