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Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 reasons they can win the West

By Daniel Lubofsky

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 29: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder (left) celebrates with Russell Westbrook #0 against the Orlando Magic during the first half at Amway Center on January 29, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 29: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder (left) celebrates with Russell Westbrook #0 against the Orlando Magic during the first half at Amway Center on January 29, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /

With their latest convincing win, it’s time to start contemplating whether or not the Oklahoma City Thunder can take hold of the western conference.

After a season filled with struggles, speculations and a disappointing first-round exit, the Oklahoma City Thunder have bounced back in 2018-19 as one of the best teams throughout the NBA.

Currently sitting with a record of 36-19, OKC sits in the third spot out west, only a game behind the two-seeded Denver Nuggets. Through 55 games last season, the Thunder were 31-25, marking a six-game improvement that could help this coming postseason end on a better note than the previous one.

Their latest showing of growth? Down by as many as 26 points to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, the Thunder climbed all the way back thanks to a 42-20 third-quarter advantage en-route to a 117-112 victory.

Everyone knows the path to the Finals out west goes through the Golden State Warriors. They’ve made it in each of the last four seasons and have only improved since then with the additions of All-Stars Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins. After three titles in four seasons, though, the Dubs have been starting to show cracks both mentally and physically, creating an opening for a team like the Thunder to take advantage of.

Oklahoma City has been through a lot over the last three seasons with the departure of Kevin Durant and the arrival and subsequent commitment to Paul George, but with a core in place playing at an extremely high level, weirder things have certainly happened in playoff rounds of the past.

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