NBA: Grading each team’s 2014-2015 season

INC. <p>Well, things didn’t quite go according to plan in Oklahoma City.</p> <p>Kevin Durant, the reigning NBA MVP, appeared in just 27 games as a result of injury, and even presumptive MVP candidate Russell Westbrook (66 games) and Serge Ibaka (64 games) have battled injury woes through this season. As a result, it is virtually impossible to evaluate the Thunder on the whole, and it is borderline amazing that they are in the playoff hunt.</p> <p>Westbrook has been a cyborg throughout the year, averaging 28.0 points, 8.6 assists and 7.3 rebounds with an endless parade of triple-doubles, and if the Thunder fall short of the playoffs, it won’t be his fault. Still, this was a team that was supposed to be in firm contention for the top seed in the West, and all hope of that was dashed along with Durant’s foot ailment.</p> <p>The Enes Kanter experiment is ongoing, Dion Waiters has replaced Reggie Jackson as the maddening guard, and the frontcourt could be jammed moving forward. Beyond all of that, though, Kevin Durant’s absence looms, and the Thunder can’t be graded unless a steep curve exists.</p>. 2nd. Northwest Division, Western Conference. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER