2012 London Olympics: LeBron James’ Heroics Delivers Gold to U.S.

A nation shared its proudness and appreciation Sunday. Basketball was MADE IN THE USA, after all. LeBron James, among all players, was the man of red, white and blue, representing the United States with a sense of pride and grace and led the U.S. to back-to-back Olympic gold medals. He, among all players, jumped for joy in celebration near the bench, wearing a widened smile as if he was a kid who opened a brand new Spalding basketball with MJ’s signature on it. As he led the Americans in the gold-medal game, he was entitled to jubilate with his U.S. teammates, he was entitled to laugh and crack jokes with the youngest one on the team, Anthony Davis.

The man who is the most polarizing figure is suddenly an American hero for restoring hope in U.S. basketball, for reducing the embarrassment of falling from grace in a game we originated, dominated, popularized, and then produced NBA’s finest studs to showcase a new era of talented stars. The man who is the most loathed player is suddenly a savior, a humble and unselfish human being. You don’t have to like him, no, but what he’s done for U.S. basketball is beyond incredible — it’s athletic brilliance and staying power. Maybe after he searched for U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski on the sideline and greeted him with a hug, you perceive him differently. Maybe after he stood on the podium, aglow with pride, fighting back tears as the Star Spangled Banner belted out of the loudspeaker, you have gained more respect for James. Lauded in these games, he wrapped the American flag around his shoulders and sprinted a victory lap around the court, and then celebrated with the guys proudly and happily.

He didn’t just make the country proud — he escaped hatred, anger and antipathy as one of the most recognizable athletes in the world. It marked the first time, since the megalomaniacal spectacle he televised to announce that he would be signing with the Miami Heat, that he’s pleased millions nationwide. It marked the first time, since he departed Cleveland abruptly to outrage most of the town, that he’s beautifully appreciated for an unpaid effort to compete for our country and be honored for healing America’s basketball woes. The dominance of the United States men’s basketball team, mainly because of James’ leadership and humility, has been profoundly crafty and unbeatable. With James on the U.S. side, the basketball program has risen to the top of the world again, built with NBA stars from a number of franchises that came together and contended against world-class athletes as the game is globalized. You may not love LeBron, but he loves you, willing to sacrifice his vacation months to represent this country in a respectful manner. That’s what he did this summer — unselfishly and willingly — and didn’t mind playing for his country. Before they partied in London, with gold medals hanging from their necks, James poured in 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had a team-high four assists, all while he was in foul trouble.

So he finally smiled, breathed a sigh of relief, realizing he had just done something good for America, where he’s despised and demonized because of jealousy or bitterness. But now, we can only send our thanks and bow to the King after his excellent performances throughout the tournament. There’s no doubt, just no doubt, that James would have been named the MVP in the Olympics, if such an honorable award existed. But in America, he’s clearly our Most Valuable Player, the global superstar we are impressed by and call our superhero. For James, the reigning NBA champion after winning his first title for the Miami Heat, he’s the iconic face of American sports, particularly for what he’s accomplished in these Olympics. And by no means were Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant underachievers in London, as the team almost featured a different star on a nightly basis.

Durant, meanwhile, scored 30 points and collected nine rebounds and Bryant scored 17 points. This time, respectfully so, the United States needed James in the fourth quarter. As time dwindled down in the final period — like he did last spring for the Heat — he came through when it counted the most to prove to the world that he’s a clutch performer. He carried Team USA on his shoulders, just as he carried the flag proudly when it all came to an end on the last day of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, a chance for the players to get to know one another as they came together as respected teammates. But most of all, even if you hate James, he did this for you, he did this for America, and he did this for me.

It’s about America, not LeBron. The absence of King James could have smudged Team USA’s gold-medal ambitions, but, of course, Krzyzewski lobbied for him to join Team USA and restore a winning personality internationally. We can make better sense of it, when perhaps James had the best fourth-quarter performance of the afternoon, silencing haters and doubters. It looks a lot like James isn’t selfish and egocentric, but a competitor who opted for a change of scenery and seized the opportunity to venture elsewhere to win a championship. The chosen one, the man of the fourth performed to hold off Spain late in the closing minutes. James basically rebranded U.S. basketball and repaired his bad-boy image. The nail-biting scare was when James took over, as the Americans coasted to a 107-100 victory.

