2015-16: 35 statements made with extreme confidence

AP Photo

Here they are. Thirty-five very correct and future factual statements that will be proven throughout this season.

Everyone knows the stakes of this season, with so much narrative that you could power six websites with. There are ample storylines, but here’s the thing: This season is going to be really fun. And while you may be thinking about what may happen or what has already happened, like Sam Presti said, don’t miss out on what’s happening. Because it’s going to be good.

Just so you know, I’ve been doing these for the last four seasons, and so far, I’m 140-140. Time to get dumb:

1. Kevin Durant will play at least 75 games. Note: This isn’t me saying he’s going to be injured for seven games. Because you can’t predict that. It’s that I think he’ll rest some here and there, sitting some back-to-backs and taking the opportunity to ease up and reduce his minutes a bit. And it’s also this: I think last season’s foot issues are behind him. For good.

2. Durant won’t lead the league in scoring. He kind of can’t help himself when it comes to this, and may just do it by default, but I think it’s less of a priority for him this season. Not that in previous years he’s been trying to lead the league, but he’s felt a responsibility to put up points to keep the scoreboard moving for the team. This season, he’s focused on more efficiency and inclusiveness of the offense, and overall team effectiveness. He’s going to average like 27-29 a game regardless, but others (Harden cough cough) will probably be gunning for it.

3. Kyle Singler’s hair will… something. I don’t know, man. I don’t know.

4. The Thunder will break the franchise record for most 3s attempted. The most the franchise has ever taken is 1,936, back in 2003-04. The most the Thunder have taken is 1,839, in 2013-14. I think this Thunder team will hit the 2,000-mark.

5. And made. The record is 723 by the 2003-04 Sonics. The Thunder record is 664 in 2013-14. My guess: 803. (For reference, last season’s Warriors took 2,217 3s and made 883.)

6. Russell Westbrook will lead the league in triple-doubles. Let’s go with a total of eight of them. And that feels like a way low number. The dude was putting them up on limited preseason minutes for crying out loud.

7. Kevin Durant will return to Washington D.C. On November 10, when the Thunder play the Wizards. GET IT?

8. The Thunder will finish first in offensive efficiency. The highest they’ve ever been is second in 2012-13 (second to Miami). But assuming those two good players they have play most of the season together, along with the positive tweaks that are supposedly happening, the Thunder could put up impressive offensive numbers.

9. The Thunder will finish top eight in defensive efficiency. I think there will be a little slippage here, and by slippage, I mean slippage from where they were pre-2015. Top eight is really good. Especially if you’ve got the kind of offense I expect them to have.

10. Steve Novak will forget the orange slices one game and everyone is going to FREAK OUT. Come on, Dad.

11. The Thunder will have two All-Stars. I’ve been predicting three for like the last four years and I give up. You win, Western Conference. It’s too much to ask, I guess.

12. Westbrook and Durant will both average fewer than 35 minutes per game. For Westbrook, that’s no stretch. Even last season, he averaged 34.4 minutes. But for Durant, who has been up above 38 for most of his career, that will be a considerable reduction. But that could be a focus this season as Donovan and his staff try and reduce wear and tear, as well as the fact there may be a number of fourth quarters to sit out.

13. Billy Donovan will get 82 haircuts. Seriously, does he have a full-time barber?

14. Against the Warriors, Clippers, Spurs and Rockets, the Thunder will go 9-6.

15. Serge Ibaka will be the first 120/150 player ever. 120 3s, 150 blocks. I actually don’t think I believe in this one. Last season Ibaka, in 64 games mind you, hit 77 3s and blocked 155 shots.

16. Steven Adams will shower at some point. Probably.

17. Enes Kanter will post 30 double-doubles — all off the bench. I don’t think he’ll average a double-double, but he is going to have plenty of 15-10 games this season, pummeling second unit centers. Seriously, think about Kanter abusing those backup bigs all year. It’s going to be a bloodbath.

