NBA Playoffs: Thunder’s Russell Westbrook Out For The Season

The injuries continue to pile up in the NBA with numerous superstars going down during the regular season and the playoffs.

Before the NBA playoffs began last week, the NBA was already ravaged by injuries to some of the best players in the league. Arguably the biggest injury of the season was to Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles, who went down with a torn Achilles that ended his season , but Kobe wasn’t the only superstar to go down and alter the outlook for a playoff bound team.

Along with Kobe out for the year, Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls), Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics), David Lee (Golden State Warriors) and now Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) are stuck watching the postseason from home.

Although the Thunder are favored to make it back to the NBA Finals for a second consecutive season in Las Vegas odds, the San Antonio Spurs may ultimately be the team to represent the Western Conference this time around. Westbrook hadn’t missed a game throughout his entire basketball career going all the way back to his high school days.

Without Westbrook leading the way in the backcourt for the Thunder, Kevin Durant will be forced to step up in the first round series against the Houston Rockets. Despite the Thunder already favored to advance to the second round of the playoffs in Las Vegas odds, Oklahoma City may be facing an uphill battle without the perennial All-Star for the rest of the way.

Coming into Game 3 against the Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston, the Thunder have the two-game series lead, but may not be as dynamic offensively or defensively without Westbrook in the backcourt. Despite the loss of Westbrook, Oklahoma City will still be a force to be reckoned with moving forward and may still be able to go the distance.