The Spaniards tried to cut into a lead the U.S. owned, but down the stretch Chris Paul made a couple of baskets that extended the lead. The signature play happened when James drove to the lane for a dunk that gave the U.S. a 99-91 lead and put the icing on the cake. When Spain pulled within six points, LeBron was still playing aggressive, although he had four fouls, and responded by hitting a three-pointer that gave Team USA an eight-point advantage. At age 33, entering his 16th season, Bryant is still the best closer but isn’t as dominant. There’s the notion that Team USA could have taken home silver, if not for James, as the U.S. beat Spain by 11 points. In today’s game, LeBron is gradually stepping into the closer role in his prime, and four years from now in Rio, he’ll definitely be the star all eyes will be on.

The Americans are back to take back what was theirs at the Summer Olympics with the likes of Bryant, Paul, Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Deron Williams and James Harden, doing it without the presence of Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard and Dwyane Wade.

But it’s about the USA and thanking James.

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. 

LeBron Tops Durant in Exciting Pre-Season Game; Will Top Him for MVP as Well

LeBron James will stop at nothing. Even if it means the practices. Even it means the pre-season. No matter what, he's going to give it all he has got in him. Because the 6'8", 250-pound small forward wants to win a championship. And now.

Even if he is 25 years old, what's there to lose? It's better to just start winning now, like people want him to. He stands at 0-1 in the NBA Finals. His mission this season obviously to fix that record to 1-1 while Chris Bosh gets 1-0 and Dwyane Wade has 2-0.

And he's trying to forget about the last two months, too.

"To be honest, I really don't see what's wrong with the Heat," Kevin Durant said. "That's what baffles me a little bit, is people say they're the villains. They haven't done anything wrong outside of the basketball court. Three guys teamed up. Boston did it a couple of years back, too. They just did it a different way."

In a pre-season game versus the Oklahoma City Thunder last night, James and the Heat topped Kevin Durant and his rising Thunder towards a 103-96 victory. It was future-MVP candidate versus another.

This time, the MVP who has already won two of them came out on top.

"We're playing good basketball for what we have now," said James, who totaled 22 points. "When we get 100 percent healthy, we'll be able to see."

LeBron and Bosh both totaled for 45 points and help Miami go 2-0 in the pre-season now. And this is truly how you get it done. This truly shows how hungry someone is for a triumphant championship win.

LeBron wants it badly.

And now.

Bosh showed up, scoring for 23 points.

The Heat were only up by a few by the halftime came, clinging on to a 55-52 lead. However, thanks to a lot of help to Bosh, the Heat outscored Oklahoma City in the third quarter by a 32-19 commanding run.

"Right now we're focused on who we have," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "It won't be tough for Dwyane to catch up. "We had great energy, but not right away. It took us a while to get into rhythm and get a good balance."

James would end the game, acting like the MVP he was, drilling a three-pointer on a pass from Patrick Beverly to take a 76-62 lead. Again, James got it done.

But big ups for Durant, has he scored 21 points. And he showed himself, too.

"I think that I could have been a little more aggressive," Durant said. "I worked on my body a little bit, too, this summer, I could be a little stronger. Some of those shots, too, I -- you know, I just missed."

Many are voting for he young leader who struck gold for Team USA in the FIBA World Championships to win the MVP title this season. I wouldn't be surprised if "Durantula" can accomplish that task after already being granted the scoring champion last season.

He can easily win it if he can bring the Thunder to the top in the Western Conference along with also being in top-three in points. Durant can easily do that, and he showed that today.

"I love the competition. It was fun," Durant said of James.

But LeBron also has a better chance. James can have a chance of getting a bunch of triple-doubles this season. Most likely becoming the point guard type, or shall I say Magic Johnson type, player that he will be, James can have the statistics he would need to accomplish his goals and feats.

James will be counted on for averaging at least 22 points, six assists, and six rebounds per game, and he can easily do that after averaging nearly in double-digits for mostly all those categories. James knows how to get it done.

But Durant is also in a similar situation, having Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green on the squad.

"He's becoming a man," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "You can see it on and off the court. I've been with him going on four years now. You can see he's maturing in front of our eyes. It's pretty unique to see. He's become stronger. His handle's gotten tighter. His confidence level is higher. He's a terrific teammate. He's always been those things. He's just adding to it."

Right now, the Heat are currently without Wade and or showing that they can still be conquerors. James doesn't mind. It won't change him. Not at all.

Why?

Obviously, he's hungry.

"Everybody in the media tries to twist things up and say I'm the anti-LeBron," Durant said. "Hey, we're playing the game of basketball. We're two basketball players who love the game. We have the same mindset, just trying to get better every day. The way he handles his business and the way I handle my business shouldn't be criticized or over-published, I think. We're all in the NBA and trying to get better. He's a great player in this league and has elevated this league for seven years. Everything he's done for the league and how much he's grown as a player, you have to commend him on that."

