Westbrook Responds to Detractors, But Can't Work Alone

The subject comes up again because Russell Westbrook is under a barrage of criticism for Oklahoma City's failures. All week, he's been the center of attack, verbal attacks, that is, for his decision-making and shot-selection. Had it not been for him this postseason, the Thunder would not be playing in the 2012 NBA Finals -- to be exact.

Unfair as it is to put heavy burdens on Westbrook entirely, he's played more than 40 minutes at point guard and has not backed down, despite harsh criticism of late. He is unfazed by the fault finding, refusing to surrender, unwilling to withdraw from contention. The trouble is, while Westbrook is focused on winning, he is working alone, putting in much effort to try and lead Oklahoma City to another victory to make it a series. If there's no supporting cast to assist Westbrook, forget it.

No shot.


No use blaming Westbrook. After a 104-98 Game 4 loss on Tuesday night to drop 3-1 in the series, he lowered his head, in the end of a 43-point performance for which he was weary and distraught. Sadly enough, it was a waste and may have also decided the Thunder's fate, on the edge of elimination as the Heat are one win away from an NBA championship. If you base it on history, no team has ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit as Oklahoma City is seeking to pull out the improbable.

The loss happened on a night that Westbrook had an electric game, making 22 of 32 shots by attacking the rim and knocking down jump shots, which was even more disappointing after giving it his best effort. It's impossible to grasp an assumption for a historic comeback for a team, trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, who has never been in such a heavy predicament and, without a resolute supporting cast -- with or without the 23-year-old point guard -- the Thunder simply have no chance.

In fairness, folks, Westbrook can use some assistance from the likes of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Thabo Sefolosha. Where has the three-time NBA scoring champ been? Where has the reigning sixth man been? Where has the Swiss superstar been?

The struggles continue to stifle Harden, and he's partly responsible for the Thunder's fourth-quarter failures in Game 4, not nearly shooting the ball effectively, not nearly as physical or assertive but suddenly absent. Things could turn around -- but in the meantime -- he doesn't exist, he seems lost, not exactly sure of himself. If the season ends Thursday, pointing the fingers at Westbrook would be morally wrong and irresponsible, based on what he's mastered in these finals to outdo Durant and Harden. Yet for all of Westbrook's marksmanship and toughness, he's taking the blame for losses and he's not even the problem but the solution if his teammates come out with as much poise and fire.

If he takes and misses too many shots, it's not easily discovered with lousiness from his teammates, leaving him with the bulk of the work as the pressure is greater than ever. If the Thunder, however, were to amazingly stun the world in one of the finest NBA Finals comebacks ever, Westbrook should rightly so be named Finals MVP. And there's no question in my mind that he wouldn't, thanks to his sheer dominance -- almost roughing up the Heat single-handedly with a crafty shooting performance.

Scott Brooks, Thunder head coach, knows he can count on Westbrook, but can't bank on his other players, to string together a convincing victory. It's unlikely to happen, unless Oklahoma City has a miracle up their sleeves to turn a series around and make things much more interesting. And now, it seems far-fetched without Durant, perhaps discomfited by foul troubles and missed shots, to see the Thunder keep hopes alive. Oklahoma City simply cannot persist in pomp of skillfulness if everyone is not contributing to what was supposed to be a hybrid offense, loaded with the most talent.

The Thunder, however, are anything but the deepest and instead are nonexistent, disappearing and shrinking on the national stage, a moment when the stakes are high, a moment when superstars align to play some of their best basketball. It's only Westbrook with a hot shooting touch, no one else, not even his counterpart Durant, who had 28 points and never takes shots as bad as Westbrook. There was, of course, the absence of Harden in Game 4, finishing with a miserable eight points on 2-of-10 shooting to raise much concern about his inability to score and snap out of dreadful drought.

The breakdown mentally incensed and frustrated the hell out of Westbrook, which was evident from his brief answers during postgame interviews when he wasn't in a good mood to have a conversation with the media. Then, of course, Durant is frustrated with the officiating that keeps favoring the Heat and limiting his time on the court, leaving Brooks with no choice but to bench the superstar. In the ultimate surge, Westbrook not only silenced his critics with a noteworthy game, but almost manhandled and stole a decisive Game 4 in a hostile territory to even it 2-2.


It turns out, at least so far, that averaging a playoff-high 43 points is not good enough, dropping two straight games against the Heat. And he ended up blundering when he fouled Mario Chalmers needlessly with 13.8 seconds left, while the Thunder were down three and the shot clock close to expiring. Other than that, Westbrook was ideal and played fiercely, whether he was attacking the rim or burying midrange jump shots to keep Oklahoma City within striking distance. No matter what, he always draws criticism and couldn't care less, not immune to the negativity.

