I spent the whole summer being incredibly excited about this season one minute and then completely terrified the next. Excited for what could be, terrified for what might not. A summer of hype and potentially unreasonable expectation has scared me a little. Well, maybe scared me a lot. I don’t want to be let down. I haven’t soured by any means on the season, but I think I need to re-excite myself. So here’s 20 reasons to be fired up about this season even if you’re so terrified about it that you’ve changed pants four times already and it’s not even lunch.

1. Kevin Durant
He’s No. 1 for a reason. He is the absolute tip-top reason you should be pumped about this year. Nobody really knows what to expect from him. Twenty-five points per game? Thirty? More than 30? I feel like George Costanza asking Jerry how much he paid for his suede jacket. I’m walking out of here right now thinking KD could average more than 35 points this season, unless you tell me different. Most that claim to know stuff have eliminated his ceiling completely. But not only can we expect to possibly see KD step into the pagoda of the NBA elite in terms of gaudy offensive statistics, but he’s worked all summer upping his defensive game. He’s motivated and that’s scary. Forget reading the other 19 things I list. This should be enough.

2. Natural progression
This is what we’re all banking on. If it doesn’t happen, we may all end up running headfirst into a staircase. When you build a team of young college studs and feign any free agent impact signings, it’s all about player development. And spend 10 seconds talking to Sam Presti and he’ll say “player development,” “process,” “culture” and “plan” 16 times each. Some folks out there are expecting a large jump for this team – a major, unnatural progression. It’s definitely possible and heaven knows I’m hoping for it. But even natural progression is enough to fire me up more than Eddy Curry at an all-you-can-eat. If this young core progresses this year the way that’s intended, we’ll get a nice bump in wins, some major momentum into the offseason and the deserved buzz and hype we all would love to see. Playoffs would be more than we could ask, but things at least sticking to plan this season is enough for me.

3. Russell Westbrook and The Leap
The team’s success depends on it. Presti made a commitment to Westbrook as the point guard of the future by passing on Ricky Rubio last June. Westbrook had an outstanding rookie campaign, considering A) He was a rookie; B) he’d never really played point guard full time and C) he was a rookie. Yet he was a couple rebounds away from being only the 10th rookie in HISTORY to put up 15-5-5, with Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson Michael Jordan and LeBron James being proprietors of that list. And he’s just getting better. This preseason he was Chris Paul-esque with his improved vision and feel for the position. He set teammates up, played under control and slowed down his jets a bit. He’s going to make a leap into the Awesome Zone at some point. He’s too talented not to. But if it’s this year… well, we could be in for something. Something tasty.

4. Twitter
Nearly the whole dang team is on it now. So we can follow James Harden, Kyle Weaver, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefolosha (maybe), Byron Mullens, Kevin Durant and Nick Collison all season long getting their thoughts on games and other things. Collison has slowed his pace, but any time a 140 character gem pops up with his name by it, I’m excited to read it. I’m sure he’ll have a thing or two to say this season and I think you can count on whatever he says to be enjoyable. We need Etan Thomas on it though. I think he could work some beautiful prose into just 140 characters.

5. James Harden
He was drafted to fill a need. We can’t say if that need is officially filled yet, but on paper it is. When a guy is your top pick and taken in the top five, by default you’re excited about it. Harden is a smooth operator that will make his teammates better while also providing some outside shooting and scoring. It may take half a season for him to get rolling. It may take just a month. But when he starts to figure it all out, he’s going to make this team much better.

6. Basketball!!!
Professional basketball in Oklahoma? AGAIN? Yes please. This is Year 2 and I’m just excited to be able to talk about transactions, a roster and the game in general. We didn’t have this three years ago. And the best news is, we’ll have this again next year and the next and the next…

7. Serge Ibaka
Ibaka is the most intriguing player on this roster. Who knows what we’ll see. He may play 20 minutes a night. He may not play at all. He may spend his season in Tulsa. He may explode a basketball by swatting it so hard. It’s all so captivating! Ibaka is a mystery and we don’t really know what to expect. We know he’s got athleticism out the everything and will surely bring us to our feet a few times. We can only hope he stands us up more than a few.

8. No Earl Watson!
Did you grow frustrated last season watching Earl dribble to an elbow with 18 on the shot clock and hoist an ugly jumper, which inevitably clanked back-iron? Me too! That’s why I slaughtered a lamb in celebration and thanks the day Presti bought out his contract.

9. No Damien Wilkins!
You know what sucked? Yes, Damien Wilkins last season. We’ve got the Mendoza Line, we’ve got a new Trudeau line for football, but if we’re looking for a general suckage term for the NBA, Wilkins’ 2008-09 season would definitely be in contention. Horrible percentages, uncanny unproductiveness (word?), general disinterest. It was truly something special. Both team scapegoats are gone and while I’m sure we’ll find someone else to place all blame on, it’s nice to see these two cadavers in different laundry.

10. Youth and exuberance
You know you’ve got a glass half full group when it can start 3-29 and players don’t start faking injuries just so they don’t have to play that night. These guys fought hard through it all and it paid off with a decent finish to the season and some momentum into this one. And with the average age of the team hovering around 24, these guys are just excited to be playing basketball. They play XBOX all day just to pass the time until tip-off. There aren’t a lot of distractions for them. Basketball is life. And that should translate into 82 games of all out play, for good or bad. They’ll run, they’ll dunk and they’ll play hard. Whatever happens, it should be fun.

11. An All-Star Game within driving distance
And inside a spaceship no less. But the best thing is that Kevin Durant is likely going to be participating and when Oklahoma City sends its first player to the All-Star game, we can actually all go see it. Russell Westbrook is a definite contender for the dunk contest. James Harden will be in the Rookie/Sophomore game. And KD will defend his HORSE title. It will be a Thunder weekend in Dallas, and we can all go.

12. Sam Presti is the smartest man alive
Something is going to happen at the trade deadline. Or even before. Something. We all trust in Presti’s judgment, well, at least most of us, so whatever he’s got in mind, we’re going to get behind. He’s got a diddly of cap space to jostle with, he’s got expiring contracts and he’s got assets out the ace. When Dwight Howard is in a Thunder jersey and all we gave up was Kevin Ollie, Etan Thomas and 2011′s No. 1, don’t ask why. Just nod, shake your head with a Harrison Ford smirk and say, “Heh, that Sam Presti.”

13. Dunks
The Thunder fields a solid dunking lineup. Durant can soar. Westbrook flushes with anger. Jeff Green uses both hands and surprises you with an awesome punch. Serge Ibaka may dunk from the other free throw line. Not to mention Harden can toss a few good ones in and Etan Thomas does the whole power dunk thing where he flushes with two hands and shakes the rim around like he had a seizure mid-slam. We’ll have some acrobatics to admire this year for sure. And isn’t that really what we kind of want to see? Chicks dig the dunk ball.

14. The Ford Center
I’ve gone over this already. But it will be fun to watch the NBA in an arena that actually feels like you should be watching the NBA in it.

15. The trade deadline
I’ve never had so much fun with sports while a game wasn’t being played. The moving parts, the talking, the rumors – I ate every bit of it up. I think I had more fun that week than I did the whole season. Granted some of that may have had to do with rooting for a team that was 10-35 at the time. But nonetheless, I can’t wait for the whirling week of deals and rumors. It’s the number one thing you get with a professional team that you don’t get with a college one. Recruiting is faceless and all you care about is a couple of stars next to a kid’s name. You don’t know who he is or where he’s from most times, just what some service thinks of him. But in the pros, you make deals for real players that you know. Hopefully this year OKC is making a deal to push the team over the top instead of making room for the offseason. Oh, and doesn’t rescend it when it happens. That was kind of a buzzkill.

16. Jeff Green
Everybody loves Jeff Green. He’s unassuming, he’s low-key and he’s humble. He plays second fiddle as well as you could. But he made a huge jump last season and he may have more in store this year. Kevin Durant is going to draw almost all attention OKC gets for good reason. Westbrook gets a bunch for his pure flash and excitement. But nobody seems to notice Green. He just does his thing and there are nights he carries the team. You’ve got to love a guy that’s willing to accept a role and do what needs to be done. And a guy LeBron nicknamed “Uncle Jeff.” Best nickname ever.

17. Defense defense defense
It’s what the team spent an entire camp working on. Thabo Sefolosha is the stopper and he’ll lock down on some poor sap all season. Durant supposedly improved, Westbrook is solid and Serge Ibaka may evolve into a rim protector. The Thunder wants to build around defense and spent the offseason working on it. I think there’s some saying about it and championships or somesuch.

