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NBA: 7 Teams That Should Start To Panic

By Bryce Olin

Nov 14, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. The Spurs defeated the Lakers 93-80. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. The Spurs defeated the Lakers 93-80. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 16, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ish Smith (8) attempts a shot against Houston Rockets forward Kostas Papanikolaou (16) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ish Smith (8) attempts a shot against Houston Rockets forward Kostas Papanikolaou (16) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Oklahoma City Thunder

Watching the Houston-Oklahoma City was the worst way to spend my Sunday, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Typically, I’m all about that scoring, but seeing a game where the combined score is almost as much as the Lakers gave up in one game was a breath of fresh air for my eyes.

Of course, with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the game would have been a completely different story, but as they’re each out until at least December, the Thunder are in a very dangerous position of falling out of the playoff race in the West.

The Thunder are 3-8 through 11 games and are already losing ground in the conference. I know I seem like I’m being dramatic about the Thunder possibly missing the playoffs, but there’s a good chance Oklahoma City is going to have to go like 40-12 after Christmas to make the playoffs.

While that’s definitely possible with Durant and Westbrook, do the Thunder really want to gamble on Westbrook and Durant staying healthy over that stretch and likely playing about 40 minutes per game to ensure victories? I don’t know…

Solution: Trade Kendrick Perkins (expiring contract), one of their young players, and a draft pick for a player who can help take some of the pressure off Durant and Westbrook when they get back, like Jeff Green or Greg Monroe.

What Will Actually Happen: The Thunder won’t do anything. Durant and Westbrook will come back win just enough games to lock up the seventh or eighth spot in the West, and they’ll lose in the Conference Semifinals again. We know the Thunder aren’t going to spend the extra money or make the big move to actually try a run at the title, right?

Next: Rondo to the Hornets?

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