Fansided

5 reasons the Oklahoma City Thunder can win the NBA Championship

By Micah Wimmer

BROOKLYN, NY - DECEMBER 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Russell Westbrook #0 and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 5, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Thunder defeated the Nets 114-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - DECEMBER 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Russell Westbrook #0 and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 5, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Thunder defeated the Nets 114-112. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 8: Russell Westbrook #0 and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder stand for the National Anthem before the game against the LA Clippers on March 8, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 8: Russell Westbrook #0 and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder stand for the National Anthem before the game against the LA Clippers on March 8, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Star Power

In the playoffs, as rotations tighten, the value of having a star or two on your roster is higher than ever. Fortunately for the Thunder, they have two of the best players in the NBA in Paul George and Russell Westbrook. Both are perennial All-Stars and All-NBA level players who complement each other quite well. George covers Westbrook’s mistakes on defense, allowing Russ to freelance and hunt steals while the attention that both draw on offense creates opportunities for the other. Even in spite of his shooting woes this season, Westbrook remains one of the most impactful players in the league, able to fill up the box score any number of ways.

Next. Players facing the most pressure in the playoffs. dark

Yet this season, George has taken over as the Thunder’s most reliable player, averaging career highs in a bevy of categories including scoring, steals, rebounds, PER, and VORP. And the Thunder absolutely fall apart with him off the floor, going from plus 8 points per 100 possessions to minus 10 without him. A lot will be riding on the shoulders of George and Westbrook these playoffs — and if they fail to advance, they will have a lot of questions to answer — but if they play as well as they are capable of, they will give any playoff opponent a true battle.

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