10 Thunder Playoff Observations Paired With Depressing Grunge Songs From The 1990s…

10:45 AM EDT on May 16, 2013

Well, that sucked. You can't say we didn't see it coming. I know we all hoped the Thunder could advance in the playoffs without Westbrook, but that's all it was; a hope. Deep down, we could see this team was in over its head. They didn't have the depth, system, flexibility or composure to beat a upper-echelon team in a 7-game series.

Since everyone's probably mopey, sad and gloomy this morning, I thought it would be fitting to match some Thunder playoff observations with depressing grunge-era songs from the 1990s. Not only is it great therapy, but maybe it will piss of Macklemore and all his fellow trolls from Seattle. I love being passive aggressive.

Here we go:

1. Hearing About Russell Westbrook's Knee Injury

Song: "Fell on Black Days"

Band: Soundgarden

Pertinent Lyrics: "What'soever I've feared has come to life..."

I guess you can sign me up for the "I know it's shitty that it took a freak injury to make realize this, but I now fully appreciate Russell Westbrook's basketball ability and importance to the Oklahoma City Thunder" support group. I promise not to criticize him ever again...at least until he takes a 20-foot pull up jumper with 18-seconds left on the shot clock.

2. Serge Ibaka's Cold Shooting

Song: Down In A Hole

Band: Alice in Chains

Pertinent Lyrics: "Down in a hole, feelin' so small. Down in a hole, losin' control."

After he missed that game tying lay-up in Houston, Serge's confidence and jump shot fell into a deep dark cauldron of dispair and sadness. You could see it on his face. Hopefully he'll be able to pull himself out of it by the start of next season.

3. Kevin Martin's Disappearing Act

Song: Any Creed Song

Band: Creed

Pertinent Lyrics: Any lyrics by Creed

I couldn't think of a song depressing enough to describe K-Mart's playoff performance. Instead, just pick any shitty song by the shittiest "grunge" band of all time.

4. Kendrick Perkins Doing Anything

Song: The Big Empty

Band: Stone Temple Pilots

Pertinent Lyrics: "Too much walking shoes worn thin. Too much trippin' and my soul's worn thin.

I know the media will say Kendrick plays good defense and sets quality screens, which I'm sure he does, but those two assets are off-set by the bone headed plays, turnovers, and a post up game that's uglier than Jim Traber.

5. Kevin Durant Being Quadruple Teamed

Song: "Wonderwall"

Band: Oasis

Pertinent Lyrics: "Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you. By now you shoulda somehow, realized what you gotta do.

Technically not a grunge song, but who cares. Kevin Durant can't do anything wrong. After all, he's our Wonderwall.

6. Scott Brooks' Coaching Decisions

Song: Nutshell

Band: Alice In Chains

Pertinent Lyrics: "We chase misprinted lies. We face the path of time. And yet I fight...and yet I fight...This battle all alone. No one to cry to. No place to call home."

Okay, so maybe those lyrics are more about heroin addiction than bad coaching. I went with this song because my original choice – Man in the Box – wasn't depressing enough. You need a really sad song to summarize some of the decisions Brooks made in the Memphis series, and the most depressing song by the most depressing band of the grunge era is a good one to go with.

7. Kevin Durant Not Being Able To Close Down The Stretch

Song: Over Now

Band: Alice In Chains

Pertinent Lyrics: "Yeah, it's over now, but I can breathe somehow."

For the Thunder to beat the Grizzlies, they needed "Kid Clutch" to live up to his nickname. He didn't.

I selected three songs for the most upsetting part of the playoffs...

8. Watching James Harden Play for the Rockets:

A. For the Heartbroken Thunder Fan

Song: Black

Artist: Pearl Jam

Pertinent Lyrics: "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life. I know you'll be a sun... in somebody else's sky, but why, why, why can't it be...can't it be mine?"

B. For the Bitter Thunder Fan...