5 Reasons Kevin Durant Is Glad OKC Thunder Are Flying Under the Radar

It's hard to imagine that at 16-4, the Oklahoma City Thunder sit atop the NBA throne and are actually flying under the radar. But with no NBA championships, Finals appearances or MVPs just yet, that's exactly how the season is going for them so far.

They are taking care of business on a a night-to-night basis and although they boast the NBA's third and 11th leading scorers in All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, they don't garner the national media attention of the Miami Heat or Los Angeles Lakers.

Excluding their worst defensive performance of the season in a 112-100 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last night, they are considered one of the best defensive teams as well.

Durant is the unquestioned leader of the young guns, and accordingly, will attract the most media attention. He has to be happy there is less attention on his team, and here are five reasons why. 

Lowered National Media Expectations

The Thunder are at a crossroads in the development of their franchise. For two seasons, they've been Cinderellas in the playoffs, losing to both NBA champions in consecutive postseason campaigns. 

Now, they've been largely selected as the favorite to rise from the ashes of the very scattered Western Conference and contend with the challenger in the East.

But so far, the national media is focusing on the more fan-favorite stories of 2012, including Dwight Howard rumors, Lob City and Ricky Rubio. 

The most noise in Oklahoma City is the Westbrook contract extension that was finalized a couple weeks ago. That's a good thing for OKC, who need some time to play together without title expectations, especially this early in a crazy NBA season. 

Tough Schedule Coming Up

So far, OKC has played a relatively tough schedule with ease. They've had two winning streaks that have exceeded five games, one of which coincided with a back-to-back-to-back. 

That being said, it isn't going to get any easier. Ten of their next 15 games leading up to the All-Star break are against teams with a record above .500, including a torrid stretch of seven games in 10 calendar days.

A string of games on national TV will likely spike the public's interest in the Thunder's title chances again, and how they perform in February (seven games on national TV) could swing the tide in favor of making them a big time favorite again.

If that happens, the pressure will be at an all-time high in a town with only one major sports franchise, putting the pedal to the metal on chasing a championship. If they can build a comfortable lead in the coming weeks they won't feel as much of the pressure of a big-time market or team.  

They Aren't the Miami Heat

Seattle residents likely won't agree, but the move from that city to Oklahoma City and name change have been a success for the franchise and for the NBA.

An appearance in the Western Conference semifinals in 2010 and then Finals in 2011 have catapulted the success of Durant and Co. to a level they could only have imagined when Durant was signing his first shoe contract in 2007.

But one thing they need to remember: They aren't, and don't ever have to be, the Miami Heat to win games and contend for a championship in this league.

Miami has cornered the market for media exposure this decade. We likely won't be graced with a segment of ESPN that doesn't feature "The Big Three" until they win those eight championships LeBron promised.

But they have their own style and fan base that is putting fans in the seats while also winning games, so their flying under the radar should be something to celebrate.  

Lack of Depth Yet to Be Exposed

In all honesty, the Thunder are one injury away from a big pile of trouble. You can say that about almost any team in any sport, but consider the injuries the Thunder are currently dealing with and how they have affected their losses.

With defensive stopper Thabo Sefolosha sidelined this season the Thunder are 0-2. He didn't play much in the game they lost on the road to the Dallas Mavericks either, making his absence partially responsible for 75 percent of their losses.

Not only that, but reserve point guard Eric Maynor is out for the season leaving Westbrook with more minutes and a lack of trust in the only other option, rookie Reggie Jackson. 

Who can score off the bench when James Harden is inserted into the starting lineup? Better yet, who is assigned to guard a late-game charge when Westbrook and Durant are expending much of their energy to create offense?

If Sefolosha and Maynor's absence are enough to create that large of a ripple in the effects of their season, the Thunder have more issues than their 16-4 record would indicate. 

Less Durant vs. Westbrook Chatter

If it wasn't for those pesky dudes down in South Beach taking their talent all over the NBA, the Thunder would boast the best one-two punch of any team on any night. At least they would on paper. 

A recent dialogue captured by Matt Steinmetz of csnbayarea.com had a recent conversation with Durant about why the media cares if he or Westbrook are the best on the team or why everyone makes such a big deal about their relationship affecting their title chances.

Well, unfortunately for the league's most unsuspecting scorer, haters 'gonna hate. When the playoffs approach and the poor decisions from Westbrook pile up again, the chatter about their coexistence will make national headlines.

But for now he can enjoy the comfort of just shaking his head when Westbrook takes a bad shot, instead of answer 40 questions in a post-game interview.