Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 keys to contending in 2017-18

The Oklahoma City Thunder have finished their Media Day and now look toward the 2017-18 season, where they hope to take the league by storm with their new additions.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have added Carmelo Anthony and Paul George. Those two, combined with Russell Westbrook, will create a new and exciting Big Three for the Thunder as they look like serious contenders in the West.

The Thunder have scoring combined with defense in the right places. Everybody is expecting this team to contend in 2017-18. OKC is hoping their season is different from last season, when they were booted out of the playoffs after winning just one game against the Houston Rockets in the first round.

PG-13 and Melo are on the best team they hasveever played on, on paper at least. Only Westbrook — while playing with Kevin Durant — experienced an NBA Finals, which they lost. The Thunder are hoping their fortunes are changed with this team.

All three players are coming off seasons where they were the focal points of their respective teams. Now they have joined forces and with all they have to prove, nothing but a championship will be expected.

They have role players like Patrick Patterson and Raymond Felton, who were signed during free agency, to help the team’s areas of need. Felton helps out with their backup point guard problem with his experience and production, while Patterson helps out with 3-point shooting, depth and playing high pick-and-roll defense.

As you can see, this team is loaded with star power and role players and that it is looking like this team has a real shot to contend in the playoffs this year. Here are the five biggest keys to doing so.