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

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a brand new squad after acquiring Carmelo Anthony and Paul George in the offseason. Still, there are a few obstacles in the way for them to be contenders.

The departure of Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors left the Oklahoma City Thunder grasping at straws at the beginning of the 2016-17 season. The Thunder still made the playoffs after going 47-35 in the regular season, finishing sixth in the Western Conference.

Now, they’re back to NBA title contention with their acquisitions of Carmelo Anthony and Paul George, two top players in the league. Anthony and George fell out of sorts with their respective clubs and were granted their wish of going to a better destination.

Paired alongside Russell Westbrook, the Thunder should do great things in 2017-18. Westbrook is coming off a season where he averaged 31.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game, becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double. He also broke Robertson’s record for most triple-doubles in a season by recording 42 of them.

Westbrook has some new sidekicks at his disposal now as he looks to take down Durant and the Warriors this upcoming season. They’ve got the nucleus for a run at an NBA championship, but there will be obstacles.

Here’s a look at five obstacles in the way of the Oklahoma City Thunder to contending for a title in 2017-18.