OKC Thunder New Year’s resolutions: Top-five goals

Reclaim an upper echelon seat:

The ultimate goal in everything Oklahoma City does should revolve around winning a title. But a good place to start would be to become a contender again.

Even after making the playoffs the past two seasons, the Thunder haven’t been true contenders since Kevin Durant left. Durant leaving hurt the Thunder, not only because he wasn’t on the team, but also because he turned our Western Conference rivals to an almost unbeatable super team. So although the current Thunder squad might be considered a contender under normal circumstances, it’s hard to compare them, or any other team, to the Warriors.

With that being said, the Warriors look more beatable this year than last, so finding a crack in the armor may just be attainable. But before we get to a potential playoff showdown, it’s important that the Thunder improve over the course of the season and be the best version of themselves they can be before taking on the challenge.

If they’re able to accomplish that goal, with two MVP-caliber players on the roster, and the Warriors are going through drama or battling injuries, anything can happen.