No surprise there, not after trips to the Western Conference Finals three of the past four years and an NBA Finals appearance in 2012. "First of all, we just need to get our minds right just knowing that today, the only thing you can control is what happens today," Durant said. The Thunder are at risk of falling behind early in the competitive Western Conference without Durant, and if they do, they face the prospect of being the road team in the playoffs against teams such as the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. For now, the Thunder group's resume looks similar to that of the '80s Milwaukee Bucks, the '90s Utah Jazz, New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers and the Phoenix Suns of the 2000s — talented teams that won a lot of games, but never could get over that final hurdle. Westbrook, a point guard, is a three-time All-Star and one of the league's five best pure athletes. Jackson, a lightning-quick backup point guard, stepped up last season while Westbrook was recovering from knee surgery and eventually moved into the starting lineup during the Western Conference Finals.