At the end of the day, he's still playing with an aggressive style, a stubborn-minded player not altering his style of play for anyone, not even himself. It's not easy changing one's personality, and certainly not easy to transform a normally out-of-control Westbrook. It's in his nature, as a mercurial player, to run loosely and wildly, without very little control and maturity, developing into a full-grown brute on the hardwood. What he provides for OKC is toughness and confidence, something Durant and Harden can't even bring to the game on a nightly basis, struggling to get into a rhythm. The night he punched the James and the Heat his team couldn't win.

It was an individual effort not a team effort and, because everyone disappeared except Westbrook, he draws criticism off the court. He's basically criticized because he's great, not because he fouled a 79 percent shooter who was having his best game. It figured he would be picked apart for a bad foul that resulted in an eventual loss, even after giving it his best try, even after dropping in 17 points in the fourth, knocking down seven of his nine shots from the floor and all three free throws.

That wasn't enough to get it done.

For Harden, the struggles and dashing hopes came often in the fourth and went scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting in the quarter. Despite that he's one of the league's brightest and most endearing stars, Durant wasn't flawless as well and had six points and two turnovers in the last quarter.

Poor Westbrook was all alone. As a point guard who doesn't traditionally play like one, choosing to hold on to the ball for extended periods of time, Westbrook is not known for his playmaking, not known for creating scoring opportunities but known for shooting far too much and not dishing the ball to his teammates. From the start, he came out on fire, hitting his first four shots in a 13-3 run and continued to scorch throughout the game. By nature, however, he's big-name shooter and can score at will. It's too bad he had no team that rallied behind him. With Westbrook, it was more of a wrestling match down the stretch, for the most part, and it was a point guard duel as Chalmers had 12 of his 25 points for the Heat in the fourth period. Speaking of scorers in these Finals, LeBron James had 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.

That was enough, certainly.

LeBron, who could hardly stand late in the fourth, who limped and grimaced in pain after suffering a left leg cramp, had a supporting cast to count on.

You can almost feel sorry for Westbrook.

Before Westbrook Ceases Criticism, Adjusting Style of Play Is Key

He trotted off the court without having a grin on his face, showing no emotion at practice Saturday. By watching closely, you'd realize that Russell Westbrook is unfazed by criticism, when his postgame wardrobe has been just as hideous as his dismal game. That's because he's normally hogging the ball, and then afterwards, walks into the press conference room wearing his outlandish, geek-chic outfits.


Sooner or later, he should discern that he's one of the struggling players in the NBA Finals, but he's stubborn and has no intention of altering his game, not immune to the harsh criticism he has heard over the last few days. It's obvious that none of this bothers him, as much as it irritates, say, someone who devotes and spends too much time and money on pro teams. But seriously, he's partly the reason the Oklahoma City Thunder are losing, with the blame falling quickly and unfairly on him, growing into a more polarizing figure in these finals, after starting 1-for-7 shooting with only one assist as the Thunder trailed 18-2 to open Game 2.

It was another slow start, another night that he was nowhere to be found -- making his teammates look in the Lost and Found for their second-scoring option. He was Waldo, not Westbrook. Where was he? He had Scott Brooks, his coach, searching for him for much of the night.

Turns out Westbrook is ignoring criticism. That became clear when he said he's not changing his style of play, even after Magic Johnson said at halftime of Game 2 of the NBA Finals that Westbrook was "the worst point guard in the championship finals I've ever seen," even after critics lambasted him following a formidable night. Under a barrage of criticism for his decision-making and terrible shooting, especially when he failed to distributed the ball to Kevin Durant for more touches and potential scoring opportunities, Westbrook is not changing into a traditional point guard anytime soon. He's going to do it his way, or no way.

"I'm not making no adjustments, regardless of what anybody says," Westbrook said before the Thunder's practice. "I'm going to play my game regardless of what happens."

What I wanted to see from Westbrook was an aggressive, self-controlled scorer who performed brilliantly in the postseason to suddenly burgeon into a perennial star. Even if he has the numbers, a bevy of mind-blowing numbers that stand out, Westbrook's numbers are presentable but are very misleading. He has not shown up to play his best game, with his emotions getting the best of him. Either he's too assertive or lacks toughness, shooting when he wants selfishly, missing a flock of ill-advised shots and then escaping the criticism by shrugging off the magnitude of improvement in the threshold of his first NBA Finals appearance.


His penchant for taking way too many shots, and not leaning heavily on the league's scoring champ, is denting the Thunder's chances of winning an NBA championship. It would have been nice, for a team surrounded by a lethal scorer, to see him share the wealth -- yes, you heard correctly -- to see Westbrook share the wealth with Durant. One can argue that he's a solid point guard with playmaking intangibles, despite his sketchiness and unstable maturation, haunting him deep down inside. All the blame lies on Westbrook -- and yes -- unfairly. But it happens when people demand much from a player at his position, and a guard who allegedly takes away too many shots from Durant -- maybe an exaggerated statement commonly rehashed.

