Kevin Durant's Thunder Will Overtake Kobe's Lakers and Dominate the Next Decade

This year will be a banner year for the NBA. Two dynasties will cross paths in a way that is rare in sports.

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are still the best team in the NBA. They have the best player of the past decade on their team and their frontcourt length remains unchallenged.

Boston beefed up with Shaq and they will be able to throw bodies at Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom if they make it to the Finals. But that's a pretty big "if."

Of course, all the Heat fans believe their three guys will be able to beat other teams while trotting out several players that have more business playing in China with AI than appearing in an NBA game in 2011. But play they will.  

Neither of these teams has a chance against the Lakers, unless LA faces significant injuries. 

But there is one team that I believe the Lakers are rightfully afraid of this year. A team I believe they will meet in either the second round of the Western Conference playoffs or the conference finals depending on where they finish in the standings.

That team is the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The reasons are simple.

1. Kevin Durant will overtake Kobe as the best player in the NBA this year.
2. The Thunder is made up of terrific young players who know how to play as a team.  
3. Speed kills, and the Thunder have some of the quickest players in the league.

I know, I know. How can you say Durant is the best player in the NBA? 

Another simple answer: I've seen him play. 

For two years, he has killed the back-to-back NBA champs during the regular season.

Then he stepped it up last year in the playoffs. The Thunder gave the Lakers their toughest battle until the NBA Finals.

Then, I just watch him carry Team USA on his back to a world championship. That alone would be enough to make the Thunder a threat. 

But they have so much more. They have one of the best backcourts in the NBA.

Russell Westbrook is just starting to come into his own at the point. He's in the top five already and gets better every game. They have a terrific two-guard combo of talented second-year pro James Harden and defensive standout Thabo Sefalosha.

Throw in wave after wave of athletic bigs and you have a team that is a threat to any team they play.

The Lakers should be able to hold them off one more season.

But after that, look for the Thunder to dominate for several years to come.