18. Scott Brooks
Isn’t Coach Brooks just likable? It always seems like he’s choosing his words very carefully and wants to say the proper thing. He’s got that “You can’t dislike me” look about him and while intense, very under control. For some reason I took pride in having a non-hothead coach last year that didn’t get teed up every other night. I think he’s the right man for the job and he’s instilled an unmatched work ethic in this group to the point he had to lock the gym doors to keep them out. That’s a good sign.

19. The changing of the guard in the West
On the way down: Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Houston, potentially New Orleans. On the way up: Oklahoma City, Portland, L.A. Clippers, maybe Minnesota. I’m picturing titanic matchups between the Thunder and Blazers in the Western Conference Finals over the next five years. I’m picturing monster late season games against the Lakers for seeding. The West is about to open up for a team like OKC. The Thunder just has to be ready to seize it and take advantage of the natural cycle in sports. This could be our time. We need to be ready for it.

20. Hopes and dreams
We all have them about this team. We can play the “If” game and we can think about things bouncing right. It’s what makes a season fun. It’s what makes opening night a joy for every team. Everybody is tied for first place. Everybody thinks about being the It Team that surprises everyone and makes a strong push. Could it be this team? Could this team be the Tampa Bay Rays or the Arizona Cardinals? Why not? Why can’t they be? Actually, don’t answer that.

But entering a season, it’s all about hope and what could be. Nobody wants to think about what won’t be. That’s what December is for. Right now, the Thunder is in first and after tonight could be undefeated with a 1.000 winning percentage. And that’s just how the dream starts. With a healthy amount of hope.

That’s exactly what’s running through my mind about this upcoming season. On one hand, I’m stoked like a giant bonfire about this year. Kevin Durant and Jeff Green’s third year. Russell Westbrook’s second. James Harden, Serge Ibaka and the new guys. Scott Brooks’ first full season. The hype, the improvement, the expectations.

But those last three things are exactly what also terrify me. The hype. The (assumed) improvement. The expectations.

At media day, there was a running question that bounced from player to player: Are the playoffs a possibility? I was actually kind of shocked people were even asking about it. (I’m about to go exactly where you’d expect.) Playoffs? Don’t talk about playoffs. You kiddin’ me? Playoffs? Did everyone forget about last year? Did we forget this team started 3-29 and while it’s been turned over more than Courtney Love, it’s still basically the same core? It’s still a group of under 24 year olds that are very, very talented, yet pretty unproven.

This is what happens during a long offseason. Teams being chic picks. Teams build hype and expectations. Teams are declared on the rise and upcoming. How many years have we been waiting for the Texans to finally become that under-the-radar playoff team? I just fear that offseason of this could alter and distort realistic thoughts about the Thunder and make them a “disappointment” when nothing was disappointing.

And while reading story after story talking about how my team is going to be better was fun, it’s also slightly scary. Now, external expectation has been placed on this team, when they didn’t ask for it. Instead of being able to build and improve at its natural rate, now if the team starts slow or wins just 28 games, all of a sudden 2009-10 is a disappointment. Sam Presti is no longer smart. Kevin Durant isn’t a superstar. This team is probably a year away from reaching it’s apex. They could win this year, but it’s not expected. Does this make any sense at all?

At the same time, the team is responsible for living up to the expectation that’s been placed upon them at some point. While some things are a tad unreasonable (playoffs, 50 wins and such and such), if this team is one that we eventually will see become a consistent winner, it has to start sometime. Otherwise this plan ain’t working. That doesn’t necessarily mean RIGHT NOW, but at some time this year, we definitely need to at least see the steps being taken that direction.

It’s hard to stay reasonable sometimes because it’s easy to get excited as fans. It’s easy to stare through a tiny hole and see everything positive in a team instead of understand its faults. Just look back at some of my recaps during the not-so-excellent P.J. Carlesimo regime. I tried to find positives in everything when the reality was, the team stunk and was getting worse. It’s what we do. But tempering expectation is key. Presti’s plan is built on patience. And we have to be just that.