Either way, it seems, he's not much of a distributor and should dish the ball to Durant, a much more efficient scorer, a skilled and versatile player. This season alone, and in his first real test, Westbrook is evolving after making his transition to the point and still is getting a feel for the position, where he may never become a pass-first, unselfish guard -- at least not during his young career. No matter what, the Thunder need him and want him to be a scorer and a prudent decision-maker.

The problem is, he's too defiant, too selfish and too careless. Another problem is, and this may be the real issue, that he's overconfident and too emotional as Brooks insist he makes better judgment passing the ball and getting his teammates involved, particularly Durant. Often times, he diminishes from his mistakes, he fades out of the spotlight for his volatile attitude and much of it has cost him and the Thunder. There's been talk he won't ever match the ability of Chris Paul or Derrick Rose, well, at least not anytime soon.

But maybe, since he's someone who can attract us with his fashion, Westbrook can convince the fashion police, by sporting his shirts that are louder than the thunderous Oklahoma City crowd. For Game 3 on Sunday night, he will need his best game to erase a horrendous night in shooting, only making 2-of-10 shots to begin Thursday's game. The criticism is fueled from his inability to know when to shoot and when not to shoot, while also he can sometimes be overly relentless.

But, as we know by now, he's not changing it for anyone, unwilling to sacrifice and alter his attack, whether he's lacking trust in his teammates or just wanting to be the superhero. In all, Westbrook compiled monster numbers on the scoreboard, and has taken more shots than anyone in this series, unable to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. The blame stems from him taking over the game when he's teamed up with Durant and James Harden, the sixth-man of the year.

And so, Westbrook's style of play is compatible with another system, where he may actually fit in and work brilliantly for another team, but not for the Thunder, a team loaded with plenty of offensive weapons. The other night, he had 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a 100-96 Thunder loss in Game 2, where he attempted 26 shots.

And he doesn't think there's room for improvement...

“I’m not making no adjustments,” Westbrook said, when asked about being a better point guard. “There’s always room for improvement, always room to get better. But the style of play that I play with, that’s not changing.”

He could be unselfish and not so obstinate, and take fewer shots.

Durant Puts On Show as Thunder Suddenly Looks Invincible

The turnaround arrived at Kevin Durant's house in another decisive game of this fascinating home stand. The Oklahoma City Thunder were on life support, barely surviving, staying alive and almost experienced postseason death. But when they traveled to their familiar territory, for these last two games, the Thunder were no longer pushed around by the San Antonio Spurs.

For all the noise about the Spurs having the deepest unit, for all the talk around the water cooler, in the workplaces and arguments at bars all over about Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker stealing Game 3 and reestablishing themselves, the Thunder changed the fans' perceptive after wrapping up a 109-103 victory in Game 4 to even the Western Conference Finals at two games apiece.

Covered in a sea of blue at Chesapeake Energy Arena, thousands of fans wildly screamed, cuddled in the stands to witness Durant score all 16 of the Thunder's points down the stretch. It's time to realize Durant, the NBA's reigning scoring champ, is an emerging superstar, planting the seeds for his own groundwork in a league where he is suddenly the newest star on the block. Now, having said all that, he's also the hottest tale of Oklahoma City, which he's fun to watch and has suddenly expanded his art of shooting to steal the show, becoming the cutest clutch performer of late.

And finally, he mastered his ability to shoot the ball. The more he shot it, the more he made, hotter than ever, making shot after shot and, as a result, led the Thunder in the final minutes of his scintillating performance. In the end, it was exactly about Durant's fourth-quarter spurt, if nothing else. This also changed the aspect of the game, and maybe even the personality of these playoffs for the Thunder, a team only two wins away from securing a spot in the NBA Finals. Durant is a streaky shooter and can heat up at any giving moment. So, of course, it's not a surprise he had 18 of his 36 points in final seven minutes.

From his craft and finesse that seem to better define him, he knocked down a fadeaway jumper, and then made a couple of jump shots in ways that boosted the team's confidence. Quick upsurges in the fourth quarter of a must-have ratcheted up his level of play. Fundamentally, Durant mastered the way of winning close games and grinding out late-game heroics, whether it was burying a step back or fadeaway jump shot. It probably crossed Durant's mind, after his team's 15-point lead diminished to four, that this would be the moment he take matters into his own hands.

That led to a fantastic ending after Durant hit an array of shots, mostly coming from him in the fourth quarter to give spectators an awe-inspiring performance. And when the Spurs were rallying for a near-comeback -- as a comfortable lead slowly disappeared -- right then Durant took over. In time, we'll know if the Thunder are real or not. And therein lies good vibes for Oklahoma City, two wins away from earning a spot on basketball's national stage. It was nice to see Durant single-handedly maul the Spurs to send the series back to San Antonio tied for Game 5 Monday night.


