The Thunder kick off NBA action on Oct. 21 against the Houston Rockets. Although Oklahoma City is focused on the playoffs, it cannot afford to get ahead of itself and ignore the regular season. Check out three lessons that the Thunder will learn during the early portion of their schedule. 

First Impressions of West Contenders

Oklahoma City has numerous matchups against premier Western Conference threats during its first 15 games of the season. 

• Oct. 21 vs. Rockets
• Oct. 27 at Mavericks
• Nov. 4 at Clippers
• Nov. 11 vs. Warriors
• Nov. 12 vs. Lakers

The actual results of the contests won’t mean much for the Thunder as the reigning champs and with key players injured, but it’s an opportunity to see the offseason’s impact on these contenders. 

How does adding Kevin Durant but losing Fred VanVleet alter Houston’s half-court offense? What are the early returns on Cooper Flagg and skinny Luka Doncic? Was Al Horford the missing piece for Golden State? Will the Clippers’ new-look bench dominate games?

The Thunder will gather valuable information about strengths and weaknesses that could be useful down the road. Although Oklahoma City should not intentionally sabotage its winning chances, it may be a good idea for Mark Daigneault to heavily experiment with rotations and schemes during these contests in order to gather data. 

Age vs Talent

LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry seem to be ageless. They are still superstars despite being drafted in 2003, 2007, and 2009. James’ longevity is especially impressive considering Larry Bird was the reigning league MVP when he was born. 

Will it finally be the year that regression topples the trio from superstar status? Curry and Durant both turn 38 years old this season, but their styles and skills tend to age well. It’s highly doubtful that they significantly regress, especially given their preseason play. 

On the other hand, Father Time might make a dent in James’ output. He’s already set to miss the beginning of the season due to sciatica, or nerve irritation, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. 

If James regresses to being merely an All-Star caliber player, the Lakers’ title chances take a huge hit. They desperately need the four-time champion in top shape when April rolls around. 

How Good is the Thunder’s Depth?

Oklahoma City is dealing with numerous absences to start the season, including Jalen Williams, Kenrich Williams, Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber. The reigning champs may also be without Isaiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell on Opening Night, although no report about their availability has been issued. 

The Thunder’s first chunk of their regular season schedule is not easy, so they need role players to step up and fill key roles. Otherwise, Oklahoma City’s record may be worse than expected until Jalen Williams returns. 

3 Players Who Must Step Up Due to Thunder's Numerous Injuries With key players sidelined, these Thunder stars must elevate their game, filling critical roles and spearheading the offense through the injury crisis.