Oklahoma City Thunder Season Preview – NBA Predictions
After making it to the Finals the year before the Thunder came up short last year. For some they are still the team of the future but they are more than ready to win big now. As good as they are it is still about consistency. Some nights they look great and others they look average.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Western Conference
2012-2013 Record: 60-22
Odds to win 2014 Title: 8/1
Odds to win Conference: 7/2 from [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
OKC Thunder
It is a long season to get through to prove themselves in the playoffs again.
Key Losses:
SG Kevin Martin – So obviously not James Harden. He never really fit in or was productive like they wanted. His days of being very good are long in the past.
Top Newcomers:
C Steven Adams – The long rookie probably would have been wise to stay in school but the pressure is off for him to become something quickly in the NBA on a team with such high end talent.
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F Andre Roberson – This generation’s Shawn Marion, he is a supreme athlete with a nose for the ball. He will find a role and be a contributor because he is a fantastic rebounder and defender.
Top Players:
F Kevin Durant – The best scorer in the league. Not as complete as some other top players but he has proven to be reliable in the clutch and still young enough to add parts to his game.
PG Russell Westbrook – Not the prototype but an amazing wing man for Durant. On the nights KD is off he can more than fill the gap and is a high level defensive player. He needs to be healthy or this team can look pretty average.
F Serge Ibaka – A super athlete and no one has more blocks over the last three seasons. The more his offensive game continues to grow the more dangerous the Thunder are. [ad-6571516]
The Thunder have a fantastic starting lineup featuring two of the best at their respective positions in Durant and Westbrook. In the middle Kendrick Perkins makes sure nobody pushes them around and Ibaka swats shots away. The weakest link is at shooting guard where Thabo Sefalosha has never really lived up to his draft slot.
This is a really active and athletic club and I like their draft picks for what they can add if given the chance.
Strengths:
When OKC needs a bucket they can go to two of the best one on one offensive players in the league. Westbrook can always get to the rack and KD has every shot in the book and is quicker and longer than you realize. This team is built to score and play in the flow. Even though their key players are young they also play with great confidence.
Weaknesses:
The Thunder lack that one great shooter that can open up the floor and put nails into the coffin of the opposition. They are certainly not the only ones but I would love to see a Ray Allen type or even a Kyle Korver floating around the perimeter.
Situations to Look For:
OKC was great in the regular season last season so they have winning records in most situations but they weren’t a great spread team. Despite being in a small market their stars make them a bit inflated at the sportsbook.
Avoid the Thunder in underdog roles as it doesn’t appear to bring the best out of them.
Including playoffs they were 3-8 ATS as an underdog last season. Also, be wary of when they are playing the East where a 70% winning moneyline percentage translates into just 53% against the spread.