Along the way, in Game 4, he buried three straight jumpers, including one that came after he bumped into Parker in the lane to draw the foul that set up a three-point play. Moments later, he attacked the rim and earned a trip to the foul line when he was fouled and finished a layup on lob pass from James Harden. This is what we expect from our NBA superstars, an epic masterpiece that centers one of finest studs in pro basketball, and certainly we are proud to present a three-time scoring champion. Seen coming off a screen, which was perfectly executed by Westbrook, Durant made another jumper to continue domination. As the clock was dwindling down, Durant hit two free throws in the final moments to come away victorious.

It's fun to root for Durant. That's because he's very matured, humbled, likable, and allows the game to do the talking for him. It's amazing to see how he's grown since making his transition to the professional level. There's no need to bother asking about trust issues, but we can often ask the question why Durant is rarely mentioned on the same list as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony.

It almost -- in many ways -- feels as if he's been in the league for years when he is only 23-years old and not too long made his presence felt. That's because he has the mind of a longtime veteran. It was a one-man show late in the fourth. It's clear Durant is a leader, a closer, a marksman, and with that in mind, he knows when to attempt shots and when to get Thunder's big men involved.

So what did Durant do?

For three quarters, he was dishing off passes to Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins, who both were dunking over bodies. The sidekick of the night was Ibaka, obviously, after having a career-high 26 points. Most of the time he was pouring in 18-footers or either getting to the lane for a layup. Despite Durant's ability to score as a leader whenever he pleases, he trusted in his players but hijacked the game when necessary to be a beneficiary for the Thunder. Unselfish and realizing it takes a team effort Durant kindly shared the ball as everyone touched it.

With enough depth and star power, Westbrook hurled shots, Harden was aggressive to the rim and Nick Collison dominated the glass. The pressure is not such a bad thing when a superstar as good as Durant has a supporting cast he can rely on in the event that he's a no-show because of an off night in shooting. It's clear most credit needs to be given to Thunder head coach Scott Brooks for finding ways to make adjustments for Games 3 and 4, where Oklahoma City climbed back into the Western Conference Finals. Even without Durant, though, the Spurs were still shoved around for mainly three quarters. But then -- suddenly -- the Thunder's primary scorer stole the show.

That would be Durant, of course.

This is because he puts in the work, time and effort. This is because he's dedicated to the game. This is because he's willing to improve after each game, avoiding criticism or even praise to modify his level of play by his work ethic and staying active in practice to tweak his flaws. For the biggest game of his career, he was not only a playmaker but he also quickly emerged into one of the great scorers.

He's played his best in the biggest moments, and so has his team collectively.

Sefolosha Gives Thunder New Life

For a while there, we had predicted the Spurs to beat the Thunder, given the first two games of this best-of-seven series, ready to project San Antonio's place in NBA history. Now it's a different story, after Oklahoma City finally came out to play, avenging a pair of agonizing losses on the road.

For one of the extraordinary NBA tales to resonate a striking climax with reference to a franchise that relocated to Oklahoma City and gave celebratory fans something to embrace, it was substantial that the Thunder ease back into the Western Conference Finals. The adjustments made by Thunder head coach Scott Brooks worked in Oklahoma City's favor, and also, they were in a favorable position after returning home for Game 3, where the crowd was electric and saw the Thunder beat the Spurs 102-82 on Thursday night. The expiration date on the Spurs 20-game winning streak went bye bye when Oklahoma City snapped its opponents' perfection and, better yet, kept its season alive by winning a pivotal game to avoid a 3-0 series deficit.

“We’re human. We had a good run. It’s just one loss,” Spurs forward Stephen Jackson said.


What it should remind us is that the Thunder, remarkably, are skilled and frightening, after all -- extremely aggressive and built with plenty of weapons to tie it in Game 4 on Saturday night. It would be a mistake on America's behalf, your behalf, or my behalf to put the Thunder on the back burner. The star of the night was Thabo Sefolosha, a guard from Switzerland, setting playoff career-bests with 19 points and six steals. What happened Thursday night will keep everyone buzzing until at least after Game 4, depending on how well the Thunder perform in a must-needed game for the second straight meeting against the Spurs.

It's beyond absurd to even conceive that Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and Sefolosha will back down and not engage in a monumental playoff campaign. It was so much to be excited for, after this game. It was a total team effort, it was a brand of basketball we are used to seeing from the Thunder -- role players showed up, they played their style of basketball and were exceptional defensively, to uphold high regards based on a respectable performance.

“We never thought these guys had an advantage over us even though we lost a few,” said Durant. “We came out with the sense of urgency that we need to play with for the rest of the series.”

The chances of them winning the Western Conference Finals are still roughly plausible. Durant had 22 points, as usual, making shots from the floor, and Sefolosha had a right-handed dunk off a lob pass from Westbrook, who fueled the crowd with a two-handed slam shortly after and finished with 10 points and nine assists. The run was perpetuated when Sefolosha finished with a reverse layup on another turnover to expand it to an 86-63 lead late in the fourth.

