Oklahoma City Thunder: 2018-19 NBA season preview

Best-case scenario

Russell Westbrook and Paul George lead the Thunder to a championship, upsetting the Warriors in the conference finals in the process. Andre Roberson goes 12-for-12 from the free throw line and Westbrook hits the series-clincher over Kevin Durant’s outstretched fingertips.

Okay, maybe that last part was a bit much, but in all fairness, this team has all the pieces of a championship contender. In order to get there they will need to stay healthy and develop good chemistry with the new arrivals. Schroder will have to accept a much more limited role than he surely would like, Noel will need a breakout season and Westbrook and George will have to do a better job down the stretch in close games.

In addition to all the above, head coach Billy Donovan will have to do more than just verbally vouch for his team during the postgame press conferences. He has coached too much talent to not come away with a title. He will have to be better, and that especially means giving his team more direction late in games when things start to get out of control.

Worst-case scenario

Westbrook tries to do too much (again), Paul George chokes when his team needs him most (again), Andre Roberson gets hurt (again), and the Thunder suffer a disappointing first round exit in the playoffs (again).

Westbrook proves he cannot coexist with other superstars, Paul George is left frustrated and under-utilized, and Donovan fails to put the pieces together in the right order yet again. The Thunder go into the offseason no closer to a championship than they were in their first season without Kevin Durant.

Oh, and the Warriors win it all. Again.