2012 OKC Thunder vs 2025 OKC Thunder

[1987_Lakers]

Who wins in a 7 game series?

[AlternativeAcc.]

The one without Westbrick.

But seriously this team is way deeper. No question on this one.

[1987_Lakers]

The one without Westbrick.

But seriously this team is way deeper. No question on this one.

I would probably go with 2025 as well, but that 2012 team was no joke.

One of the most shocking outcomes for me as a fan was watching OKC in 2012 win 4 straight against the Spurs after being down 0-2 to start the series. The Spurs that season were juggernauts. Started the playoffs with a 10-0 record, many people including myself at least had them making the Finals that year.

[SouBeachTalents]

You could make a valid argument the current OKC Big 3 is as good, if not better than the 2012 one, Williams is much more conducive to winning than Westbrook is, Holmgren is unlikely to disappear like Harden does every single year in the playoffs, and SGA and 2012 KD are both in the same tier in the league, both consensus top 2 guys. You add in the insane depth the current team has, I would go with them.

The 2012's team run was far more impressive though, they knocked off the 2 previous champs with ease, then came back from 2-0 on a Spurs team on a 20 game win streak that would go on to win the conference, and nearly the title, the next 2 years. And the Heat take an absolute dump on the Pacers.

[highwhey]

You could make a valid argument the current OKC Big 3 is as good, if not better than the 2012 one, Williams is much more conducive to winning than Westbrook is, Holmgren is unlikely to disappear like Harden does every single year in the playoffs, and SGA and 2012 KD are both in the same tier in the league, both consensus top 2 guys. You add in the insane depth the current team has, I would go with them.

The 2012's team run was far more impressive though, they knocked off the 2 previous champs with ease, then came back from 2-0 on a Spurs team on a 20 game win streak that would go on to win the conference, and nearly the title, the next 2 years. And the Heat take an absolute dump on the Pacers.

the big 3 sure i guess. but the overall team is far better and the big 3 are a much better fit, for one, kd/russ/harden are all wings/guards, their positions/playstyle overlapped. this current team's big 3 is so well balanced it works perfectly. plus they have defensive specialists and their overall defensive depth is deep. who was 2012's defensive specialist? sefalosha?

[1987_Lakers]

the big 3 sure i guess. but the overall team is far better and the big 3 are a much better fit, for one, kd/russ/harden are all wings/guards, their positions/playstyle overlapped. this current team's big 3 is so well balanced it works perfectly. plus they have defensive specialists and their overall defensive depth is deep. who was 2012's defensive specialist? sefalosha?

Ibaka. Even though I always felt he was overrated defensively.

[gengiskhan]

3 Season MVPs

VS

1 Season MVP.

[SouBeachTalents]

the big 3 sure i guess. but the overall team is far better and the big 3 are a much better fit, for one, kd/russ/harden are all wings/guards, their positions/playstyle overlapped. this current team's big 3 is so well balanced it works perfectly. plus they have defensive specialists and their overall defensive depth is deep. who was 2012's defensive specialist? sefalosha?

Yep, that's a point I meant to include, the current Big 3 is far more cohesive than the 2012 one. Once you have a player like SGA/KD, Williams & Chet bring far more value than Westbrook & Harden do.

[highwhey]

Ibaka. Even though I always felt he was overrated defensively.

forgot about ibaka, if i remember he was just a good shot blocker right?

Yep, that's a point I meant to include, the current Big 3 is far more cohesive than the 2012 one. Once you have a player like SGA/KD, Williams & Chet bring far more value than Westbrook & Harden do.

yep, they fill out those positions of need very well. sam presti deserves a lot of credit here, building a team like this requires a lot of prudence and luck.

[tpols]

Yep, that's a point I meant to include, the current Big 3 is far more cohesive than the 2012 one. Once you have a player like SGA/KD, Williams & Chet bring far more value than Westbrook & Harden do.

As much as I like to hate on westbrick some of yall are tripping. In his prime he was definitely better than Jalen Williams. By a considerable amount. And KD > SGA. This current team is only better because of their depth. They have no weaknesses to pick on like that baby thunder team, but that 2012 team had more top end talent.

[1987_Lakers]

forgot about ibaka, if i remember he was just a good shot blocker right?

Yea, insane shot blocker and was an overall positive on the defensive end, but not the best post defender, his overall basketball IQ was lacking in general in his OKC days. I remember Nick Collison being the better man to man post defender of the two.

[highwhey]

Yea, insane shot blocker and was an overall positive on the defensive end, but not the best post defender, his overall basketball IQ was lacking in general in his OKC days. I remember Nick Collison being the better man to man post defender of the two.

damn you're taking me back haha, was a fan of nick collison, just solid overall.

[1987_Lakers]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...ed-to-this-guy

[SouBeachTalents]

As much as I like to hate on westbrick some of yall are tripping. In his prime he was definitely better than Jalen Williams. By a considerable amount. And KD > SGA. This current team is only better because of their depth. They have no weaknesses to pick on like that baby thunder team, but that 2012 team had more top end talent.

Westbrook is for sure more talented and will put up much better production, but when I already have a top 2 player/30 ppg scorer? I would honestly rather have an all around guy like Williams than Westbrook.

And you could definitely argue current SGA is better than 23 year old KD, who outside of scoring really hadn't developed the other parts of his game yet.

[90sgoat]

2012 has the perfect team to beat the 2025.

Durant would rain buckets on Caruso in the midrange. Harden would flop his way around Dort or shoot stepback 3s in the face of Shai. Westbrook would run up and down the floor to match them. Adams would bully ball Chet. Ibaka would cover on defense.

People forget how good that 2012 team was and how they were a few bad calls from going 7 games against the Heatles.