5 Reasons Kevin Durant and OKC Thunder Will Win the Western Conference in 2012

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the best young team in the NBA, and young stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are ready to take the franchise to the next level, the NBA Finals.

The Thunder lost in last year's Western Conference Finals to the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks in five games. The season before, they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. 

Despite their success of 2010, and everybody not taking them lightly last season, the Thunder progressed nicely and went deeper into the playoffs.

With a team that's still rapidly improving, the Thunder will win the Western Conference next season and play for the NBA championship.

Let's look at five reasons why.

Nicholas Goss is an NBA and Oklahoma City Thunder featured columnist at Bleacher Report, follow him on Twitter for NBA and Thunder news. Follow @NicholasGoss35

The Western Conference Is Much Weaker This Season

Major trades and coaching moves have caused big changes in the Western Conference. The West is no longer the stronger conference.

Superstars such as Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony were traded from West teams to East teams last season, and there were several players before last season who went to the East via free agency, like Amare Stoudemire.

The West's elite teams are also quite old. The Dallas Mavericks are an aging team that surprised everyone by winning the NBA Finals last season, but it's unlikely they'll duplicate that kind of run again.

The San Antonio Spurs are very old, and Tim Duncan is no longer an elite player capable of carrying his team through a postseason.

Lastly, the Los Angeles Lakers are a squad full of older players—Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher's best days are all behind them, and there is little youth on their roster.

The Lakers also changed coaches by hiring former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown, who will take over for Phil Jackson who retired.

The Thunder have the advantage of experience and youth over their older West rivals, and their young legs will help them in the grueling playoff series they'll play in next year.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook Are a Top Duo

Not many teams in the West have two legitimate superstars, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are one of those teams, led by forward Kevin Durant and point guard Russell Westbrook.

Durant has led the NBA in scoring each of the past two seasons, and Russell Westbrook rose his own scoring average from just over 16 points per game to a bit over 21 points per game last season.

Westbrook is an all-around point guard who can score as well as a shooting guard, pass well and rebound tremendously.

Both these players are not even 24 years old, and they are already two of the league's premier players.

Next season, they could really become the NBA's best duo, even better than Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.

The Thunder Have a Deep Bench

The OKC Thunder have a lot of depth on their roster, and can bring additional scoring and defense into the game at any time.

Shooting guard James Harden is one of the best sixth men in the league, and is quickly becoming one of the most exciting players in the Western Conference.

Eric Maynor is the best backup point guard in the NBA, and is supremely underrated. He is a solid passer and runs the offense very well. He can also score from the outside and by driving to the basket.

Head coach Scott Brooks can also bring some size and defense off the bench. Backup center Nazr Mohammed and forward Nick Collison are both great rebounders, who can also defend and bring great energy into the game.

The Thunder Have Assets to Make a Trade Midseason

Any team looking to trade a superstar for young talent, who doesn't look at the Oklahoma City Thunder roster first, would be making a major mistake.

The Thunder have the most young talent of any team in the league, and can offer the best trade package for any star player.

If Dwight Howard is traded from the Orlando Magic, you would have to think they'd ask the Thunder first.

Dwight would be going to a championship contender, which would make him happy, and the Magic could get multiple young players who would help them remain competitive in the Eastern Conference.

Thunder players who could be traded in a deal for a star, include Eric Maynor, James Harden, Serge Ibaka, Nick Collison, Thabo Sefolosha, Russell Westbrook and rookie Reggie Jackson. 

OKC Is a Great Defensive Team

People who say Kendrick Perkins is overrated are fools. Perkins is a great defensive player whose value cannot be proven in the box score.

Not only does he bring low-post defense, rebounding, toughness and a mean attitude to the Thunder, he brings championship experience to a very young roster.

In his first full season in Oklahoma City, Perkins will flourish.

Serge Ibaka is another defensive star in the making for OKC, and led the playoffs in blocked shots last season.

On the perimeter, the Thunder have one of the league's best one-on-one defenders in Thabo Sefolosha, and young guard James Harden is becoming a very good perimeter defender as well.

OKC has the defense and toughness necessary to carry them deep into the playoffs next season.