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OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: SEASON PREDICTIONS

Season Predictions

Regular Season: When superstars PG/SG Russell Westbrook and SF/PF Kevin Durant had to miss the beginning of the season and their team was lead to a dismal start in their absence, there were serious questions over whether this team would make the playoffs, questions that lingered up until a couple weeks ago and were even rekindled after Durant had to miss even more time. Not anymore. Westbrook has been playing like an MVP, Durant has been playing like a reigning MVP (funny how that works) when healthy, star PF/C Serge Ibaka has stepped up, and numerous trade acquisitions this year have revamped what used to be a very weak bench. Though their record and seeding might not indicate it, due to injuries and an impossible conference respectively, Oklahoma City is as much of a title contender as anybody.

Projected Record: 48-34

Playoffs Round One
Golden State Warriors (#1) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (#8)

As they are the lowest seed in the best conference, the Thunder have to play the best team in the best conference in the first round. However, the Warriors’ regular season may just be only that: regular season success. As great as “The Splash Brothers” (superstar PG/SG Stephen Curry and SG/SF Klay Thompson) have been, nobody on the team really has any playoff success. In addition, many players are injury-prone, such as Curry and C Andrew Bogut among others, and getting one come playoff time would be a huge blow. On the flip side, Westbrook, Durant, and Ibaka have all had a lot of success together, and now with a revamped bench, they have to be considered the favorites, despite the difference in seeding. This series could easily go the other way, but my money’s on the team with more star power and more postseason success.

Series Prediction: Oklahoma City wins 4-3

Playoffs Round Two
Portland Trail Blazers (#4) vs. Oklahoma City (#8)

Another tough test for the Thunder, as the Blazers feature a couple of superstars of their own in PG Damian Lillard and PF/C LaMarcus Aldridge. Westbrook has the slight edge over Lillard, and it’ll be interesting to see if Ibaka can limit Aldridge more than SF/SG Nicolas Batum can limit Durant, though the answer is likely a slight yes. Unlike last series, what will really win this one for Oklahoma City is their bench. Outside of SG Arron Afflalo, Portland is really lacking quality players behind a very impressive starting five, and as discussed above in “regular season”, the Thunder are not, thanks to multiple trades. Even though Westbrook and Durant will likely outshine Lillard and Aldridge, Oklahoma City is going to need help from their bench if they want to win this series.

Series Prediction: Oklahoma City wins 4-2

Playoffs Round Three (Conference Finals)
Houston Rockets (#3) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (#8)

My pick for MVP, superstar SG James Harden, returns to face his former team, and along with him brings a flurry of defensive studs: F Trevor Ariza, PF Josh Smith, superstar C Dwight Howard, as well as a ridiculous bench revamped at the trade deadline. He’s facing his former teammates in Westbrook, Durant, and Ibaka, as well as a bench that was also improved at the deadline. So how can the Rockets win this series? Same way they do every other: stop everyone else on defense and let Harden go to work on offense while not letting the opposing team double-team him. The rest of the starting five are all excellent defenders, and Ariza and Beverley should do a lot to contain Westbrook and Durant while Smith, Howard, and the rest of a very fearsome frontcourt rotation should be able to control the paint. This means more driving lanes for Harden, and as you can’t really double-team him as everyone else is either a good shooter or named Dwight Howard, you can barely even hope to contain him based on how good he is. Houston’s bench at least matches up with the Thunder’s and they have the same amount of playoff experience and team chemistry as Oklahoma City does as well. Because of this, if Westbrook and Durant are held in check, Harden should be able to get revenge against his former team.

Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-3
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