Oklahoma City Thunder 2012-13 NBA Preview
Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com
Oklahoma City Thunder
2011-12 Vitals:
47-19, 1st in Northwest Division, 2nd in Western Conference
103.1 PPG/96.9 OPP PPG
2012-13 Roster:
Cole Aldrich – C
Nick Collison – PF
Daequan Cook – SG
Kevin Durant – SF
James Harden – G
Lazar Hayward – F
Serge Ibaka – PF
Reggie Jackson – G
Perry Jones – SF
DeAndre Liggins – G
Eric Maynor – PG
Daniel Orton – PF
Kendrick Perkins – C
Andy Rautins – G
Thabo Sefolosha – SG
Hasheem Thabeet – C
Hollis Thompson – SF
Russell Westbrook – PG
Offseason Additions:
Perry Jones, Hasheem Thabeet, Hollis Thompson
Offseason Subtractions:
None
Projected Starters:
PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Thabo Sefolosha
SF – Kevin Durant
PF – Serge Ibaka
C – Kendrick Perkins
Season Outlook:
The Oklahoma City Thunder return much of the same roster that got to the 2012 NBA Finals. They boast two of the best scorers in the league with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and were responsible for knocking the San Antonio Spurs out of the playoffs after their 20-game winning streak.
It’s not a question of if the Thunder will make the playoffs, but how high of a seed they will have. The Western Conference is stacked, but they’re still an elite team that will battle with the Los Angeles Lakers for home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
James Harden is in a contract year and if that’s not motivation for him to break out, his poor performance in the Finals should be.
Best-Case Scenario:
The Thunder finish first in the Western Conference and meet the Los Angeles Lakers in the Conference Finals. They get past the Lakers with their youth and athleticism to meet the Miami Heat in a rematch of the 2012 Finals. James Harden shows up this time around and the Thunder win the NBA championship.
Worse-Case Scenario:
The 2011-12 season was extremely healthy for the Thunder but it hits them hard in 2012-13. Durant and/or Westbrook miss extended time and Harden feels the pressure of his impending free agency. Perkins continues his regression and the Thunder make the playoffs as the No. 4 seed, only to be upset by the by the Denver Nuggets in round one.
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