As Clark noted in his column, in other markets, this wouldn’t fly. But we’re in a unique situation here because we’re willing to give it time. Unless that is we spent a whole summer hearing how good we are and therefore, our once patient, reasonable expectations have now been built into potentially outlandish, over-hyped ones. Then we lose all our patience in the plan and expect the wins now. That’s what Bill Simmons and Ric Bucher said would happen! So why isn’t it?

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t expect great from this team. If we didn’t have the hope that this team could surprise and make a run, then what’s the point in watching? I think we all know a reasonable, sensible number of wins is around 32-36. A bold prediction would be 36-42. If you’re pessimistic, maybe you see 25-30. Anything under 25 is surely a disappointment. But even with all that, there’s that small Peter Gammons part in all of us thinking, “Hey, if things break right and Russell Westbrook becomes that superstar point guard, if Kevin Durant rises into the elite, if Jeff Green becomes a quality four, if the bench evolves and can produce, if James Harden is as good as advertised, if the veterans step up and lead, if Scott Brooks turns into a coaching phenom and Nenad Krstic returns to form, and maybe Presti makes use of the assets and picks up another quality player at the deadline, well, then this team could win 50 games and make a playoff push.”

The players have been trying to tamp down the expectations. The media manifested them and will continue to press it. It makes for good stories. But us fans have to do our best to stay reasonable. I’m excited and I have high hopes for this season. Best case, I’d love a playoff run. I’d likely tear my shirt off and run down I-35 screaming “Thunder Up!!!” if that happened. But you can’t let the hype get to you. Shaun Livingston said, “Of course the playoffs are a possibility. That’s what everybody wants.” But it can’t be expected. Unless of course if Russell Westbrook becomes that superstar point guard and if Kevin Durant…

Their comments:

No West bandwagon is more crowded than OKC’s, with our panel seeing the team that started 1-16 a year ago making the leap to mediocrity. Given the age of Kevin Durant (20), Russell Westbrook (20), Jeff Green (23) and newcomer James Harden (20), it’s not hard to see what the excitement is about. But it will be hard to see them on TV.

So… if I were to set an over/under at 32, what would you take?

It’s really tough for me to say because I’ve been saying all summer I see this team in the 32-36 win range. I feel safe with those numbers, unless Russell Westbrook makes The Leap and becomes an elite point guard. Then I see this team winning 40 or more and potentially challenging for a playoff spot. Kevin Durant is going to score, Jeff Green will be again solid but also better and the addition of James Harden is no small thing. Add in quality role players like Thabo, Nick Collison, Nenad Krstic and Shaun Livingston and that’s a nice rotation right there. Surely better than the 23-win team for last year. Right? Right.

If I said under, then I’d be going lower than the 32-36 range that I set in my mind. So that would mean 31 or fewer and this team should be at least nine wins better than last year. At least I think so. Consider:

• The team started 3-29 last year.
• The team finished 23-59.
• Since Dec. 31 the team was 20-30 including 13-12 at home.
• Carry that winning pace over to this season and the team finishes 31-51. And that’s not counting the assured improvement of Durant, Westbrook and Green, plus the addition of Harden. Plus another year and a full camp under Scott Brooks. Plus having D.J. White for a full season. Plus being much more settled in to the Ford Center and Oklahoma City.

But the question is, how many wins do those things add up to? This team is still young, still raw and still doesn’t know how to win night in and night out. I think we can be sure there won’t be a 3-29 start, but how will they play in February? How will they handle a tough two month opening? How will they handle injuries when they surely hit? Can they win tight games? These are the questions you ask when you’re deciding win totals.

So I’m either going push or over. And I have faith in this uber-talented roster improving and Scott Brooks coaching abilities. I take the over. I don’t know by how much, but I think this team is better than 32 wins. What say you?

What makes a good year? Well, depends on who you ask.

Ask a Laker fan and he’ll say another title. Ask a Celtic fan and he’d say the same. Ask a Bobcat fan and he’ll say playoffs. Ask a Blazer fans and he’d say Western Conference Finals or bust. Or ask a Maverick fan and he’d give you a list.

Which is exactly what I’m going to do. This upcoming season for the Thunder is quite a conundrum. The team has been hyped, de-hyped and then re-hyped all offseason. Expectations are beginning to soar, even though realistically they shouldn’t be as high as they are. Nevertheless, success must be defined in some way for this year. Some might have playoff hopes, which I think are a bit aggressive. Some might just want improvement from last year. I guess I’m somewhere in between.

