NBA Preview - Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder finished last season at 50-32 and took the eventual NBA Champions, L.A. Lakers, to six games in the first round of last years playoffs. With a young team returning it's top nine players the hopes are high in Oklahoma for the 2010-11 season. The Thunder improved by 27 games over the previous season for the best improvement of all teams in the NBA and there is no reason to expect this years team won't move up the ladder once again.

The Thunder will start PG Russell Westbrook who gained some great experience this summer on Team USA along with F Kevin Durant who was the star of the team this summer. Durant led the league in scoring last season and will just get better with experience. PF Jeff Green is improving greatly and was one of the final cuts this summer from the USA squad. Thabo Sefolosha is the defensive specialist and shooting guard for the Thunder. At 27, Center Nenad Kristic is the oldest starter and maybe the most important with his presence in the middle.

The Thunder added Morris Peterson for some scoring depth and with the added experience the Thunder could make a move into the top four seeds in the Western Conference. Look for Oklahoma City to win the Northwest Division and make a move to the upper crust in the NBA this season.