Are the Thunder really contenders?

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At CBS Sports, we’re doing a series of questions as we close in on training camp and somehow, someway, I got the Thunder question. Shocking, I know.

But the question is: Are the Thunder legit contenders in the West?

Obviously, as we get closer to the season, I’ll look at this question and a bunch of other seasony-previewish things a lot, but my early take is yes, yes they are. Nobody thought the Thunder were legit playoff contenders last season and look what happened. Now they’re better, older and wiser. Sure, there are questions at a few positions and the shadow of injury hanging over, but what team doesn’t have those?

The West is good and that’s the main issue. There’s a top team, and then four pretty good teams and then about five solid teams. Outside of the Lakers, it’s kind of hard to predict any kind of finish. I could see Oklahoma City finishing anywhere from second to eighth.

The expectations are building for this group and luckily, I don’t think they really mind.