Thunder coach Scott Brooks joked, "I think they're better without Wade."

The Heat's offense already looks great. Bosh thinks they can do more better and install it more.

"We're just playing out of movement. I think that's the best basketball to play. We're going to have set plays. But most of the time we're just going to be out there reading each other."

When Wade comes back, you can bet that James is going to be so much more better than he already is right now. And if he is, the case is closed that he will be the Most Valuable Player of the 2010-11 NBA season.

"I try to play as the MVP every time I go out there on the court," he said. "And if the trophy comes with it, then I'm humbled and I'm blessed and I'll be thankful for it. It's just how I approach the game. Preseason game, practice game, regular season, playoffs. I try to approach it the right way and I try to give it my all. "

I have no doubts.

Unquestionably, neither does LeBron.

Being Number One in the NBA: It's All About the Image

Kevin Durant is currently tearing it up in the basketball world lately. He is just coming off some great seasons in the NBA, along with being the youngest player to win the scoring-title, in which he did just last season. He also led Team USA to beat Hedo Turkoglu and Turkey in the FIBA World Championships, setting records there as well.

Soon enough, he will be accepted as the number one player in the NBA. Many would want to tend to disagree with me on that statement. A lot of other names pop up that could replace Durant.

Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, and Carmelo Anthony are some players just to name a few.

However, Bryant's time could pass in the next few years or so. And plus, to face the truth, they are many Kobe haters out there. There are so many Kobe haters that they don't even think he was the best player this past decade, or the best right now!

LeBron James has been viewed as a negative influence in sports to the American population, according to a poll. He is in the top ten list of the Most Hated Players in Sports. So, obviously, that will take some impact. With Carmelo Anthony wanting to leave Denver, that will have some impact, too.

Dwight Howard has yet to prove himself that he can lead a team by himself to the Finals or be the man. You can tell that from the series against the Boston Celtics last year in the playoffs.

Then there is Dwyane Wade, who won't be accepted as number one due to him being on the Miami Heat, as he has guys like LeBron and Chris Bosh.

So that leaves us as Durant, who will be viewed as the best player in the league. Being known as the number one player is from the people. And many will say that. Durant recently signed a five-year, $86 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and is making a small-market team grow.

LeBron did that, and was viewed as number one. That was, until, he left the Heat.

Same went for Kobe Bryant, who would be compared to Michael Jordan. But when the so-called rape charges and "selfishness" came in, Bryant was completely ratted out and gained haters. This will soon happen to James.

Same for Carmelo, who is pretty much copying LeBron. Chris Paul will also go into that vote.

Then there is Dwynae Wade. He could be lucky if he is considered number one, but with people thinking of how "stacked" his team is, it just can't happen.

And so there we have it, Durant will be number one.

And to be number one in the NBA, or number-one all-time, it's all about the image. If Kobe had the praise James used to receive, or Durant is currently having right now, I bet you anything he would be considered in MJ's range among the eyes of many people. But due to his image of the troubles he had long ago, it's just won't happen.

He can have more rings than Bill Russell, be the all-time points leader, and even just be completely unstoppable (even the age he is at right now) but he still won't be accepted as the best player ever. Soon enough, the best he can be is probably at number two.

And it is all because of the rape charges and things like that.

LeBron James was at that point in being the next Jordan, until he left Cleveland. Now he is in a different role. But I think he can still end up as the Top 20 players in the game.

As for right now, Durant is going to be the next best thing since Jordan for right now. No one will except Kobe. It's just as simple as it. It's reality. I can't imagine how pissed Los Angeles Laker fans are everyday when they hear haters ranting about Kobe.

People tend to look at the silly things off the court that happened than what they did in the game. Isn't it to be considered the best is to show it on the floor, not off the hardwood?

Not everyone's image is perfect, but they shouldn't over-exaggerate it. I mean, Jordan has had his fair share of ups-and-downs. He's cheated on his wife before, he's had gambling problems, and if you read The Jordan Rules he's had a massive ego as well. But he was competitive.

I will always think that Jordan will be the best player of all-time, unless of someone appears out of nowhere to be amazing.

But people, my main point is, the key to being number one in the NBA, or any sport or anything for that matter, is all about your image.

So if Kevin Durant leaves the Thunder once his contract expires, I wouldn't be surprised if someone else is chosen as number one.

Not at all.

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.

NBA Playoffs 2010: Is It Time For The OKC to Show Who They Really Are?