I think we can add to this list as we go along too. Maybe the team goes 25-10 before Christmas. I think goals will change a bit, but while the season will inevitably be a success, aspirations for the year may evolve.

Win at least 30 games. That doesn’t sound like all that high of an expectation, does it? The Thunder won 23 last year and that’s after winning just four in 2008. So adding seven wins shouldn’t be that big of a deal, right? Well, I’d love to see more than 30. I’d love to be in the 35-40 range. But I think that’s getting ahead of ourselves. We’re trying to define a successful season and I think improving on last year’s win total and getting into the 30′s is a nice step for a team with an average age under 24. I want more, but if OKC wins at least 30, I feel OK.

Kevin Durant is an All-Star. I think we all know he should have been one last year. And with the buzz around him right now with all the LeBron or KD talk and the Team USA camp, he’s almost a lock if he performs at all similar to last year. But I don’t think he’ll do that. I think he’s going to blow last year’s season out of the water. He needs to be an All-Star to raise his profile and also that of his team.

Top 20 in offensive efficiency. Everybody loves to talk about the Thunder’s deficiencies on the defensive end and how that’s the area that needs the most improvement. But in reality, the offense was the worst part of the team last year. Granted, the offense was stunted by P.J. Carlesimo’s historically bad start (they were seriously on pace for the worst offensive season ever), and while Scott Brooks got them on track a little, the team finished 29th in offensive efficiency. With all the offensive talent on this team, there’s no excuse for being that low. Getting into the top 20 would be a major step in the right direction.

Russell Westbrook has a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. I truly think if that happens, this team can and will win 40 games. I think Westbrook’s development is where everything hinges, at least for this forthcoming season. Last year, he was a 5:3. That’s not very great. If he could be somewhere in the six assists, two turnover territory, I think this team is winning games. Now if he gets to nine assists, three turnovers, well, then color me tickled.

The longest losing streak is stopped at five games. Last year, the Thunder endured a franchise record 14-game losing streak and also stretches of eight and seven straight. A big step for this young club would be to throw a tourniquet on and stop the bleeding before things get out of control.

Pick up two more nationally televised games. Right now, OKC is slotted for one appearance on ESPN (Dec. 16 against Dallas) and two NBA TV games. While that’s nice because there’s some teams that don’t have ANY, I think Thunder fans were a little disappointed by the amount of televised games. But if you win, the TV comes. So not only does getting more games picked up mean more wins, it also means there’s more buzz about this exciting team and more positive exposure for the franchise.

Beat at least five title contenders. Home, road, wherever. Last year, the Thunder’s big statement wins were two against the Spurs, one at home against the Blazers and I guess, one at home against Dallas. A big step in OKC’s progression would be to beat a few title contenders at home and maybe even a few on the road. And notice I said “at least.” That’s what would be successful to me. Beating more than five is a home run.

.500 division record (4-12 last year). The Northwest Division isn’t known as one of the toughies in the league, but it isn’t bad by any means. Denver is good, Portland is good, Utah is alright and well, Minnesota is, you know. But with 16 games against division foes (four against each you smarties), that’s almost 20 percent of your schedule right there. It’s a big step towards legitimacy to be able to win within your division. A 3-1 record against Minny would be nice, a split with Utah would be fine and stealing a total of three against both Portland and Denver would be considered a success in my book. (You should read my book. It’s very awesome.)

At least .500 at home (15-26 last year). Take away OKC’s horrendous start and this was actually a possibility last year. Counting the Thunder’s New Year’s Eve win against Golden State, OKC went 13-12 in 2009 at home. And at one point, the Rumbles were 12-6 at home in 2009. This team will have an awesome home court advantage again this year and if it can win half its games at the Ford Center, that’s at least 20 wins right there.

Better road record (8-33 last year). Just two teams had worse road records last year than OKC (Sacramento and Washington). And for a time, the Thunder looked to be historically bad away from home. By “better” I mean simple improvement. Ten wins on the road coupled with a .500 home record means OKC wins 30 games. It’s as simple as that. I’d love to get into the 14-16 range, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.

What say you? Any goals for success I left off? James Harden as Rookie of the Year? First team All-Defense for Thabo Sefolosha? Thoughts, ideas, aspirations?