18. Kanter will finish second in Sixth Man of the Year voting. My pick is Andre Iguodala. But Kanter is going to have impressive numbers. In fact, he might be a candidate for Most Improved, considering how much narrative there is going on around him.

19. The Thunder’s  best lineup will be Westbrook, Morrow, Durant, Ibaka and Adams. So yeah, this is what my starting five would be. I get why Andre Roberson starts and I get the factual evidence supporting. I’m even one that makes note of such evidence. But when it comes down to the best combination to have on the floor, I think it’s that one.

20. Dion Waiters won’t be terrible. I’m not sure exactly what will determine “not terrible,” but here’s how I picture it: Something like 10.5 points per game on 41 percent shooting, 34 percent from 3, 2.5 assists and a mindset of fitting in rather than trying to make a name. I’ve never been on Waiters Island, but I would say I’m somewhere off the coast, dog-paddling in circles trying to make up my mind.

21. Cameron Payne will find some minutes. But ultimately, the backup role will stay with D.J. Augustin. In the end, unless Augustin is traded at the deadline — which he very well could be — he’s going to play over Payne. That doesn’t mean Payne won’t sneak some decent minutes here and there, because I think Donovan will be fairly liberal in how he distributes them. Plus: Payne is pretty good and the organization is really high on him.

22. Lance Thomas will start 13 games. Oh wait, that actually happened last season.

23. Russell Westbrook will lead the team in PER. PER likes efficiency. Russell Westbrook isn’t especially efficient. But he’s such a force of statistics that he’ll just overwhelm the box score and make it succumb to him.

24. Waiters will yell “and-1!” a couple of times. I don’t know, maybe three or four. Hard to really say.

25. The new Rumble will finish with more airballs than Andre Roberson. Seriously, what’s up this left-handed Rumble?

26. Mitch McGary will play more total minutes than Nick Collison. Hold on, I have to go splash water on my face. Not to say Collison won’t play regular minutes, but I think McGary will feature often off the bench, and with garbage time opportunities, will end up with more minutes.

27. The first “Billy Donovan is taking the Thunder where Scott Brooks couldn’t” thinkpiece will happen by Dec. 15. And it might be by me.

28. The Thunder will win the Northwest by nine games. Really, the only considerable threat at this point appears to be the Jazz. And are they really? The Nuggets will be bad. The Blazers will be average to bad. The Timberwolves will exist.

29. Anthony Morrow will hit 180 3s. Last season, I predicted he’d hit 200. What was I thinking?!?! (He made 141). So let’s dial it back a bit and get slightly realistic with 180.

30. Morrow will get so turnt after hitting a 3 that he spontaneously combusts. While yelling, “Do you like that?!?! You like that!!!!”

31. Durant will finish runner-up for MVP. My pick is Anthony Davis, which I hate. Not to say Davis isn’t a supernatural freak, but it does feel like there’s been a rush to jump aboard the Davis bandwagon, which has thereby overlooked the fact the de facto challenger to LeBron is back. But if the Pelicans finish in the top six of the West and Davis posts a 30+ PER — which he probably will — there’s going to be a big push for him.

32. The Thunder will finish with 61 wins. Just know this: Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are angry.

33. The Thunder will finish second in the West. I think the Warriors will get them by a game or two.  That’s a whole lot of wins between two teams, but the back end of the West will probably be worse this season, opening up a few more at the top. The eighth seed might get in with 42 or 43 wins this time around.

34. The Thunder will play the Cavs in the Finals. Please? PLEASE.

35. The Thunder will win in seven games. In previous years, there’s been that pesky little health thing getting in the way of seeing whether or not the Thunder were really ready to do this. Naturally, since I happen to live in Oklahoma City there’s this assumption this is a homer non-objective pick. But let me tell you: I wouldn’t pick it if I didn’t believe it. I thought this team was good enough to win it last season. Yes, there’s the Durant future talk. There’s the Donovan talk. There’s the focus on all different areas. But strip it all away and this team is loaded. The West is an obstacle course lined with landmines, barbed wire and nuclear missiles. It won’t be easy to navigate. But this team is built for it. Assuming, you know.