Veteran F/C Etan Thomas has been buried on the bench this season through no fault of his own. It’s just that the Thunder don’t have any minutes available for him behind Jeff Green, Nenad Krstic, Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison. I know that it’s no consolation to Thomas himself to hear that he is valuable depth for the Thunder as he wants to play. The trading deadline is coming up so maybe the Thunder will move Thomas. He has played in 17 games (1 start) for the Thunder this season and he is averaging 16.1 minutes, 3.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

Jeff Green has been having a decent season for the Oklahoma City Thunder this year, but he has struggled with his outside shot.  After shooting a career high 45% from the field and 39% from three last season, he is only hitting 43% from the field and an ice-cold 29% from three-point land.  Green is an active and athletic player, and is averaging 14.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.0 steals.  His point-per-game average is down 2.5 points from last season though, and his poor outside shooting is the reason why.  Green does a lot of things well for the Thunder and is third on the team in scoring (behind Durant and Westbrook), but if he could find some more consistency with his outside shot it will help spread the defense and make things a lot easier for Kevin Durant.  Durant often has to put so much of the scoring burden on himself, and if he has an off night the Thunder are almost guaranteed to lose.  If he could just get a little more help from guys like Green it could help the Thunder take the next step and get themselves into the playoffs.

Starting point guard Russell Westbrook is really playing well for the Thunder so far this season. He has played in 40 games (all starts) this season for the Thunder and he is averaging 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Westbrook only has one real weakness in his game and that is that he is not a good shooter. He is shooting only 40% from the floor and 25.9% from three point range so far this season. Westbrook is the second leading scorer on the Thunder but they need him to take better shots. He is the point guard so he could just pass the ball more.

Kevin Durant has been a scoring machine all season long, but he has really been on fire as of late.  This season, Durant is averaging 28.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 48% from the field and 33% from three.  Well, in the last 10 games Durant is shooting a blistering 57% from the field and 44% from three, while averaging 32.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks.  The Thunder are 8-2 during Durant’s current hot streak and they have improved their record from 13-14 on December 23rd, to 21-16 today.  Durant has been putting up MVP caliber numbers, and if he can keep the Thunder in their winning ways you will definitely see them making some noise come playoff time.

Back-up center Etan Thomas is not getting the minutes needed to help the Thunder as he is behind both Nenad Kristic and Nick Collison at center. Thomas has played in 17 games (1 start) for the Thunder this season and he is averaging 16.1 minutes, 3.8 points, 3.4 rebounds an 0.8 blocked shots per game. If either Collison or Krstic get injured I think Thomas would step up and at the very least help the Thunder in both rebounding and on defense.