How is everyone picking them to be #2 now?
They contended with the Lakers in the playoffs and lost in all but one of their regular season meets. If it wasn't for that I believe everyone would rate them again at 8th or 7th at best.
It's called youth and natural progression. Players develop rapidly in their first five to seven years before peaking usually. People are expecting Durant and Westbrook plus their other young players to maintain their trajectory. Plus they were five games out of the 2 seed last year iirc.
It's not complicated really.
and they won 7 games less than the NBA ChampionsHow is everyone picking them to be #2 now?
They contended with the Lakers in the playoffs and lost in all but one of their regular season meets. If it wasn't for that I believe everyone would rate them again at 8th or 7th at best.
New Orleans went from 10th in 2006-07 to 2nd in 2007-08 in still a very highly compe ive Western Conference. The development of a great player like Durant and having things just going their way in terms of staying healthy and getting lucky bounces in a few games can make a drastic difference.
I personally don't think Oklahoma City is ready to make that huge of a leap, but it's not a ridiculous prediction for some people to think they will.
Good point sons, and if not for Gasol they probly would've had the 1 seed
I like their coach and Durant. They still need 1 or 2 veteran leaders and Westbrook to take it up a couple of notches to really contend.
All good points in this thread, but outside of the fact they still have major room for growth, there simply isn't a huge gap between the 2nd seed and the 8th seed in the West. The Thunder were a tip in away from forcing a game 7 against LA, and the Suns were a tip in away from an OT that could have taken a 3-2 series lead against LA. Even if OKC got the 2nd seed and met LA in the conference finals the same results would likely ensue.
The Playoff-picture in the West behind the Lakers has been damn close for 3 years now.
2009 2nd Seed 55 W, 8th 50 W
2008 2nd Seed 54 W, 8th 48 W
2007 2nd Seed 56 W, 8th 50 W
We'll see if that finally changes in the last season before the lockout.
Which means that the Mavs could have taken out the Spurs for the Hornets.Good point sons, and if not for Gasol they probly would've had the 1 seed
Dont forget that Durant only gets better
Adjustments will be made off the template struck by the Lakers. We'll see if the Thunder are able to then readjust, or, have found their static.
It won't.
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