Oklahoma City Thunder 2017 Season Preview
Russell Westbrook stepped up last year without Kevin Durant. Now Oklahoma City needs to put more pieces around Westbrook.
Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Posted on 3/6/2016.
The Oklahoma City Thunder struggled early last year with Kevin Durant out for half of the season. Adding shooting guard Dion Waiters who only averaged 8 points per game in Cleveland before blossoming in Oklahoma City along with former Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter who averaged a career best 15.5 points per game.
Oklahoma City's starting five featured Russell Westbrook at point guard, Dion Waiters at shooting guard, Kevin Durant at small forward, Serge Ibaka at power forward, and Enes Kanter at center.
Oklahoma City has the starting five to make a deep playoff run if everyone stays healthy for the first time since 2013. The problem is that the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors also possess outstanding starting fives.
Former Florida Gators Mens Basketball Coach Billy Donovan, who won back-to-back National Championships with Joakim Noah and Al Horford at Florida in 2006 and 2007 is now the new head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Donovan wants the Thunder to keep scoring consistently while focusing more on defensive fundamentals.
A part of me has doubts that the Thunder remain so productive on offense if they focus more on defense. At the same time, the Thunder do need someone who puts a big emphasis on defensive fundamentals. Donovan should win a playoff series wit this squad. I cannot see the Thunder getting to the Western Conference Finals with this squad despite the massive improvement only because there is so much competition in the Western Conference. I have no doubt that the Thunder win the Northwest Division in the Western Conference.
Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction
Our starting 5 predictions segment will feature a brief one paragraph prediction from 5 of our basketball analysts at Draft Utopia.
The Utopia Of Sports
