Oklahoma City Thunder: A team on the rise

Basketball / Nick Shiambouros / 20 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

Kevin Durant has helped turn the Thunder around

"Kevin Durant worked very hard on his defensive skills during the summer and he is reaping the rewards now. The Thunder are giving up around nine points less per game than they were last year and all the credit must go to Durant. This player was born with huge amount of natural talent and now he is making the most of it."

Impressed by the play of Kevin Durant, Nick Shiambouros puts together a betting plan for Oklahoma for the rest of the month

The Oklahoma City Thunder crept in to eighth place in the Western Conference after beating the Atlanta Hawks 94-91 on Monday night.

This franchise was formerly known as the Seattle Supersonics who played at the Key Arena in downtown Seattle. After a bitter dispute between owner Clay Bennett and the city of Seattle over public funding the team moved to Oklahoma in 2008. The team was renamed before the start of their inaugural season last year.

In their first season in Oklahoma the Thunder finished with a record of 23-59.This disastrous start to the new era was a huge disappointment to the city and the new fan base which packed the Ford Center at the start of the year. Not surprisingly head coach PJ Carlisimo was fired before the end of the season and assistant Scott Brooks took over.
　
This year the team has improved beyond all recognition and is knocking on the door that leads to a playoff spot. The main reason for this unbelievable improvement is the play of forward Kevin Durant .This young man is in his third year as a professional and is having an outstanding season for the Thunder, going from being a player with a future to a superstar in a few months.

Durant worked very hard on his defensive skills during the summer and he is reaping the rewards now. The Thunder are giving up around nine points less per game than they were last year and all the credit must go to Durant. This player was born with huge amount of natural talent and now he is making the most of it.

On the scoring end Durant is averaging an outstanding 29.1 points per game and has a superb action. He can shoot the ball very well and is lethal inside the paint.

The Thunder rotation has some talented players like Nick Collison and Russell Westbrook who have been playing at a high level all season. The improvement in Durant has spurred the whole team on and they believe they have what it takes to make it to the playoffs.

I must admit I have become a believer in this team in the last couple of months and I think they have a legitimate chance to make the post-season.

The Thunder have a fairly easy schedule over the next few weeks but they do have to travel to Cleveland on Saturday night. It will be very interesting to see how they cope with the in form Cavaliers in this must see game.

I think this team is worth following over the next six games with the handicap in what could be a good spell for this team.
　
There is no question that the Oklahoma are the most improved team in basketball this season. Durant has become their franchise player and now leads this team. I really hope i get a chance to see him in the playoffs.

Recommended wagers
Back Oklahoma with advertised handicap over the next six games.
January 20 @Minnesota
22nd @Memphis
23rd @Cleveland
27th Chicago
29th Denver
31st Golden State