The NBA Finals were only a month ago, but they are already fading into the distance.
The NBA is set to release its schedule for the 2012-2013 season on Thursday night, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are certain to be one of the main attractions. Their Christmas Day game against the Miami Heat has already been leaked to the media, as the Thunder are set to play on the biggest stage of the NBA's regular season.
But while they will only play Miami twice over the course of the 82-game regular season, they will face the new-look Los Angeles Lakers, who added Steve Nash in the off-season, in a rematch of the Western Conference Finals four times.
Their place in the NBA's hierarchy will likely be re-affirmed by them having the maximum number of national television appearances allowed under the new CBA.
For more coverage of the Thunder, check out SB Nation's excellent team blog Welcome To Loud City.