2011 NBA Playoffs: Can the OKC Thunder Be Even Noisier This Postseason?

After the most talked about first-round victory in recent LA Laker history, the NBA was buzzing with excitement about the Oklahoma City Thunder and its budding stars.

Kevin Durant was scoring champion, Russell Westbrook was progressing better than anyone had expected, Thabo Sefolosha was a shutdown defender who frustrated "the Black Mamba" and the Ford Center was immediately established as one of the most raucous arenas in the league.

One year later, a lot has changed, including the Thunder's seed, which is twice as low, giving them a much better chance at success going forward.

What's different

Westbrook is even better. James Harden has gotten much better (especially defensively), and Kendrick Perkins was added to bulk up the middle and handle guys like Bynum and Gasol, which will make a world of difference compared to the play of Nenad Krstic.

They also added Nazr Mohammed for depth, which has looked like a great move down the stretch.

Serge Ibaka has become a beast in the middle and reliable in every sense of the word.

Veteran Daequan Cook was added for sharpshooting off the bench, which is exactly what he has provided with 62 three-point shots on 41 percent shooting for the season.

Defensively, they have gotten worse by most standards, but Scott Brooks seems to have shored up the problems a bit as the season went on, and Perkins starting alongside Ibaka has obviously helped.

Durant's shooting percentages have dipped across the board, but Westbrook's have improved all around, so you can probably call that a wash.

Assists, steals and blocks have all maintained the same level while the team's overall turnovers have been lessened.

So what's not to like?

The loss of a key feature—the underdog mentality paired with the ability to sneak up on cocky opponents such as the Lakers—could certainly hurt their chances as the playoffs go on.

Once they blow through Denver, they will once again be underdogs, which is exactly what they like to be.

Records vs. Top Seeds

San Antonio: L, L, L...and none of them were pretty. Thunder fans should pray to whatever god they pray to that this matchup somehow does not happen.

Dallas: L, L, W, which were the most competitive games of the three top seeds. The Thunder and its fans would love to see Westbrook run Jason Kidd ragged and Ibaka swat away some Dirk Nowitzki fadeaways.

LA L, L, W. Neither team wants to see each other, one would have to believe. It is worth noting the only game that OKC had Perkins for resulted in a victory, even when the Lakers had a healthy Andrew Bynum. Of course, Durant and Westbrook both shot an uncharacteristically high field goal percentage that night.

Can they win it all?

Can they? Of course.

Will they? Highly unlikely.

If the records versus the top three seeds were not damning enough, even the most diehard fan has to realize that a seven-game series is a very tough thing to win.

The difficulty of said task is amplified when it involves facing off against such experienced and talented opponents with rock-solid coaching.

What will they win? The first round, easily against their chew-toy Denver Nuggets.

After that, not much.