"We wanted to bounce back after two losses like that. We had to play better and we did that tonight," said Sefolosha. "We played with energy, we played with passion in front of our home crowd. They did a great job giving us a lift."

From there on, the Thunder went on a 9-0 run, which the Spurs were exhausted and couldn't stifle fast break opportunities. It led to a blowout that reminded us of something usually seen in an NBA Live video game, and before you knew it, the Spurs were trailing to the Thunder by double-digits. Late in the fourth quarter, when Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich's head was ready to explode, he had benched his entire starting lineup and inserted his second unit. Over on the bench, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan were flummoxed and starred dazed, only to be pummeled when we thought the Spurs were unbeatable.

And finally, despite a horrendous beatdown, Duncan had five blocks to surpass the great Kareem Abdul-Jabber's NBA record of 476. For a man who scored only 11 points on 5-for-15 shooting -- exhausted and aging every time he takes the court -- Duncan couldn't care less about individual accomplishments. He would instead tell everyone that he prefers to win another championship than reaching the heyday of his career. But here we are, second-guessing ourselves, not leaving out the Thunder after the damage they did in one game. This is the type of performance that scares the hell out of the NBA. If there's the possibility of Oklahoma City tying this series, which can happen if the Thunder have regained their swagger with thunderous roars from local fans, then there's a great chance they can muster momentum and take full control.

So not so fast, Spurs. This is not over, folks. And both teams could be in for a long, long series. This was a whole different game for Parker, who entered Game 3 coming off a 34-point performance. But this time, Sefolosha was assigned to muffle Parker, an All-Star point guard. Not very much to bring, he was held to 16 points and four assists, while his antagonist, Sefolosha, was the star on his own stage and deserved much credit for being a two-dimensional player. It was one defensive switch that changed the whole dynamic, giving the Thunder life in Game 4.

With plenty of talk floating around that the Spurs were potent and championship-built, maybe even the top and most experience team in these playoffs -- as much had been made about experience topping youth -- it's a new series now, a game of unpredictability and exhilaration. Perception and reality are what defines this series suddenly, assuming the Thunder will have the momentum and confidence, with the next game in their own gym where they have been wonderful all season. And the last we seen Westbrook, he was quiet but finally arrived in time and appeared to be more active and sprightly.

There's no place like Southern Home Cooking. And at home, in front of the loudest NBA crowd, Durant and the rest of his team normally eat well. Which is thought of even more so, when the Thunder are roughly deeper and younger, capable of playing a full 48 minutes, as the aging Spurs became fatigue and mentally drained by the second half. Not sure there's much Popovich can plot to alter things back into his favor. The one way the Spurs can extend their lead is by Ginobili having another amazing effort, a left-handed sixth man who can hit the three-pointer, storm to the basket and knock down timely layups.

"I can ask Scotty not to play him," Popovich said calmly after Game 3. "I don't know how I can change what Sefolosha's going to do. He did a good job."

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how the Spurs respond, as much as it will be to see if the Thunder breaks out with all firepower and more energy.

It is, however, far from over.

This Is Not an Illusion: Durant, Westbrook Can Win It for Thunder

The feeling, along with the fascinating and youngest core in the NBA, is that Kevin Durant and the burgeoning Oklahoma City Thunder can finally be recognized in the loudest building in the league, where the enthusiastic crowd screamed wildly thrilled to worship an NBA franchise in a town where an appreciated market is normally obsessed with college sports.

Best as it seems, here's a franchise that comprise of spectacular talent and has been noticed by all the dazzling achievements in the postseason in NBA history, highlighted by Durant and the phenomenal wingman Russell Westbrook. As it is, the Thunder are depicted as the deepest 1-2 threat in the league when Durant and his teammates have rendered that Oklahoma City is the hottest contenders on the rise. In the stands at the raucous Oklahoma City Arena, evidently the noisiest venue in the league, the zesty crowd cheered and witnessed the Thunder propel to a 105-90 win in a convincing rout over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 7 to advance to the Western Conference Finals.

The folks, lathered in blue attire in support of the Thunder, watched Durant and Westbrook perfectly scorch and improve in the biggest game of their lifetimes, sprouting into one of the most mesmerizing teams in pro basketball and could be the scariest contenders in our next generation. What's shocking and very hard to ponder, even though Oklahoma City is the most impressive team in such an erratic postseason with immeasurable size and even the deepest roster surrounded by weapons and a legion of youth and talent, is that nobody is giving the Thunder credit.

This has been a wondrous season for Oklahoma City, greater like never before by the emergence of the much-improved stars in the future, finally well-deserving of applause for reaching the highest climax as the stakes are immense. This is the era when Durant shines and establishes himself as one of the idolized, iconic figures in the league, fittingly climbing onto the highest level alongside Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. For now, however, we are overly fascinated by Durant, ultimately the face of the Thunder and the town's beloved ballplayer, if not globally.