The Lakers exploded in Game One, topping the Thunder 87-79. During Game Two, the Lakers barely got away but they were led by Kobe Bryant and his 39 points.

Now it is time for Game Three, and the Thunder should be worrying right now. Behind 2-0, you never know, Oklahoma City can emerge now. It's time for them to.

The Thunder should be sending a strong message right now to Los Angeles: "We're not giving up. Watch out L.A." I think it is time for the Thunder to show who they really are now. It's time.

It is time for Kevin Durant to turn into Durantula. Time for him to turn into the monster everyone has known him as. It is time for him to run all over Ron Artest, making shot after shot and owning on every possession.

It's time for Russell Westbrook for faking out defenses. Making smart shots, good moves, and slick passes.

It's time for Jeff Green to really attack on the boards, shoot from the perimeter, and make you look like your trousers are falling (okay, I think I should stop right there).

It's time for Thebo Sefalosha to surprise this Lakers time. Stopping Kobe Bryant on the D. Playing tough, hard, and aggressive.

Oklahoma City will be playing at home tonight, and are 27-14 there. It's time to please the crowd and make the Lakers feel very unwelcome. The Thunder have a good chance of winning this one.

Durant will be the key.

Nenad Kristic will have to play some strong defense on Andrew Bynum, who is continuing to be more scarier by the second, each time he palms the ball in his hands in the paint; either going for an easy layup or a terrifying dunk.

Thunder coach Scott Brooks has recently won Coach of the Year for his improvement on OKC. Now he can really show how good of a coach he is if he brings this team back into the series.

"We were improved once he took over as the coach. We still lost some games that were tough but we were learning and we were getting better each day in practice," said Durant, who developed into the NBA's youngest scoring champion this season.

"I knew if we continued to do that and not come in and just say, `Our season's done. Ain't no need to practice. Ain't no need to work hard.' We still came in and worked every day, and he made sure he brought it every day as a coach."

Other players that can be a key in tonight's game can be James Harden, Serge Ibaka, and Eric Maynor.

It's time to show what the Thunder have in them. Can they surprise?

We'll find out tonight, I guess.

Youth Disregards Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder: Need Impressive Playoff Run

They weren’t expected to make such a convincing scene in which the sudden arrival is faster than usual, almost spontaneously, as the youngest team in the NBA awes basketball lords. In regards, the unexpected is composing a brilliant summary in Oklahoma City, but no one is anointing the raw talent fabricating the innovation of an undermined franchise a year ago.

Any notion that the Oklahoma City Thunder are the flukiest and overrated franchise in the league, is difficult to accept when its young athletes provokes the odds of common reasoning.

These days, youth comes to life and intensifies a ravishing upstart, strengthening a stagnant franchise. Any team with less respect can defy the laws of legitimacy, but has to prove top-notch with a win over the ultimate contenders. Here we glance at the NBA’s leading scorer, Kevin Durant, a dominant forward who deserves props for the unthinkable and vibrant responses he delivers nightly.

The masses in Oklahoma City are content, having its own franchise to cheer, but even more so, thrilled to view breathtaking highlights on a regular. Though tremendous pressure improvises a cynical perception of being a one-and-done playoff team, converging for regards awaits massively.

For now, it’s a team with little experience and no playoff success, but suddenly, a makeover upgraded a depleted franchise two years ago. The results are evidence of a marquee superstar ripen before our very eyes, becoming a sheer centerpiece, not only for a maturing franchise, but a league that pries on an influx of big-name athletes to arouse the state of an unsettled league.

In an 82-game regular-season, gushing about the Thunder advancing to the playoffs isn’t an understatement, but a clear understanding how lethal this team could be in the next few years.


Seeing new players surge is what makes the NBA unique. It’s fun seeing a discredited player mature and lead all scorers. It would be amiable at least to applaud a young team that has proved themselves for their maturity and assurance, though the calendar doesn’t read May or June when the competitiveness transcends and becomes more intense.

Until then, we can’t tell whether the Thunder are good or great, but are appreciative of their potential in the upcoming seasons. Observers, as well as those residing in Oklahoma, noticed the intensity and dramatic sequences that transpires. Most will tell you, it’s a team to gaze at in the future, a team with a sense of urgency, a team with tremendous depth and a team built to threaten in the playoffs.

So this is a massive chance for the Thunder to make noise in the next few weeks, brainwashing disbelievers of their intangible effort. To overlook the over-sized and cohesive roster are signs of underestimating Oklahoma City, an exquisite franchise assembled with coveted youth and talent to impact its standings.

