Thunder should snatch the crown instead of waiting for Lakers to bequeath it

Our Oklahoma City Thunder has been anointed crown prince of the NBA. The future champs. Heirs to the throne of the Lakers, who have won six of the last 11 league titles.

Too much talent, too much smarts, too much grit for the scepter not to eventually pass to this team of wunderkinds.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Serge Ibaka and James Harden. Kendrick Perkins and Thabo Sefolosha. A bunch of young legs and old souls is hard to beat when combined with basketball brilliance.

But as the Thunder embarks Sunday on Stage 2 of the 2011 playoffs against the suddenly vicious Grizzlies, a suggestion is in order.