Oklahoma City Thunder on the brink of elimination

Last night, the Oklahoma City Thunder once again lost to the Utah Jazz, this time by a score of 113 - 96. With the victory, the Utah Jazz now have a commanding lead, 3 - 1, in the best of seven game series.

In the beginning of the season, even the beginning of the series, a series win by the Jazz seemed unthinkable. The Thunder have arguably the best trio of players on a team in reigning League MVP Russell Westbrook, perennial All-Star Paul George and previous "Face of the New York Knicks" and former All-Star Carmelo Anthony. All the Jazz had was defensive stopper Rudy Gobert, journeyman Point Guard Ricky Rubio and first round pick Donovan Mitchell.

When the Thunder won game one, it looked like a Thunder series win was a foregone conclusion. But the Jazz have now won the past three games, the last two by double digits, and has all basketball fans scratching their heads. Maybe this three-headed monster just isn't any good.

The Thunder did struggle for quite a bit of the season trying to figure out how to get enough shots for all three of their stars. Last season, Westbrook did it all. He averaged a Tripe Double (that means more than 10 in three different categories), but decided to get his teammates more involved with the addition of George and Anthony. At the end of the season, when it looked like the Thunder might miss the playoffs, they turned it on full force and finished with the #4 seed in the conference.

Russell Westbrook hasn't looked like the player of old in this series. He looks tired. Carmelo Anthony isn't making shots and Paul George has had a respectable series, but hasn't taken over games like he used to with the Indiana Pacers.

For the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell has looked like a superstar. In game four, Mitchell had 33 points and 7 rebonds. In game 3, he had 22 points and 11 Rebounds. Eleven Rebounds for a Shooting Guard is not a common occurrence. Rudy Robert has owned the paint against the Thunder's Center Steven Adams and Ricky Rubio is averaging 18 points, 8 Rebounds and 8 Assists. That foregone conclusion looks like it has flipped and unless a miracle happens, the Thunder will be starting their offseason early and the Jazz will be off to the next round.

What does this mean for the Thunder? We asked the same thing two years ago when the Thunder blew a 3 - 1 lead against the eventual Finals runner-up Golden State Warriors. After that season, ownership did nothing to improve the team and they did not field a good team. They will be going into this offseason with more questions. Will Paul George leave via Free Agency for another team or will the Thunder do everything they can to re-sign him? Do they keep Carmelo Anthony and his bloated contract or do they release him and looking for a cheaper, comparable player? Will Russell Westbrook be content playing with a bunch of players that he knows won't get him to a championship. So many questions and so little answers.

All I know is I do not envy the Thunder ownership. What looked like a possible Championship team now looks like it is on the brink of another rebuild.