Positive Injury News Long Overdue For Oklahoma City Thunder
By Brian Anderson
@MrAnderson035
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been doused in bad news since Kevin Durant injured his foot and we learned that he’d miss more than a month of basketball. Since then things have gotten a lot worse, losing Russell Westbrook, Jeremy Lamb, Mitch McGary and Perry Jones to injuries. With a weakened lineup, the Thunder have hobbled to a 1-4 record to start the 2014-15 NBA season.
Today marked the first time OKC got some positive news. It is being reported that Lamb will return to the Thunder lineup tonight when the team takes on the surging Memphis Grizzlies. The addition to the roster will surely help, but the Grizzlies have looked like one of the league’s best teams thus far. Lamb didn’t look all that great over the summer and throughout the preseason, but we all know he possesses the tools to become a valued piece to the Thunder’s success going forward.
In addition to the good news, it appears that Jones and Anthony Morrow will also be returning to action soon. Morrow was brought in as a free agent this summer and is an above average shooter who lit it up during the preseason. He’ll definitely help OKC try to get back above the .500 mark before Durant and Westbrook get back on the floor. To add to the good news, Durant is now out of his walking boot, which is an enormous relief for the Thunder and their best player. Sitting at 1-4, the Thunder’s chances of making the playoffs are slipping quickly. If they’re going to be able to make a push, then things have to start getting better now and not a moment later.
We will soon get a preview to just how Lamb’s return will help improve this depleted OKC team. He’s not the savior for the Thunder, but he’ll be able to improve on OKC’s horrible offense here in the early part of the season. No one can disagree when I say that more scoring is a step in the right direction. It’ll be an upset if the Thunder manage to overcome the Grizzlies, but it’ll be a refreshing sight if they can make it a close game after being destroyed on several occasions.
Time is the only thing that will help this Thunder team return to the NBA Championship contenders we’re all used to. In a month or so, they’ll be reeling off win after win. For now, everyone just has to remain patient and hopeful that this team will fight through the adversity and lift themselves to yet another playoff berth.
Brian Anderson is an NBA writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrAnderson035 “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your networkon Google.
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