It's most telling, when he is one of the youngest stars embracing the moment under the pressure amidst the national spotlight, that Durant has become the greatest curiosity in the NBA by alarming the basketball world in the arrival of his first signature moment of his breathtaking career. At a time when Durant seized the spotlight by wooing the spectators, considered the eventful superstar in the game today, his mother, Wanda Pratt was seen on camera. She noticed herself on the big screen, waving and pumping her fist, proud of her son's fruition of greatness in his premature career.

In an afternoon matinee, where Durant produced largely and guided the Thunder to new heights, his mom was the cheerleader and galvanized the crowd in the middle of a timeout during the second quarter by dancing happily. At a time when he scored a game-high 39 points, hitting 13 of 25 shots, when he inspired the population to believe heavily in the wave of emotions and aspiration, he excelled in the brightest game. In addition to his exulted talent, radical maturity and poise at the age 22 in his third NBA season, Durant's traits makes him a well-rounded star in the modern era of pro basketball.


The assumption that Durant is highly unstoppable and explosive with the capacity to heave jump shots from all angles on the floor and be named an All Star earlier than expected wouldn't be an understatement, but a valid explanation for why he is reasonably the best young megastar in basketball. In large part, considering that he is already a household name, not exactly a bust or travesty, he is more obsessed with earning a trip to the NBA Finals rather than claiming the limelight. To his credit, with Thunder's head coach Scott Brooks, who has molded Durant especially, he is typically an emerging ballplayer who has already been in the running for the Most Valuable Player award. As time dwindled, the crowd stood and erupted in Oklahoma City, chanting impetuously to reduce the tension and terror.

"We want Dallas! We want Dallas!"

Wishes came true.

After all, the Thunder absolutely are facing the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, ready to encounter a competitive bout in the next few weeks as Durant's popularity balloons with his accomplishments on the court when he evolved into the youngest player to ever lead the league in scoring when he averaged 30.1 points last season. When he entered the NBA in 2007, forgoing his sophomore season at the University of Texas, he was much too dignified because he was clearly a gifted player, standing at 6-foot-10, athletically balanced and equipped to make an immediate impact.

But the Thunder, with even the surest notion that this is the team to beat in the ever changeable West, convinces and sends a statement to all disbelievers. It was clear, then and there, that no one could crowd or slow down the streaky, hottest player on the floor in Durant, including the untouchable Westbrook. And in all, this was about Durant, earning his rightful nickname, which would be "Durantula," and revealing to the nation that he's an elite breed. What's impressive about Durant and Westbrook is how both can shimmer and win it all feasibly, as the vast majority ignores the Thunder's glorious pursuit.

"I was just trying to get my teammates as easy as shots as possible," Westbrook said. "I just always do my best to play my game. That's it. Kevin just told me not to pay attention to what any of you guys are saying."

As it happened, of course, the Thunder won the series in seven games in a usual fashion. In this game, Westbrook was an integral element and finished with a triple-double, Durant poured in 39 points and James Harden produced his exuberant work off the bench with 17 points. Surely, no one ever imagined Westbrook capping a triple-double, the first in a Game 7 since Scottie Pippen in 1992. It's acceptable to think that the Thunder can win the NBA championship, perfectly content with the lack of publicity and disrespect, not recognized whether because the team is too young or inexperience.

In all honesty, the Thunder had the proper ingredients in a stellar performance by shooting efficiently, gathering stops regularly and slowing down the Grizzlies. It comes as no surprise that Durant bounced back with the grandest performance, particularly when he was hard on himself for his lack of energy and assertiveness in Game 6, committing a pair of fouls early on with a horrible 3-for-14 shooting night. The night for Durant was spectacular in many ways, for which he hit four of his nine three-point tries and converted on all nine of his free throw attempts, all while collecting nine rebounds and blocking three shots with two assists.

"It's another good step for our organization," Brooks said. "Our goal was, just like all the other 29 teams, is to win a championship and we're no different. We know that the process is long and hard and you can't skip steps and you don't get there quickly. To get to the conference finals is a great opportunity for our group, but it is important that we keep playing. Dallas presents a lot of problems."

There's a sense of belief, after the Thunder sent a message. The Thunder aren't to be reckoned with.

Golden State Warriors are Struggling for Consistency and Wins

The Golden State Warriors fell to 8-12 on the young NBA Season as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Warriors 114-109. Although, the Warriors put up a valiant effort in the fourth quarter just to be close to the Thunder.

In the first quarter the Thunder rolled out to a 6-0 lead causing Keith Smart to use a timeout, it didn't get much better after the timeout as the Warriors turned the ball over again and the Thunder scored rather easily for an 8-0, on the next possession the ball was nearly turned over again, but luckily Andris Biedrins was able to grab the ball and score in the paint.

