Thunder Season Preview: Position Breakdown

Originally Published: Oct 22, 2010 5:38 PM CDT

Oct. 22 – Position Breakdown
Oct. 23 – Key Losses and Additions
Oct. 24 – Top Five Moments of 2009-10
Oct. 25 – Breaking Down the Opposition
Coming Oct. 26 – Top Five Games to Look Forward To
Coming Oct. 27 – Vitals: Thunder vs. Chicago Bulls

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

Most thought the Thunder would improve significantly in their sophomore campaign in Oklahoma City, but few could have predicted their 27-game turnaround. Another 27-game turnaround this season would give OKC the best record in league history, so it’s hard to demand this year’s improvement to remain consistent.

However, with its young nucleus still intact, many are expecting big things from OKC this year. Here is a position-by-position breakdown of what to look for from the Thunder entering the 2010-11 season.

Look for more Thunder breakdown and previews in the days leading up to the Oct. 27 opener by using the links at the top of the story.

Point Guard

Sam Presti’s gamble on Russell Westbrook with the fourth overall pick in 2008 is slowly but surely paying off. The 6-3 guard was often considered too “raw” to handle the point guard position in the NBA. Ironically, Westbrook finished eighth in the league in assists last year, averaging eight per game. He showed even more potential toward the end of the season and in the playoffs, burning slower point guards with his athleticism. NBA GMs selected Westbrook as the player most likely to have a breakout year this upcoming season.

The Thunder might also have the best backup point guard in the league in Eric Maynor. Maynor, whom OKC acquired from the Utah Jazz, averaged five points and 3.3 assists in just 15 minutes per game his rookie year.

Shooting Guard

Kevin Durant recently requested the guard Thabo Sefolosha join him on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s NBA preview issue. Durant’s glowing recommendation of Sefolosha comes with good reason. Sefolosha shut down some of the league’s premier perimeter players in 2009-10, including a remarkable job on Kobe Bryant in the first round of the playoffs. At $3 million per year, Sefolosha is one of the best values in the league.

His backup, James Harden, complements Sefolosha’s game nicely. Harden can provide instant offense off the bench while still maintaining a strong defensive presence at the two spot for the Thunder. Some people want to see more consistency from Harden, for he showed flashes of brilliance at times last season and then would disappear for games at a time. He also received a lot of pressure his rookie year after being drafted third in front of other players such as Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans and Stephen Curry of Golden State.

Small Forward

The Thunder should be more-than-solid at the position with MVP frontrunner Kevin Durant. With Kobe Bryant still aging and LeBron James splitting his stats with two other superstars, the media, NBA general managers and every other group with a preseason vote has overwhelmingly selected Durant as their choice to win the NBA’s most prestigious individual award. Everyone knows that Durant became the league’s youngest scoring champion last season, averaging more than 30 points at just 21 years old. But he also led the Thunder in rebounding (7.6) and steals (1.4). Team USA’s victory at the FIBA World Championship this summer only added to the already larger-than-life expectations piled on Durant’s skinny frame.

Because Durant plays 40-plus minutes per game, the backups at his position aren’t as crucial. OKC doesn’t have an “official” backup to Durant at the small forward position. Instead, he gets brief rests while Sefolosha and Jeff Green take over at small forward.

Power Forward

While Durant signed a five-year, maximum contract extension this summer, Jeff Green waited. It is yet to be seen whether the undersized power forward will be part of the Thunder’s future plans. Green, who was taken fifth in the 2007 draft alongside Durant, will be evaluated during the season and essentially “priced” by Thunder management to see how much they are willing to pay to keep Green around. Green has been productive and consistent for the squad, as well as a great “glue” guy in the locker room. Green could potentially come off the bench in the future in a sixth-man role, but that would likely mean him taking less money and a lesser role with OKC than he might see in another franchise.

For now, Green remains the Thunder’s starting power forward, but with a more-than-serviceable backup in second-year forward Serge Ibaka. Ibaka, like Westbrook, took the opportunity to make his name known in the playoff matchup against the Lakers last season. Ibaka led the Thunder in blocks, and in turn, helped the Thunder lead the NBA in blocks. He should see a much bigger role this upcoming season as his offensive game becomes more polished and he gets more used to the flow of the league.

Center

The Thunder’s center-by-committee will continue this season, but with two new faces in the mix. Although Byron Mullens saw time with the team last year, the majority of his season was spent in the NBDL polishing his game. Mullens, however, impressed in summer league and preseason and should see some more minutes this year, or at the very least, spend the whole season with the Thunder and not make consistent trips up the interstate for stints with the Tulsa 66ers.

Rookie Cole Aldrich had an up-and-down preseason, showing potential at times but also fizzling in some games. Aldrich also suffered a shoulder injury that held him out for a little while, but coach Scott Brooks said he should be good to go for the regular season. Aldrich, like most rookie big men, will likely take a while to pan out, and a lack of immediate results doesn’t necessarily warrant claims of “bust” being thrown about.

Meanwhile, veterans Nick Collison and Nenad Krstic both bring different aspects to the center rotation. Collison led the league in charges taken last season – not surprisingly – and brings toughness and scrappy play when in the game. Krstic is more of a pick-and-pop type of center, capable of stepping outside to hit a jumper and focusing slightly more on offense than his defensive counterpart, Collison.