LAC, SA, and GS might all have deeper teams, but OKC arguably has the two best players on planet earth and a decent supporting cast. Depth isn't everything. Sometimes it comes down to "Are my superstars better than your superstars?", and I don't think any team in the league can say "yes" to that question when it comes to OKC.
LAC has the deepest team, sure, but arguably the two weakest superstars. I'm not taking CP3 + Blake over KD and Russ, Curry and Klay, Harden and Dwight, and I might not take them over Gasol and Conley either. LAC lacks perimeter shooting and Hack-A-Deandre isn't going away.
GS is the best team on paper, Curry is already an all time great, and Klay hasn't reached his ceiling. They're the biggest threat to OKC IMO. Can Bogut stay healthy? Will Draymond still be hungry with his new contract? Can Curry and Klay guard Westbrook and KD? They have the second or third best coach as well.
Houston is scary good, but can Dwight go back to the Dwight of old or is he officially a deteriorating shell of himself who can still show flashes here and there? Played really good in the playoffs last year, but can he stay healthy? How will Harden and Lawson mesh? Terrence Jones needs to stay healthy as well.
People act like the Spurs are a lock, but Tony Parker was terrible last year and Manu is even older now. Their perimeter is a looking a little weak. You can put Kawaii on KD and slow him down, but I don't know who is guarding Westbrook on that team. They have the advantage of having the GOAT coach, which is huge. Obviously, their front court is untouchable outside of maybe Memphis giving them a run.
Until Memphis gets a legitimately scary wing to pair with Conley in the backcourt, I can't take them serious no matter how great Gasol and Randolph are.
OKC has the best duo since Shaq + Kobe, both of which had to sit at home and watch the teams above feast in the playoffs. This is some intangibles talk, but I don't think Kevin Durant likes the fact that people are skipping over him and going right from Lebron to Curry and Anthony Davis. The keys to the mansion once Lebron got older were supposed to be his, and at 27, I don't think him being the best player in the world is out of the question when he was that just last year. Westbrook is Westbrook, the best guard in the league other than maybe Curry. I believe both guys being healthy will allow Serge to get back on focusing on defense rather than tryna be cute with the stretch 4 behavior(though being able to hit the 3 is a nice weapon). People clown Kanter on defense but he's legit on offense and I think they can cover his weaknesses.
IMO it goes OKC > GS > SA > HOU > LAC > MEM in the west. It's a shame Tyreke and Holiday are hurt or I'd say NO is probably the 7th best team. They might still make it, and I got Utah rounding out the 8 playoff spots, but don't be surprised if Rondo + Gay + Cousins is a surprising threesome. Pause.
They won 48 games and missed by half a game
