2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Vegas Win Projection: 50.5 wins
My Win Projection: 47 wins
In a stacked Western Conference, it’s hard to see the Thunder win 50 games right? They couldn’t reach 50 last year, and I don’t see what changes. Yes getting rid of dead weight in Carmelo Anthony and adding Dennis Schroder was smart but does that really push them to be a top three team in the West? With 50.5 projected wins that puts them in that position. I highly doubt it.
I know people are poking fun at the Lakers acquisitions post-LeBron, but that team has to be better than OKC right? The Cavs won 50 games last year in the regular season with less talent than the Lakers presently have. Adding Lebron puts them in a position to make a real run in the Western Conference and I think they are more likely to be the third best team in the West over OKC.
A Westbrook led team in the post-Durant era has yet to impress. He hasn’t shown the ability to properly lead a team to great success in the regular season or postseason. The makeup of OKC this year is the best it has been since Durant left but I don’t think this means that they will make the necessary jump to be a top three Western Conference team.
If Westbrook and Schroder can co-exist as ball handlers and Paul George can take it to the next level, I can see 50 wins in OKC this year. Will this happen, however? I don’t really anticipate it.
