2013-14 NBA Bench Power Rankings

April 11, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Derek Fisher (6) looks on during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. The City Thunder defeated the Warriors 116-97. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

21. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder, once the consensus choice for most exciting team in the league and the anointed champions of “doing things right” as well as truth, justice, and the American way, suddenly find themselves on the defensive. Clay Bennett’s sweetheart relationship with David Stern has ruffled some feathers, the much-lamented manner the James Harden situation was dealt with has left rational thinkers with coulda woulda shoulda depression, and there is also the case of the near complete uselessness of Kendrick Perkins. As long as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are in their prime, the Thunder will remain nominal contenders, but it all seems a lot less rosy and fun than before.

The Thunder’s bench was once something to be feared. Players like Serge Ibaka and James Harden came into their own off that bench. Eric Maynor seemed ready to make a leap. Kevin Martin was once an unheralded scoring machine and he proved during his one season as the Thunder’s super-sub that he still had the knack for big nights. Only rugged Nick Collison remains from the best Thunder benches, the rest have been exiled (Harden, Maynor, Martin) or promoted (Ibaka). Reggie Jackson has had some great moments, and Collison remains solid, but the rest of the bench seems flimsy, a strange collection of raw young players and the decomposing presence of Derek Fisher, who will retire after his last shot at having more rings than Kobe. In short, Sam Presti’s much lauded duplication of San Antonio Spurs principles and tactics has failed to live up to the high bar they have consistently set with their terrifyingly intelligent, talented, and cost effective bench. Of course, you can throw this all out the window if you think Perry Jones III is the next Paul George just waiting to be unleashed. I’m on the record as believing in a few things: 1) evolution 2) Perry Jonese III is not the next Paul George.