Oklahoma City reached four straight Western Conference finals. Only the Spurs have a better regular-season winning percentage in the last 10 years. The Thunder accomplished plenty in this period. Now, dealing Westbrook closes an entire era. Oklahoma City trading George to the Clippers ended that plan. Those teams fizzled with first-round losses. Then, Westbrook and George without Anthony. Then, the Thunder built around Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. That edition of the team peaked with a 3-1 lead over the Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference finals. Oklahoma City re-tooled around Durant and Westbrook after trading Harden. It seemed the Thunder might have similar staying power.
But because Hakeem Olajuwon was just 23 in 1986, he remained a superstar long enough to lead Houston to titles in 19. In the next seven years, they had four first-round exits and two second-round exits and once missed the playoffs entirely. In an incredible example of the staying power of a young NBA Finals team, the Rockets lost momentum after the 1986 Finals. He helped Philadelphia return to the Finals in 1980 (loss), 1982 (loss) and 1983 (win). The 1977 runner-up 76ers had Julius Erving, who was in his first NBA season. The 1977 Portland Trail Blazers won the championship that year. The youngest NBA Finals teams since the merger: Just four teams since the NBA-ABA merger have reached the Finals while so young. It was still just 25.7 in 2012, when the Thunder lost to the Heat in the NBA Finals. Oklahoma City’s average age (weighted by postseason playing time) was 22.9 in 2011 and 23.8 in 2011. Now, Westbrook exits.Īfter ascending so far so quickly, the Thunder not winning a title with any of those players is a historic disappointment. Ibaka got traded to the Magic the same summer. When he didn’t agree to a contract extension, Oklahoma City traded him to Houston in 2012. The Thunder have now completely turned over their roster since the 2012 Finals, leaving Harden’s proclamation unfulfilled. Oklahoma City closed a chapter by agreeing yesterday to trade Russell Westbrook to the Rockets for Chris Paul. Serge Ibaka became a near star.īut like all stars, their enormous and powerful fire eventually burned out. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Harden were future MVPs. The 2012 Thunder were the youngest NBA Finals team in decades. In fact, they were so young, they kept the same core, and the 2011 Thunder became the second-youngest playoff team in NBA history. The 2010 Thunder were the youngest playoff team in NBA history. It sure appeared to be trending that way. “A dynasty is being built here,” Harden said. After Oklahoma City reached the 2012 NBA Finals, James Harden set expectations.
0 kommentar(er)
