Oklahoma City Thunder: 5 reasons they can win the West

4. Newfound offensive balance

Last year saw the Thunder having a tough time integrating newly acquired All-Star Paul George into the offense. Such struggles are nothing new for most teams. It’s always difficult to integrate a high usage player, especially after Westbrook spent the previous campaign setting the all-time record for usage rate in a single season, but that didn’t make it any easier.

There was also the issue of finding a role for Carmelo Anthony, a talented scorer not used to taking a back seat to anyone. It was these problems which led to an inconsistent season for Oklahoma City, as coach Billy Donovan was tasked with getting the best out of a group trying its best not to step on each other’s toes.

Now, things are different. Melo is gone, creating more shot opportunities to go around, and following a year of building comradery and chemistry on the court together, the duo of George and Westbrook seem to have struck a great balance which allows both to thrive.

Props should be given to the Brodie, though, because after so much time spent dominating the basketball over the course of his career, he’s seemingly taken a back seat to PG, as evidenced by their near-identical usage rate this season compared to almost a nine-point difference in Westbrook’s favor the last.

There has also been the emergence of Jerami Grant, the uber-athletic forward signed to a long-term deal over the summer. Formally known as just a high-flying energizer bunny, Grant is hitting 3-pointers at a career-best 37.3 percent clip, creating driving lanes for OKC’s ballhandlers which just weren’t there with Carmelo in that same role.

They still don’t have as much outside shooting as they would preferably like, but there’s no question this Thunder squad which ranks fifth in points per game with two of the best offensive weapons in the league has done at that end with the sacrifices they’ve made and more defined roles for everyone involved