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5 Teams With The Most To Prove In 2016-17

By Carter Johnson

Mar 16, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a three point basket against the Boston Celtics in the second half at TD Garden. Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Celtics 130-109. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a three point basket against the Boston Celtics in the second half at TD Garden. Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Celtics 130-109. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 27, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) celebrate after a play agains tth Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) celebrate after a play agains tth Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Oklahoma City Thunder

There was perhaps no one team that suffered more loss than the Oklahoma City Thunder this offseason (though Miami Heat fans may beg to differ).

In addition to the loss of their founding superstar and first face of the franchise in Kevin Durant, the Thunder also lost significant contributors in forward Serge Ibaka and guard Dion Waiters.

After years of being a perennial title contender out West, it appears the team’s days of competing for championships are over.

But don’t completely count the Thunder out.

They still have a supernova of a franchise player and a top-five player in this league in Russell Westbrook at the helm, who’s also coming off of arguably the best year of his career with averages of 23.5 points, 10.4 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals a game in the 2015-16 season to go along with a record-tying 18 triple-doubles.

Despite the losses of Ibaka and Waiters, Westbrook’s still got a pretty substantial supporting cast that includes blossoming center Steven Adams, double-double machine Enes Kanter, Swiss Army Knife Andre Roberson and explosive two-way guard Victor Oladipo.

Westbrook has always had a “me against the world” type-persona on the court and you can bet it will be in full force this season as he sets out to prove to the world that he can lead this team to the postseason without his former co-star.

In addition to that, fans can be sure that the team will face immense pressure to succeed in the first year of the Russell Westbrook era as it very well could be the last if the Thunder don’t play up to par, with the star point guard being set to hit free agency himself in 2017.

Next: The Dynasty Continues?