What Thunder play would you change?

Deadspin has a great question that’s going around: “If you could go back and change the outcome of one play in any sporting event, which would it be?”

I can think of about a billion when it comes to my favorites teams — damn you, Bartman — but naturally, the first thought is to apply this to the Thunder. Here’s my top five (feel free to tell me how incredibly dumb and wrong I am):

1. Patrick Beverley. Really, this might be No. 1 overall for me. The 2012-13 Thunder were an incredible team, and peaking at the right time. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were still just 24 years old, but with Kevin Martin on the bench, the Thunder posted 60 wins and a near historic margin of victory. They were No. 2 in offensive efficiency (110.2 points per 100, just 0.1 behind the Heat) and No. 3 in defensive efficiency.

The Spurs were really good themselves — won 58 games and had a MOV of +6.4 — and the Heat won 66 games. But it was obvious a trip back to the Finals was there for the taking. And had Beverley not crashed into Westbrook, the Thunder probably would’ve swept the Rockets, which would’ve been extra sweet, and all the post-Harden trade narratives might look a lot different.

Plus there’s more: Westbrook wouldn’t have missed 36 games last season and the Thunder might’ve won 65 games and sealed the top seed in the West, avoiding the Grizzlies and the Clippers which could’ve changed what happened with Serge Ibaka in Game 6 in LA

2. LeBron’s non-foul in Game 2.

It was a foul. No question about it. Did the official not see it, or just chose not to call it in that moment?

The Thunder controlled and dominated Game 1. They looked like the better team in the series. But a woeful start to Game 2 had them down 18-2 with 4:39 left in the first quarter. Eventually, the Thunder worked their way out of the hole to claw within 98-96 with 37 seconds left on a Durant 3. They got a stop, and with nine seconds left, Durant had a look from the left baseline to tie the game. LeBron reached in, hitting a part of Durant’s arm as he went up. No call, no tie game, no overtime.

We can’t know what would’ve happened in overtime. But we would know the Heat would’ve blown a seven-point lead with 53 seconds left and the Thunder would’ve had all the momentum in the world. And a win in Game 2 means the series would’ve been guaranteed to return to OKC, which would’ve meant a decent shot the Thunder could’ve won the title.

And what kind of dominoes would that have knocked over? Would Harden have re-signed for less? Would the Thunder have maxed him out more willingly? A lot of what-ifs can be tied to that no-call.

3. Manu Ginobili’s 3 in Game 6.

Or Durant’s 3 in overtime that hit front rim. Or Tim Duncan’s turnaround that rolled all over the rim. There were 15 plays that had they gone a different way in Game 6, the Thunder would’ve forced a Game 7.

They might’ve gotten blown out. Or Durant could’ve produced a legendary Game 7 performance punching a return trip to the Finals to play a vulnerable Heat team.

4. Gasol’s tip.

The Thunder weren’t winning a title in 2009. They weren’t even going to beat the Lakers in Game 7. But man, it would’ve been fun to have see them try, right?

5. Westbrook’s free throws in Game 4 against the Mavericks. With 5:05 left, Kevin Durant hit a 3 to put the Thunder up 15, and did the discount double-check. The Thunder were well on their way to knotting the series up at 2-2 with the Mavericks, leaving an all-important Game 5 to swing the Western Finals.

Instead, Dirk was insane, and the Mavs came back to outscore OKC 17-2 over the final five minutes. But with 2:11 left, Westbrook missed two free throws that would’ve steadied the Thunder and put them back up nine. Dirk immediately hit another jump to cut the lead to five, and the collapse was then inevitable. The Thunder lost in overtime, and then lost a tight Game 5. What happens if Westbrook makes both those free throws? Do the Thunder have a chance to win the series? Could they have beat the Heat?