Though the Warriors scored it didn't get much better as turnover and fouls hurt the Warriors. David Lee who still isn't 100 percent picked up two quick fouls. On the first possession of the game Andris Biedrins picked up a foul and that foreshadowed the events of the night and set the tone for what the Thunder were going to do.

That was to attack the Warriors defense and move the ball. Keith Smart has been trying to get the Warriors to play more defense. The problem is that the Warriors were used to Don Nelson's up and down system and not used to putting a huge effort on defense.

With Smart that isn't the case and that has shown as the Warriors give up the most free throws in the NBA. It all comes down to the fundamentals and the Warriors get caught reaching and pick up cheap fouls.

As mentioned before the Thunder carved through the Warriors defense and Russell Westbrook lead the charge as he picked up nine assists in the first half. Serge Ibaka came off the bench and gave the Thunder instant energy on the offensive glass as the Warriors had to respect the driving ability to Westbrook.

That was the main reason why the Warriors found themselves in a big hole in the first half, but towards the end of the second quarter the Warriors trimmed the Thunder's lead to 12, but much like the first half the Warriors started off slowly even having to burn a timeout at the opening of the third quarter because the ball could not be inbounded.

Starting out the fourth quarter the Thunder decided that it would be good to rest their starters because it was the first game of a back-to-back where the Thunder take on the Bulls next. The Warriors were able to force a turnover and Stephen Curry was fouled on a three cutting the lead to 17.

The Thunder started missing shots and the Warriors were able to take advantage of that. Scott Brooks decided that not having his starters in wasn't a good idea so the Thunder re-inserted their starters.

Even with the starters in the Warriors were able to continue to make a run. Monta Ellis got going and Stephen Curry continued his hot shooting that he had throughout the entire game. One play Ellis may want to have back as he missed a layup that would have cut the lead of the Thunder to eight.

On the next possession the Warriors did make a stand and made up for Ellis' miss. Eventually the Warriors got as close as three points, but were forced to send the Thunder to the free throw line.

It was a great effort just for the Warriors to comeback from the 20 points deficit in the fourth quarter. The problem was seen in the first half as most of the offense was one-on-one play and there wasn't much movement by the Warriors on offense and even in the third quarter there still wasn't that much.

The fourth quarter was a different story as the Warriors got open looks and started hitting them. Reggie Williams made a big three, unfortunately for the Warriors Dorell Wright had a wide open three that could have been huge for the Warriors, but missed as he looked to see where he was on the court.

What the Warriors need to do on defense is stop reaching and box out and on offense get better ball movement. If the Warriors are to win in the difficult schedule coming up that is how it will happen.

As for the game Westbrook finished with 19 points, 13 assists, and 7 rebounds, Kevin Durant had 28 points and 7 rebounds, Ibaka had 19 points and 8 rebounds, and Jeff Green finished with 17 points and 8 rebounds.

For the Warriors Curry led the way with 39 points, 6 assists, 1 rebound, Ellis had 29 points and 5 rebounds, and D. Wright chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The big difference in the game free throws as the Thunder went 37-40 and the Warriors went 18-21. Even more concerning though was that Curry and Ellis combined for 68 of the Warriors points while eight other Warriors managed 41 points. That's not going to be a recipe for success for the Warriors as there needs to be more balance in scoring. 

The 'Durantula' Kevin Durant Hijacks NBA's Spectacle, Thunder Will Beat Lakers

We’re witnessing an NBA postseason of drama with an unexpected franchise that resides in Oklahoma City, where the crowd intensifies the loudest frenzy at Ford Center, arguably the most clamorous building in the league. Whoever predicted that an erratic postseason would be entertained with action-packed, dramatic performances from Kevin Durant, the league’s youngest scoring champ and now the potential Most Valuable Player?

All of this frightens the Los Angeles Lakers, the defending champs who are bullied, harassed and tortured by a young and inexperienced franchise with nothing to lose. In a probable upset, the Thunder is testing the Lakers mentality and brings out Kobe Bryant’s age, when the recent letdowns and ineffectual shot attempts unmask that he’s aging and breaking down physically. The nagging injuries makes the Black Mamba appears as if he’s the oldest veteran remaining in the league, close to retiring and hanging his No. 24 jersey in the rafters of Staples Center.

While the Lakers gently recede, the Thunder ripens as a serious contender and scares a community, yet awaiting another championship banner to add title No. 17 and embark on a celebration in a city accustomed to winners. However, let us rise and appease the flourishing Oklahoma City Thunder, a compelling team alarming us all with heart, diligence, maturity and unthinkable capacity to take down the defending champs in the biggest and craziest upset in NBA history. It’s amazing and stunning to see the Lakers deteriorate tremendously and deliver perplexing riddles, leaving us guessing and utterly befuddled.

