OKC Thunder: What Each Player on the Roster Must Improve on for 2011-12

The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the NBA's best teams. They are also one of the youngest.

OKC reached the Western Conference finals last season, but lost to the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks in five games.

While the Thunder improved on their impressive 2009-10 playoff run in 2010-11, there are still many areas of the game each player needs to work on.

Fortunately for the Thunder, many of their best players are young enough to be able to develop more and become stars for years to come.

Let's look at what every Thunder player needs to improve on this summer.

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Cole Aldrich: Interior Defense

Cole Aldrich was a first round pick last season, but didn't see much playing time for the Thunder.

He hasn't progressed as nicely as the team anticipated, and he needs to work on his interior defense if he wants to earn more minutes.

Nick Collison: Low-Post Offense

Nick Collison brings tremendous energy and defense off the OKC Thunder bench, and played brilliantly in the 2011 NBA playoffs.

But his offense is just average, and if he could develop his low-post scoring game a bit more, he'd be a real asset to the team.

Daequan Cook: Perimeter Defense

Daequan Cook is primarily a three-point shooter when he's on the floor for the Thunder, but his defense is lacking.

If he could improve his perimeter defense, his playing time would skyrocket.

Kevin Durant: Outside Shooting

Kevin Durant is a good outside shooter but he's quite inconsistent—in the 2011 NBA playoffs he shot only 33 percent from three-point land.

Durant needs to become a more consistent outside shooter, and if he cannot, he needs to take his game into the paint more.

James Harden: Consistency

James Harden is one of the best sixth men in the NBA, and has all the tools necissary to be a very good all-around player for a long time.

However, he needs to be more consistent with his play, and needs to keep attacking the basket on offense and not settle for the three point shot too often.

Serge Ibaka: Low-Post Offense

Serge Ibaka is becoming a defensive star in the NBA, but becoming a better low-post scorer would really make him a nightmare for opposing defenses.

Ibaka needs to work on his mid-range jumper, which got better last season to be fair, and he needs to practice low-post scoring moves.

Eric Maynor: Scoring

Eric Maynor is the best pure point guard on the Thunder, and runs the offense very well—even better than Russell Westbrook.

If Maynor improves his outside shooting, he could be a good scorer, and his playing time would significantly increase.

Nazr Mohammed: Stay out of Foul Trouble

Nazr Mohammed was acquired by the Thunder at last year's trading deadline, and he was a nice defensive addition for the team.

However, he needs to stay out of foul trouble more because his defense is so solid and the Thunder don't have many centers who play exceptional defense.

Nazr and Kendrick Perkins, who is also foul prone, must stay on the floor.

Kendrick Perkins: Learn the Offense

Kendrick Perkins took a bit of time to get used to the Thunder offense last season, since it was so much different than the Boston Celtics offense he was in before the trade deadline.

Perkins just needs to practice more with his teammates and get used to them and he'll be fine.

Nate Robinson: Take Control of the Offense

Nate Robinson is thought of as an offensive player only, but he has underrated passing skills.

If Robinson can show the Thunder coaching staff he can be a decent playmaker on the court, he will get much more playing time next season.

Thabo Sefolosha: More Consistent Shooting

Thabo Sefolosha is one of the premier perimeter defenders in the NBA, but his inability to be consistent offensively hurts his playing time.

Becoming a better outside shooter and stretching the floor for the Thunder would allow him to see more time on the court.

Russell Westbrook: Shot Selection and Outside Shooting

Russell Westbrook loves to shoot the basketball, but he often does so in a bad spot. He needs to work on his shot selection this season to improve his shooting percentage and his team's offense.

Also becoming a better three-point shooter would really open up Westbrook's game, because he has great speed and aggressiveness when attacking the basket.