Last place in the Western Conference at 3-12 is not where the Oklahoma City Thunder thought they'd be when they were planning out the season this summer. But injuries to stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook altered those plans drastically and put all championship aspirations on hold.
Fortunately, OKC may be getting an injection of some much needed life, as Westbrook could be cleared to return for Friday's game against the New York Knicks, The Oklahoman reports.
"I don't know," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said of Westbrook's return. "I just focus on his work that he put in today and just continue to build off that. He will get evaluated later on this week and then we can make some of those decisions later on."
Both Durant and Westbrook took part in Monday's practice, a positive sign for a franchise in desperate need of some good news.
"They looked good," Brooks said. "But no more than that. They're going to continue to go through this process, and when they're ready, 100 percent ready, they will play. But uintil then, nothing else we know of."
Despite the Thunder's abundance of talented youth, Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson have not been able to keep this team afloat. But when you're missing the reigning MVP and a three-time All-Star, a drop off is to be expected.
The eighth seed in the Western Conference won 49 games last season, which means the Thunder would have to go 45-21 the rest of the way to match that total. That number also disregards improvements from the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans in the bottom half of the conference. Even if Westbrook and Durant made speedy recovers with no lingering negative effects, that is an enormous expectation to live up to.
OKC fans may just have to face facts. The post-season likely isn't in the cards this year.
