"Kid Clutch isn't concerned.

But, then again, when is he ever?

"I think we've played well," Kevin Durant declared.

Actually, no, the Oklahoma City Thunder has not. Not consistently at least. The team with the league's best winning percentage has merely done enough to skate by. No one legitimately can claim the Thunder is playing as well as it is capable of.

The difference this year is the Thunder is so darned talented it still wins on most nights even in spite of some serious flaws. But, as always, the most pertinent question remains is the team getting better in its preparation for what many expect to be a deep playoff run, or is it simply piling up wins and plowing along?"