After Hours

They don't generate the same wattage as the Lakers or the Nuggets, but the Oklahoma City Thunder is making as much noise as any club in the Western Conference.

The hottest team (along with the Suns) in the NBA and winners of their last nine before the Suns burst their bubble tonight, the Thunder continues to be one of the league’s biggest surprises. They are a half-game back of the Suns for the No. 5 spot in the hierarchy of Western Conference playoff contenders and just two games back of the fourth-place Mavericks.

Before their went on a nine-game winning streak, the Thunder weren’t even within sniffing distance of a playoff berth. They were 11th in the competitive West. Though some experts believed they were capable of making a run for the playoffs, the Thunder’s inconsistent play initially prevented their rise. But now Oklahoma City is performing as well as any NBA team though it isn’t taking its recent success for granted.

“It’s satisfying that we’re improving. But we have a long way to go,” Thunder Coach Scott Brooks told the Daily Oklahoman this week.

True. But this season’s club is a much better one than last year’s, which lost 59 games. Several reasons point to the Thunder’s dramatic improvement. One is their ability to capture more close contests. Second, despite being one of the league’s youngest ball clubs, it’s a talented bunch that keeps getting better. Of course their best weapon is one of the NBA’s leading MVP candidates, All-Star guard Kevin Durant.

Durant, the No. 2 pick in the 2007 draft, is playing on the same high level as LeBron and Kobe. He is the only active player to record 29 straight games with at least 25 points or more. Not even LeBron or Kobe can stake such a claim. You’d have to go back to 1988, when Michael Jordan ruled and was on a similar scoring binge.

For the season (entering the contest against Phoenix), Durant is averaging 29.8 points per game (second behind LeBron’s 30) and 7.5 rebounds. He is shooting almost 48 percent from the field and 88 percent from the free throw line. And when it comes to delivering a victory in tight games, Durant frequently delivers. None of this surprises Brooks.

“KD is as consistent as a worker as we have on our team,” Brooks told the Oklahoman. “It’s based on his consistency, his preparation, his approach to the game. He prepares himself every day to be a better player. It doesn’t surprise me that he has success.” But for all of Durant’s success, defense has been another significant factor for the Thunder. Oklahoma City ranks third overall in defense and second in the Western Conference behind the Lakers.

Another reason for their success is the development of point guard Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 16 points and 7.7 assists and had a triple-double in a road victory last Saturday over the Knicks. Jeff Green and rookie James Harden have also played well. And Nick Collison, Thabo Sefolosha and the high-flying Serge Ibaka have been key contributors in clutch moments.

If there is one weakness of this club, it’s the lack of a quality big man, which could spell trouble down the stretch. But the Thunder aren’t worrying about that now.

They continue to chase their lofty expectations, which will be tested by their tough schedule and their youth. Though 15 of the Thunder’s 27 remaining games are at home (including a March 26 contest against the Lakers, who have beaten them in all three meetings), they’ve got some rough road spots to navigate. They visit the Spurs, who they’ve split two earlier meetings, on Wednesday. They also have upcoming trips to Denver, Charlotte, Toronto, Boston, Dallas, Utah and Portland.

Still, barring injuries, I can’t see them not making the playoffs. Whether its the No. 8 spot or higher, their fans, who are quickly becoming some of the bests in the NBA, will be ecstatic.

Read more of Forrest Lee at Blak4rest.com.