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5 NBA teams that could use some luck in the new year

By Dylan Hughes

Aug 1, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Team USA guard Paul George is carted off the floor on a gurney after suffering a lower leg injury during the USA Basketball Showcase at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 1, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Team USA guard Paul George is carted off the floor on a gurney after suffering a lower leg injury during the USA Basketball Showcase at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after a play against the Phoenix Suns during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after a play against the Phoenix Suns during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Oklahoma City Thunder

You know what really sucks? When the reigning league MVP has to start a season on the bench, in a nice suit and not a Thunder uniform for 17 games while recovering from an injury. And you know what sucks even more after that? When he returns, gets you used to the fact that he’s back, and then gets hurt again.

Yeah, thanks a lot, Kevin Durant.

Durant’s unfortunate bad luck at the end of 2014 needs to be left in the past, as Oklahoma City isn’t even a playoff team right now (17-17, 10th seed). While the emergence of Russell Westbrook has been fun to watch this season, he is not capable of carrying a team into the playoffs. Durant is, as he’s seemingly put the team on his back many times over his seven NBA seasons (will be eight after this season).

As Durant showed in his return from the ankle injury, he IS the man. After another six games of dressing exceptionally well, the MVP dropped 44 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists while Westbrook watched from the locker room (ejected). And in the following game, Durant tallied another 34 points and 8 rebounds.

If Durant can stay healthy, him doing what he does best (everything) along with Westbrook’s explosiveness should easily get the Thunder into the playoff race. What they could do as a lower seed is impossible to predict, but all that really matters in the West is getting in. If Durant stays healthy, they should be able to do that.

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