Expert predictions: OKC Thunder

Originally Published: October 22, 2010

ESPN.com

Predicted Finish For Oklahoma City Thunder: 2010-11

ANALYST	COMMENT	PREDICTIONS
	J.A. Adande, ESPN.com \| Adande's picks Even if they can't avoid injuries as successfully as last season the Thunder will still find the five more victories they need to move near the top of the West. By April we'll be talking about Russell Westbrook in addition to Kevin Durant.	Northwest: 1 West: 2
	Chris Broussard, ESPN Mag \| Broussard's picks This club has defied logic for 1½ seasons, so why can't they win the power-packed Northwest? Kevin Durant's the MVP pick: can he live up to the hype? His play in Turkey says yes. Can Russell Westbrook continue to improve, and can Serge Ibaka reach the promise he displayed in last season's playoffs?	Northwest: 1 West: 3
	Chad Ford, ESPN.com \| Ford's picks Kevin Durant is the front-runner for the MVP award this year. Russell Westbrook looked like a potential star for Team USA, and the Thunder have a ton of effective role players and an excellent coach. May be premature here, but they have the ability to knock the Lakers off.	Northwest: 1 West: 2
	Zach Harper, Daily Dime Live \| Harper's picks Playing as the surprise darling of the NBA and playing with a national audience watching as you try to meet elite expectations are two very different things. The Thunder don't have the inside presence they lacked last season, but Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant could be the most exciting combo outside South Beach.	Northwest: 1 West: 4
	John Hollinger, ESPN.com \| Hollinger's picks A popular pick for No. 2, it says here the Thunder will have to endure growing pains first. The league's healthiest team in 2009-10 will inevitably face more adversity on that front, and while they have the assets for a home run trade they may sit tight for another year.	Northwest: 2 West: 4
	Tim Legler, ESPN \| Legler's picks Kevin Durant is going to be MVP. Last year he became a better rebounder and defender, and the WC took his confidence to a whole new level. I look for him to take this team where nobody thought it could go this quickly.	Northwest: 1 West: 2
	Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com \| Sheridan's picks Fell in love even more with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook while covering them at the Worlds, fell out of love with Jeff Green while watching him play himself off the team before the Americans left for Europe.	Northwest: 1 West: 4
	Marc Stein, ESPN.com \| Stein's picks We expect a lot out of these kids now ... and you can't expect the Thunder to be as healthy as they were last season. Two interesting variables to threaten the widespread anointment of OKC as the Lakers' biggest threat out West, even amid Durant's undeniable leap to full-fledged superstar.	Northwest: 1 West: 2
	Michael Wallace, ESPN.com \| Wallace's picks Returning league scoring champion Kevin Durant and crew won't sneak up on anyone this season after giving the Lakers a first-round scare last season. Russell Westbrook will produce like a top-5 point guard this season. If there's an Achilles' heel, it's a lack of size/rebounding.	Northwest: 1 West: 3
	Brian Windhorst, ESPN.com \| Windhorst's picks People assume this team will make a major jump this season but don't forget it was pretty good last year, winning 50. In addition to Kevin Durant, a reason to really like this team is team-wide length. They will make everyone they play uncomfortable. But for the first time they must deal with expectations.	Northwest: 1 West: 3
AVERAGE RANKING Northwest: 1.1 \| Standings West: 2.9 \| Standings