Thunder playoff outlook: 5 reasons why (or why not) the champs can defend their title

This time around, the Oklahoma City Thunder face fewer detractors.They’re a proven group. Still rugged, still deep, still as capable of building insurmountable leads as last year’s title team. Not Teflon, as this year evidenced, but close enough.Still baby-faced, yes, but also still evolving. A force that’s been tested even further since the pair of seven-game series it endured before hoisting the Larry O’Brien last June.These Thunder are better than their predecessors. It’s the field that questions them now.Advertisement