Hardly do we pinpoint the marvel of a young phenom, but instead our instincts turn completely to the long-time veterans that we've became accustomed to, mainly for arousing our senses. It’s not fair whatsoever to Durant, who has been ignored, despite owning command in the scoring column and topping MVP nominees. When LeBron James made a name for himself, we worshipped and endorsed the remarkable entertainment he had produced. Why not the same for Durant? Is it because he’s not as popular?

Well, now is the time to grant fame to one of the spotless athletes of the league. I’m sure you are raising your eyebrows, dropping your jaws, seeing Durant average nearly 25 points per game. But instead, you prefer to remain hidebound, speechless admitting that he’s a scoring machine.

Winners of 12 of their last 14 games, the Thunder are 36-23 in a stretch when Durant has scorched the nets. You’ve seen him drain bucket after bucket. You’ve seen him shoot lights out. You’ve seen a talented sharpshooter bring excellence in each outing. No one envisioned Durant ever scoring 39 points in a single game this season, let alone average at least 25 points in 33 games.

Where is the love? Come on, share the wealth.

Point is, he’s really good. His optimism compels him to climb a competitive hurdle and prove he’s among the elites in the league where image and first impressions signifies prominence. In order to seize respectability, he has to keep thriving, win playoff series, multiple titles and lead the Thunder to exceptional heights.

For starters, the All-Star forward has posted at least 30 points in the last six meetings against Denver. The numbers make it easy to realize that he’s a special talent, and also the soul of why people are touched by sports.

But somehow, we tend to forget about the resurgent of the Thunder and Durant’s impact on the NBA. One of the slogans reads that the NBA Cares, but apparently no one is excited to hear the emergence of Durant. Buzz is one thing, but people aren’t buzzing over what is a breakout season for one special player. Being a young superstar, Durant has to prove he’s elite in the playoffs.

Often brainwashed with Kobe Bryant’s buzzer-beaters, Boston’s lackluster run, Phoenix’s sudden sun rise or Denver posing a threat in the Western Conference, Durant facilitating to create scoring opportunities for his teammates is an understatement. Instead he's viewed as a fluke, not a legitimate playmaker tossing alley-oops or finishing off of teammate Nenad Kristic lobbed pass for alley-oop slam in a 113-107 win against the Sacramento Kings.

Turning into a customary scorer, a feverish guard, a likable citizen in Oklahoma City, he’s worth the hype. But he has to produce in the playoffs, to earn some loving in which he’ll have to make an imposing transition in the playoffs.

So weathering the storm and making rumbling noise is the only suggestion.

Unstoppable

The title says it all. As you can see to your right, it's not Kevin Durant that is unstoppable. It's Martell Webster. That's right, I said it. Why would I put such a picture? I don't know.

Now if you fell for such stupid of a joke, I feel much sadness for you. Indeed, it is Kevin Durant that is unstoppable. Of course it would be. How would it not?

Now in Henry Abbott's True Hoop post, he wrote something interesting. Who put up these numbers in the month of January:

There's an NBA player who had these per game stats in the month of January:

32 points
Eight rebounds
Three assists
52% field goal shooting
53% 3-point field goal shooting
90% free-throw percentage

It was Kevin Durant. Phenomenal. And for the season, it's currently 29.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 2.9 APG. Durant also has a crazy 25.36 PER! The league average is 15.00. His true shootingo percentage is 60.6%. It's just unnormal. And to think this is his third year in the league!

Last season, Durant had a total of a little over 1,800 points. Right now, he already has 1,500 points. Time to put the "Wow" expression up. His effective field goal percentage is 52.1%. Great, just great. For all the games Durant has played (per 48 minutes), Durant has a record of 31-17 with the Thunder. 31 wins, 17 losses. Effective. Adding to that, his net points are +219! If you think Vince Carter is killing it right now, look at Durant!

Durant is now over the league average in the And1-percentage. And1% means how many times you have scored at the basket along with drawing a foul. The league average as of right now is 2.9%. Durant has 3.5%.

Along to And1, he also has a Draw fouling percentage of 16.4%. And thinking though with the other great contributors to the team like Jeff Green or Russell Westbrook, the Thunder can be alright without Durant sometimes. Totally wrong, my friends. Go to this link, scroll all the way done. Look at the On/Off Court chart. There's a dramatic difference. Kevin Durant is needed. He is so important to this team.

Currently, Kevin Durant is unstoppable. Although I do love LeBron James, Durantula needs the MVP award badly. I mean it right here. A deserving candidate my friends. He has changed the franchise of the Thunder/Sonics since he came here. And now here he is, in his third year, leading the team to the playoffs.

A bright future is ahead of him.