An offseason ended with the Thunder appearing as vulnerable since the Conference teams they were supposed to have a border on.
Anthony Morrow sprained his MCL, although kevin Durant’s fractured foot was the biggest blow off. An arm rolled, and Jeremy Lamb’s back flared up.
Injuries are part of every preseason and summertime slate, plus they are bad news for everyone. But for OKC, a team in position to take advantage of the Clippers’ advancement and San Antonio decline, maladies’ onrush was.
The window of the Thunder is by no means closed. Fully healthy, they’re a threat to knock absolutely anyone off. And if there are no lingering effects from the current laundry list of injuries (Durant’s in particular), they may even be favorites at the conference by the time the postseason rolls around.
At the same time, the playoff positioning of Oklahoma City could damage. Heading into the dance for a No. 4 seed leaves reaching the last round a whole lot harder. So Russell Westbrook Ibaka and second-year breakout candidate Steven Adams must compensate for their teammates’ production.
Its own tower is more shaky than anticipated, although OKC still belongs on the pedestal that is contending.

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