The 2011 NBA Playoffs will feature some veteran teams who know how to get the job done in the postseason. But this year will also be a time where some of the younger teams in the league will be looking to make a statement that their time is now.
The Oklahoma City Thunder feel that this is their time to shine.
The Thunder clinched their first Northwest division crown since moving to Oklahoma City, and they will also finish with their best record since relocating from Seattle. They gave the Los Angeles Lakers a run for their money in the first round last year as the No. 8 seed, but this year will be different.
In the 2011 NBA Playoffs, the Thunder will get to host a first round series. They have locked down the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, and will most likely face the Denver Nuggets in the first round.
Currently, Oklahoma City holds a 2-1 series edge over Denver this season. The two will face off one more time in a playoff preview on Friday night. The Nuggets have been much better since they traded Carmelo Anthony, as they are now a more complete team. Raymond Felton gets to team with fellow former North Carolina Tar Heels point guard in Ty Lawson, and the team also has a solid frontcourt featuring Nene, Wilson Chadler and Danilo Galinari.
The Nuggets are basically the New York Knicks 2.0 following the big deadline deal. But is that enough to get past the Thunder?
Oklahoma City made a deadline deal of their own, acquiring Kendrick Perkins from the Boston Celtics. They gave up a little bit of offense in Jeff Green, but anyone who follows this team knows that it was mandatory that they get bigger, tougher and more physical inside.
Perkins satisfies all three requirements.
But this team can still score. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are one of the best scoring duos in the entire game, and they have gotten great production from James Harden and Serge Ibaka since the trade. Harden is one of the best sixth men in the game, and Ibaka is a blocking machine inside.
The one thing that could hurt the Thunder is that they are not necessarily deep on offense. Nick Collison can step in and play some defense in the paint, but offers little as far as scoring. Daequan Cook can knock down a few three pointers, but this team will not succeed if their big scorers cannot produce.
But when they are on, they are dangerous. Durant and Westbrook will pick things up in the playoffs, as long as Westbrook can cut down on his turnovers. With Perkins bringing playoff experience to a young team, this could be the year that the Thunder win a playoff series.
Some people are still quick to call this team a disappointment, yet I cannot possibly figure out their reasoning. Dave Del Grande of CBS Sports says in his latest power rankings that “If there had been six finalists instead of five, the Thunder — picked sixth in October — quite possibly would have landed a spot on the Most Disappointing ballot.”
Really?
Oklahoma City will finish the regular season as the fourth best team in the Western Conference, behind only the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. They have improved in wins in each of the last few seasons, and their team statistics are up all across the board. What exactly is so disappointing about this team?
Ask the Spurs when they eliminate them in the second round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs.
They will tell you all about disappointing.
For more on the 2011 NBA Playoffs, make sure to check out Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Shane DePutron, who takes a look at the NBA Playoffs 2011: The 5 Hottest Teams Heading Into the Postseason.