Each year, the cumulative effects are different and appealing, especially when young athletes develop faster than usual. It vindicates that NBA’s slogan advertises everything the league offers, overwhelming us with dazzling series. It’s an association “Where Amazing Happens.” And this postseason, it’s the Thunder nearing the improbable, quickly legitimizing its own fate and making all people gather an assumption that Oklahoma City isn’t a mirage or undervalued. Like never before, the Thunder is real, dominating the most talented team at will, humiliating and demoralizing a team with powerful depth and the greatest scorer on earth.

This time, the Thunder is recognized as a premier franchise, braced and glorified when Oklahoma City never earned account during the regular-season. And with an impressive postseason run, it’s only appropriate to believe the Thunder can beat the Lakers. Lately, L.A. is soft with an apathetic mindset, when it consists of all the ingredients to thrash the hell out of a near-developed and inexperienced team. It’s a whole different scenario at this point, when it’s fair to greatly eulogize matured youth. What makes the Thunder unique is Durant’s impact on his prosperous team, expanding and advancing to new heights this postseason, in which it has caused trouble.

Fear Durantula.


As he’s portrayed as the heart and soul of a team quickly emerging, he’s a humbled sporting figure. His tremendous talent has allowed him to excel in a league where big-name players were fearful, but it turns out Durant is alarming, too. The consensus in an incredible upstart is that he’s already a superstar and MVP nominee, when his fascinating season assured prosperity in the next few years. In some ways, the Thunder amounted to the stature of superiority in a season it clinched an eighth-seeded berth and qualified to play in the postseason, meeting the disinterested Lakers in the first-round. The noisiest crowd, the one-sided energy of younger and faster legs ran the defending champs out of the building forlorn and petulantly worried.

And so here they are again, taking games for granted. It has been painful to watch the Lakers, who aren’t physical or shooting effectively. Leave it to the Thunder. In what felt like a Game 7, Oklahoma City embarrassed the visitors badly in a 110-89 rout Saturday. That’s evidence the Lakers are weakened and defenseless against the Thunder’s unstoppable speed.

It’s rational an upset looms in an unpredictable best-of-seven series, unless Phil Jackson arranges his tactics and maneuvers a defensive foundation that a pesky Thunder team cannot study and outsmart. It’s the transition style offense that slaughters the Lakers of late, unable to dictate the half-court game and allows the youngest team in the league to outrun them and control the tempo by posting a 24-2 margin in fastbreak points of Game 4.

Generally speaking the two wins build confidence, and even more so, there’s a realization the Thunder can win its greatest series in team history. Remarkably it’s a historic arrival, finally getting the nod because of the Thunder's fierce approach and composure against the defending champions. The perception is that the Thunder is a much-maligned unit, even if they lack experience and veteran leadership.

Hardly ever does first-time arrivals beat a well-balanced and veteran team, but when there’s a matured superstar in Durant, winning is feasible. Each game the Thunder is enhancing and morphing into a dramatic competitor, invoking misery for an unhealthy Kobe, who has been slowed down by a right knee injury and broken index finger. He’s averaging 24 points, six points below his scoring average during last season’s run.

As for Durant, he said he felt disrespected when Phil Jackson irritated him by criticizing league officials for awarding him more free throws. For the real perspective, Jackson was able to psychologically pester the scorching forward with his typical mind games. But at his age, Durant is a very special talent and an intelligent basketball star, finally getting recognized for his unstoppable drives to the basket, a trend dismantling the Lakers defensively. The masses in Oklahoma City never had their own basketball franchise to embrace, thrilled to watch a marquee superstar deliver on ambition and enthusiasm.

It’s a town that now prides itself on its major franchise, deeply saluting a humbled and matured athlete. Years ago, you probably recall when the team was called the Seattle SuperSonics, before it migrated and renamed itself the Oklahoma City Thunder, exciting a city that never had its own franchise and rooted on the Oklahoma Sooners or Oklahoma State Cowboys.

But now, the good people in a southern territory are obsessed with the Thunder and have cheered on Durant, amazed and touched by his 28.3 points on 36.5 percent shooting from the field in three games. In the postseason, the 6-foot-9 forward has stayed composed and energetic, dominating the paint and boards with a 7-5 wingspan.

At this point, it seems the emergence of the Thunder is too efficacious and unbeatable. They are delighted by the loudest crowd in a town of madness. Nobody had this in mind. But when a star player had amazing scoring spectacles, a streak of 29 consecutive games in which he produced at least 25 points, expect the improbable to happen.

Surrounded with a relentless supporting cast, guard Russell Westbrook has been a working tandem in the league, thriving on a stunning team in an erratic Western Conference. From 23 wins to 50, the Thunder advanced to the playoffs. And Scott Brooks had the interim tag removed, named Coach of the Year.

All that said, Durant is a superstar, and the Thunder cannot be denied.

If no one paid attention, they are now.