Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team’s best case scenario

By John Hugar

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
24 of 31
Next
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 21: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 21: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Oklahoma City Thunder

If you believe in addition by subtraction, I wouldn’t blame you for ranking the Thunder pretty high. The Carmelo Anthony experiment was a disaster, and Melo has left for Houston with a healthy amount of skepticism following him. But while he left, Paul George bought, while the Thunder shored up their supporting cast with solid bench players like Nerlens Noel and Dennis Schroeder, both of whom figure to benefit greatly from a change of scenery.

With any Thunder team in the post-Durant era, the question will be how Russell Westbrook operates as a teammate. We know the stats will be amazing, we know the highlights will be brilliant, but we’re going to keep wondering if he’s the type of guy you want as your first option until he takes them out of the first round without KD.

In the Thunder’s best-case scenario, look for Westbrook and PG to prove more dynamic together without Carmelo’s antics holding them back, and look for a deeper supporting cast to give the team some much needed variety. More importantly, look for them to win their first playoff series since the departure of No. 35.