OKLAHOMA CITY - Thunder general manager Sam Presti is banking on something rare to keep his team among the NBAs elite. Oklahoma City boasts a core of stars a€” reigning MVP Kevin Durant, electric point guard Russell Westbrook and defensive dynamo Serge Ibaka a€” that has played together for the past five years. The trio has reached the Western Conference Finals three times and the NBA Finals once. As other teams bring in high-priced free agents, piece squads together and hope they build chemistry, Presti hopes the collective experience of his best players finally gets the Thunder to the top. Continuity has become a lost currency, Presti said Thursday. Its very hard to maintain that, given the rules. Youre going to lose players, theres going to be changes. I think how you adapt to that, how youre able to absorb loss, but also add without having to lose players, is important. The Thunder lost to the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals last season, but Presti is excited about the future because his stars are just moving into their prime. Durant will be 26 on Sept. 29, Westbrook turns 26 in November and Ibaka just turned 25 on Sept. 18. I think their best basketball is in front of them, Presti said. But weve been saying that for seven years, and I think well keep saying that for a little while because theres a few attributes that those guys possess that I think are the foundational DNA of an organization. One, work ethic. Two, competitive will. Three, humility and an understanding theres always work to be done. I admire that in any person. Presti said the trio has set the tone for work ethic and professionalism. They understand that getting ready for the playoffs is a season-long process. We are not focused on the post-season, Presti said. Were focused on doing things on a day-to-day basis that help build our habits so that if we do get to the post-season, it transfers and were playing our best basketball at that point in time. I think the way that happens is that you dont focus on the post-season. You focus on the things that are in front of you and making those decisions on a daily basis that help build your standard of play. The Thunder appear to have another on the rise. Backup point guard Reggie Jackson emerged last season while Westbrook sat out with a knee injury, and he joined Westbrook as a starter during the playoffs. Jackson becomes a restricted free agent after the season. Presti would like to re-sign Jackson early, but if it doesnt happen, the Thunder still want him around. We want to invest in Reggie, Presti said. Theres not a lack of clarity in that respect. Another rising star is Steven Adams. The 7-foot centre made a name for himself in the second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers last season. Presti feels the second-year player needs to overcome adversity and deal with added responsibility before he deserves high praise. Until he has those setbacks and hes able to build a body of work that shows us that hes going to be able to continue to grow through those things, we have to reserve our expectations, Presti said. But we couldnt be happier to have him as a part of the organization. Zaza Pachulia Jersey . The government says top golfers are expected to compete in the PGA Tour event at the Ashburn Golf Club in the suburb of Fall River from July 3-6 and again next year. Louis King Pistons Jersey .com) - Former New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya is joining the Major League Baseball Players Association staff as a senior advisor to executive director Tony Clark. https://www.pistonsrookiesshop.com/Thon-Maker-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Pillar is batting .305 with 17 extra-base hits, 19 RBI and five stolen bases in 34 games for Buffalo this season. The right-handed hitter had an International League high, 18-game hitting streak this season and currently owns an IL high 26-game on base streak. Langston Galloway Jersey . The pair ended pointless droughts when they each scored two goals in a 6-4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets that halted a two-game losing skid for the Stars (15-11-5). Deividas Sirvydis Jersey . However, after review it became clear Kadri kicked the puck in.PERTH, Australia -- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Alize Cornet gave France its first Hopman Cup title on Saturday by winning the decisive mixed doubles match against Poland in the final. The French duo routed Agnieszka Radwanska and Grzegorz Panfil 6-0, 6-2 at Perth Arena. Tsonga had given France the lead by beating Panfil 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the opening match before Radwanska levelled the best-of-3 series by outlasting Cornet 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-2 to set up the decisive mixed doubles.dddddddddddd. A series of long rallies in the second set of the womens singles left Cornet so winded she was given a time violation as she tried to recover. She bounced back to win the 80-minute set, but didnt have much energy left in the decider. ' ' '