NBA West Preview
Western Conference loaded again, but Thunder ready to rumble.
The Golden State Warriors were invigorated by a new head coach last season and ran circles around the rest of the NBA, culminating with the franchise’s first title.
Other Western Conference powers are looking to follow the same script this season.
Oklahoma City missed the playoffs last season largely due to injuries to Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka. Both players have returned healthy this season and new coach Billy Donovan has come in to inject some rhythm and movement into an offense that grew stagnant under Scott Brooks.
The San Antonio Spurs made an uncharacteristically big splash in free agency by adding LaMarcus Aldridge, the Los Angeles Clippers fortified an awful bench with Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith and Paul Pierce, and the Houston Rockets hope they’ve finally found a point guard to take some of the pressure off of James Harden. But with Durant looking like his devastating old self in the preseason, fellow MVP candidate Russell Westbrook coming off of a career year, Enes Kanter providing another scoring option in the paint, and Donovan bringing a fresh new perspective, it could finally be the Thunder’s year.
Of course, count the defending champions — and about four other teams in this loaded conference — out at your own peril.
The Warriors, Thunder, Spurs, Rockets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Pelicans and Jazz appear to be the best bets for making the postseason.
After it’s all over, there will be a Durant Sweepstakes.
The OKC star will be a free agent after this season and the Thunder will likely go for broke to keep him around while the sharks circle.