While I don't recognize Seattle SuperSonic history as part of the Thunder franchise, I thought it would be interesting to compare this year's first NBA finalist with an NBA finalist in Sonic history. Since the Thunder aren't NBA champs yet, I didn't want to compare them to the 1978-79 Seattle SuperSonics who 33 years ago last Friday won the league title. Instead, I'll take a look at how they would match-up against the 1995-96 Seattle SuperSonics; the team that took the all-time winningest team in league history to 6 games.
Simple question: Who would win if the two teams played in a 7-game series? (Seattle has home-court since they had a higher winning percentage)
Point Guard: Gary Payton (SEA) vs. Russell Westbrook (OKC)
With his speed and athleticism, Westbrook is one of the hardest players to guard in the NBA. However, if there's anyone who could stop him, it's Payton, who won Defensive Player of the Year in the 1996 season (the only point guard ever to have done so), and forced Michael Jordan to 37% shooting from the field when they were matched-up in games 4-6. Westbrook probably would struggle a lot against Payton, but Payton would have his difficulties too. At 6'3, Westbrook only gives up an inch on Payton, giving "The Glove" less of an advantage in the post. As well, Westbrook is a pretty good defensive player himself. Don't expect extraordinary stats from either of the two.
Edge: Seattle
Shooting Guard: Hersey Hawkins (SEA) vs. Thabo Sefolosha (OKC)
Sefolosha is a terrific defensive player and can make the three-point shot. That would mean more if it weren't for the fact that Hawkins can do the same thing too, while scoring 15 points a game compared to Sefolosha's 5.
Edge: Seattle
Small Forward: Detlef Schrempf (SEA) vs. Kevin Durant (OKC)
As anyone who watched Game 6 of the SAS-OKC series, or as a matter of fact any game of the play-offs featuring the Thunder, Durant is very, very, very hard to guard. While Schrempf wasn't known as an extraordinary defender, I actually think he would give Durant some issues. Schrempf has the length and the versatility that could keep Durant a little more at bay, that I still think Durant would score an awful lot of points.
Edge: OKC
PF: Shawn Kemp (SEA) vs. Serge Ibaka (OKC)
The power forward match-up is a very intriguing match-up as you see two incredibly athletic big men. Kemp was one of the most explosive scorers at his position in 1996, while Ibaka is one of the best defensive players currently in the NBA. Ibaka's athleticism seemingly makes him a great player to defend against the likes of Kemp, but all may not be what it seems. In the 1996 season, Kemp shot 63% against the Denver Nuggets. What's so important about Denver? That team's defense was anchored by Dikembe Mutombo, a player very similar to Ibaka. I don't think Kemp should have too much of a problem.Edge: Seattle
C: Ervin Johnson (SEA) vs. Kendrick Perkins (OKC)
The center match-up is kind of a wash. Perkins means very little on the offensive end, so Johnson has the advantage there. Perkins is the better defensive player, except his defensive abilities is devalued because Johnson isn't that great of an offensive player himself.
Edge: Doesn't matter (maybe OKC, because Johnson didn't play as much during the playoffs)
Bench: Sam Perkins, Nate McMillan, Vincent Askew (SEA) vs. James Harden, Derek Fisher, Nick Collison (OKC)
I tend to feel that the best player off the bench usually determines the quality of the bench. Here, James Harden is easily the best bench player of the all whom I've listed. Fisher and Collison, though possessing unimpressive numbers, both do the little things that keep a team contending. Perkins, while good, was not a borderline All-Star like Harden is. McMillan had health issues throughout the season, and Askew was rather forgettable.
Edge: OKC
Coach: George Karl (SEA) vs. Scott Brooks (OKC)
Brooks has done a good job getting the best out of his young team, and he may someday go down as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. However, George Karl was a great coach back in 1996, and in retrospect, is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.
Edge: SEA
Conclusion
I think this series could go either way, as both teams consist of a "Big 3" and several solid bench players. However, what I think it'll come to is Seattle's defense. I'd expect Westbrook to struggle a lot against Payton, and Hawkins is a very competent defensive player against Harden. While Schrempf is merely an average defender, he does have the versatility to combat Durant, and as a team, the Sonics were ranked 2nd in the league in defense and should be able to slow Durant down. In this scenario, Seattle's 2nd ranked defense trumps OKC's 2nd ranked offense. On the other hand, OKC has a good, but not great, defense, and this relies a lot on Ibaka's defense. As I stated above, I don't expect Kemp to have much issue against Ibaka, so this negates the latter's one-on-one defense.
Adding to that, having a post players on the offensive end matters in a best-of-seven series. It's the big guys who you can count on to make shots on a more consistent basis, as sometimes jump shots just don't fall in. In Kemp, Schrempf, and Perkins, Seattle had three different guys who can create out of the post. On the other end, the Thunder have essentially no one. While Oklahoma City's offense and athleticism makes them a tough out, Seattle's defense and versatility made them a tough score.
Verdict: Seattle in 7
Credit: Mark Harrison, SeattleTimes
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