Even with Kevin Durant sidelined, life has been great for the Oklahoma City Thunder lately.
After the injury bug early on in the 2014-15 campaign threatened to derail their season, they’ve improbably surged back into a playoff spot. Russell Westbrook has put together a legitimate MVP campaign, posting a triple-double in five of his last six games and averaging a triple-double over his last 10 games (34.3 PPG, 11.4 APG, 10.2 RPG).
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The Thunder also added a ton of depth at the trade deadline. The two teams beneath them in the standings have the two most difficult remaining schedules and OKC looks as dangerous as anyone to come out the West at full strength.
But as we all know, this season isn’t just about making the playoffs for the Thunder; it’s about winning them.
Oklahoma City may seem like the favorite to sneak into the West’s final playoff spot over the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns, and Westbrook’s unbelievable hot streak has been a joy to watch. But they aren’t out of the woods just yet.
Here are five reasons to be slightly concerned about the Oklahoma City Thunder and their playoff aspirations.
Next: No. 5