SFHM: Straight From the Horse's Mouth

Straight From the Horse's Mouth is a 3-part Q & A series with different Thunder journalists and their views on a couple of current Thunder topics. 

Part 2: Royce Young, Editor and Operator for Dailythunder.com, ESPN TrueHoop network affiliate


Q: What do you believe is the Thunder's greatest strength?

A. Kevin Durant. Next question. But seriously, it's just the overwhelming talent the team has. Even on nights where the defense lacks and the offense is out of sync, there's so much raw ability on the team that they can stay close. These guys are ultra competitive and absolutely HATE losing. They work their tails off and are obsessive about getting better. Put all that together and you've got one heck of a team.

Q: What, in your opinion, does the Thunder need to do to win a title?

A. There are a whole lot of things you can fill this answer with, but in general terms, I'd say it's simple: Play to their potential. I think top to bottom, the Thunder have the best roster in the league. The pieces fit, the team makes sense. I think the Thunder were better than the Heat last season, but the Heat played better four of the five games. They got production from unlikely places while the Thunder didn't get anything from players they were counting on. If OKC can learn from those mistakes and just be themselves in the postseason, I think they have what it takes

Q: Do you believe the Thunder will win a title with the current lineup? Including coaches?

A. If you're asking if they NEED to make a trade to have a chance, I say no. I think the current construction is plenty good. And I know a lot of people question Scott Brooks, but he's not at all the reason the Thunder fell short last season. And to consider making some kind of move when the team has come so far with him in charge would be completely against the team's culture and philosophy. And I think it would send a really negative message to the player. 

But this group is built to compete for a trophy this season. Kevin Martin has fit better than I anticipated, Westbrook and Durant are better than ever, and Serge Ibaka is developing into a legit weapon.

Q: What ceiling do you see for Kevin Durant? Multiple MVPs and Championships? 30,000+ points? Hall of Fame? One of the best players of all time?

A. I honestly don't know if he has a ceiling yet. With how hard he works and the things he's gotten better at just over this past summer, I get chills when I think of what his game will look like at age 28. Winning MVPs and championships is hard though. It takes a whole lot to go right for it to happen. I think Durant should probably put one or two of each away at some point, but projecting that either will happen feels a little crazy. In the grand scheme, it seems like a lock, but actually picturing it is a little surreal. 

But just based on seeing and knowing KD, he's only going to get better. He's going to push himself to the limit of his ability. And when it's all said and done, I think he'll have the kind of resume that has us asking where his place belongs alongside Bird, Magic, Kobe and LeBron.

Next Up: Berry Tramel from the Daily Oklahoman. Make sure to check in frequently to catch the 3rd and final part of the Q & A series, Straight From the Horses Mouth.