The other night we saw something captivating in the NBA playoffs, something that had been in the making since late last season when a star point guard was lost due to injury and a raw talented one was given an opportunity. Reggie Jackson, had a career night last night, putting the Thunder on his twenty four year old back and carrying them to a 92-89 Game 4 overtime win in Memphis to even the series at two games a piece. This was the first time anybody other than Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook has led the team in scoring in a playoff game since James Harden accomplished that feat back in 2012. Jackson carried the load offensively on a night where Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the regular offensive leaders, combined to shoot 11 of 45. Jackson poured in 32 points, on 11 of 16 shooting from the floor, along with 9 rebounds.
When the Thunder are thought of in terms of an offensive unit you think of Serge Ibaka, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Eerily similar to the Big Three only a few short years ago in Boston. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce plus one, the plus one was a young Rajon Rando. A Rajon Rando who was thrown into the fire, brought along by those three cagey veterans and matured into an all-star point guard. With the unfortunate injury to Russell Westbrook late last season, Reggie Jackson was pressed into action and given the starting point guard duties. With this season and this years playoffs we're seeing the next Big Three plus one, the Big Three plus one 2.0 and the maturation of another young point guard only this one is more offensive minded.
Now, I'm not saying the Thunders Big Three plus one will turn out to be the Bostons Big Three plus one but the similarities are prevalent. However, the Boston Celtics seem to fit more seamlessly together as a unit with one of the most prolific knock down shooters in league history in Ray Allen, "The Big Ticket" who had proven to be one of the toughest big men in the league (offensively and defensively) with Kevin Garnett and one of the most clutch players in the NBA in Paul Pierce.
Are the Oklahoma City Thunder at that point with their Big Three plus one yet? No but they're on the right track. Serge Ibaka is a shot changer guarding the paint, averaging 3.4 blocks per game in his brief five year career where he is also averaging just about a double-double (14.3 pts. 9.8 rebs.). Russel Westbrook, an electrifying, devastatingly quick guard that can absolutely fill up a stat sheet. In his young six year career Westbrook has averaged 21 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds; the major concern is if he'll be able to remain healthy. Finally, KD-Kevin Durant who is the most prolific scorer in the NBA at this present time. Scoring titles in four out of the last five years, averaging an ungodly 27 points per game throughout his career, shooting 38% from beyond the arch and 51% inside of it. Durant also pitches in on the boards with 7 rebounds per game.
So will the OKC Thunder become the Boston Celtics circa 2007-2013? Only time will tell. What we do know is that the Thunder's Big Three plus one are market-ably more youthful than Bostons Big Three plus one. The average age of the Celtics during their championship run in 2007-2008 was 28.5 years of age. The average age of the OKC Thunder this season is 24 years of age. If this group stays together and matures together they will have an outstanding opportunity to potentially win multiple championships for years to come.
