Thunder Taking NBA by Storm

March 17, 2010 • Robert Hampton  
Filed under Sports

Every team in the NBA has a main goal of winning championships and there is more than one way to build a championship squad. Most teams whose winning record is average, or below, will try to make a trade at the mid-season deadline, in hope that the player they receive will help in leading them to a championship. Some teams, such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, built their core through the draft. Their draft choice in 2007 was Kevin Durant. In 2008, it was Russell Westbrook and in 2009, James Harden. All of these players average double figures this season.

Just two years ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder switched everything by changing their name from the Seattle Supersonics. They were essentially trapped in futility up until this year. In 2010, through fifty-eight games, they are 36-22, just had a nine game winning streak snapped by the San Antonio Spurs and are currently the number five seed in the crowded Western conference playoff picture. Kevin Durant is a huge part of that. He is head to head in the NBA, in scoring, with Lebron James and has just had his 29 straight games of scoring at least 25 points streak snapped, which is only second behind Michael Jordan’s record of 40 straight games.

He is fast on his way to becoming considered one of the top players in the league, along with being a 2010 M.V.P. candidate. This run has been so surprising in that it is not inconceivable that their coach, Scott Brooks, could win the coach of the year award. With mostly young players, this team looks like one to be reckoned with in the near and distant future. Avoiding a slip up, it would be the first playoff series for them, along with the franchise.

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