Oklahoma City Thunder schedule 2013: Statement games define season

Call last season's playoff exit a symptom of relying too heavily on two elite scorers, or blame a knee injury that sidelined one of those scorers. Whatever the case may be for the Oklahoma City Thunder, expectations haven't changed heading into 2013-14. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are still part of a very good basketball team led by coach Scott Brooks. Westbrook is out for at least the first 4-6 weeks of the regular season, but if he returns to his old form, the Thunder will unquestionably be a contender again out West.

Nov. 13 at Los Angeles Clippers -- When Doc Rivers was with the Celtics, his team became known as LeBron James' biggest antagonizer. Now that Rivers is headed west, there's a good bet his Clippers' main targets will be Durant, Westbrook and the Thunder. If the Clippers want to become a defensive force as promised, making enemies with Oklahoma City is a solid start. The Thunder must push back.

Dec. 29 vs. Rockets -- Can the Houston Rockets quickly make up the difference in the conference elite thanks to the addition of Dwight Howard? Defeating the Thunder, the team that beat eliminated them from the playoffs last year, would certainly go a long way in making a statement during the first few months of the postseason.

Jan. 17 vs. Warriors -- Golden State also falls into the category of rising superpower, and they now have a wing defender to stop Durant in Andre Iguodala. A regular season meeting should give Mark Jackson's squad a good look at how it might stop one of the NBA's best scorers.

Jan. 29 at Miami -- In 2012-13, the Thunder didn't reach the conference finals, let alone the NBA Finals, but there's no love lost between two of the best teams in the league that have two of the most recognizable faces in the game. If you haven't figured it out, we're talking about LeBron James and Durant.