The Remarkable Rise of Russell Westbrook

For a long time the Oklahoma City Thunder have had one of the best 1-2 punches in the NBA. After trading away James Harden before the 2012-13 season, the Thunder made it clear that they're game plan going forward would be centered around their superstars, Batman, Kevin Durant and Robin, Russell Westbrook. The status-quo featured Kevin Durant leading the way with Westbrook right behind him. The dynamic duo has excelled together, leading their team to the playoffs for five straight years, a feat extremely difficult to maintain in a powerful Western Conference.

During their first round playoff series versus the Houston Rockets in 2013, the number 1 seed Thunder would lose Westbrook, who tore his right meniscus, causing him to miss the remainder of that postseason. The Thunder went on to defeat the Rockets, 4-2, before losing to the Memphis Grizzlies in just 5 games, despite having home-court advantage. Westbrook's absence was felt.

The next season (2013-2014) the Thunder would lose Westbrook yet again to a right knee surgery in late December. All eyes were on Durant; He would be expected to fill in the gaps and keep the Thunder among the league elites. Durant would do just that, except do even more. Kevin Durant had an outrageous year; He averaged 32 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 5.5 APG on 50% shooting, giving the Thunder a 59-23 record, and earning for the first time in his career, an NBA MVP. After getting Westbrook back, the Thunder entered the playoffs with high expectations. The Thunder defeated the Grizzlies in the first round, the same team they lost to without Westbrook, in a dramatic seven game series. In the second round, they would face the Los Angeles Clippers, beating them in six games. Their determined postseason run would fall short to the San Antonio Spurs, the eventual NBA champion, who defeated them in six games.

After yet another unsuccessful playoff ride, the Thunder would start this season without Kevin Durant. Durant broke the Jonas bone in his right foot, leaving him with no other choice but surgery. Westbrook also would miss some time with a small fracture in his right hand which occurred just two games into the season. Both players returned in December eager to help their team make the playoffs. Unfortunately, Durant has been unable to stay healthy missing games sporadically, leaving Westbrook as the only reliable player on the Thunder. In a reverse role from last year, Russell Westbrook, this time, would be the star playing while Durant would watch from the bench. Westbrook would be called to fill in the gigantic gaps for the reigning MVP, the Thunder’s franchise superstar, and to many around the league, the better player, a task too arduous and implausible for Russell Westbrook to handle. Unlike his critics and naysayers, Westbrook has seen this dilemma far differently, not succumbing to the challenge, but instead, accepting it and flat-out thriving.

In the few different stretches Durant has missed throughout the season, Westbrook has exploded, posting stats even Durant hasn’t achieved. Westbrook’s first outing took place from December 19th to the 28th, a period Durant sat out; In the six game span Westbrook averaged 30 PPG, 8 APG and 5 RPG, an impressive and notable stretch. Durant, also missed the first couple of games in February against the Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans. That wouldn’t be a problem however, because Westbrook played; The spirited guard averaged a striking 35 PPG, 10 APG, and 8.5 RPG on 55% from the field and 89% from the free throw line, not to mention that he had a triple-double against the Magic and 45 point outburst against the Pelicans, both games which the Thunder won. Durant has been sitting out with injury since the 21st of March, leaving Westbrook with a window to prove himself even more, a window where Westbrook has saved his grand performances for the stretch he’s currently in. In the current 10 game stretch Westbrook has played in (February 21st - March 13th) without the reigning MVP, Westbrook has averaged 32.8 PPG, 11.2 APG, and 10.6 RPG, including 4 straight triple-doubles and 6 in total. Among the monster games, Westbrook's best have come against the Philadelphia 76ers, when he had 49 points, 10 assists and 15 rebounds and against the Portland Trail Blazers when he posted 40 points, 11 assists and 13 rebounds. Westbrook’s recent play has left the league speechless and in the same statistical conversation with the league’s greatest of all-time, the ultimate MVP, Michael Jordan. The scariest part of this amazing tale is that this is just the beginning.

In addition to exceeding expectations Westbrook has put himself in the same group as the best players in the NBA this season and has created a convincing MVP case. His primary competitors are Stephen Curry, James Harden, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, all of which are playing at a high level this season. If this MVP race was solely based off statistics Westbrook would take the trophy now. Westbrook has more triple doubles (8) than his four competitors have had combined this season. He also averages more points, assists and rebounds than all of them except Anthony Davis, who averages just a little over 3 rebounds more than him. The only flaw in Westbrook's tremendous portfolio is his team’s sub par record, 39-26, which seems great but only earns 9th in a stacked Western Conference. Supporters of the sensational guard could all argue that Westbrook has the least help, without Durant. While that may be the case, Westbrook's MVP campaign won’t appeal as much until the Thunder make some noise in the playoff race.

Oklahoma City Thunder fans have had plenty of reasons to complain about this season but the injury woes of Kevin Durant have been a blessing in disguise. For a long time, the Thunder and the rest of the league have given Kevin Durant a sizable edge over Russell Westbrook. While Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the World and has rightfully earned every accolade he has accumulated throughout his career the drivers seat in the Thunder’s car is no longer his to hog.  

After what we’ve seen Russell Westbrook do lately, he has attained the respect and permission to lead the charge and assume leading positions when Durant returns. We’ve seen what these guys have been able to do together, falling short every deep playoff run they make for the past five years. They’ve both showcased what they could do without each other; Durant, in 2014, averaged 32 PPG, 5.5 APG, and 7.4 RPG while Westbrook, this year, has averaged 27.3 PPG, 8.3 APG, and 7.1 RPG. It’s also been apparent that they can’t get it done on their own either, not on the Thunder at least. It’s time for a change in Oklahoma City, a different formula, an alteration in the previous plans; It’s time for Russell Westbrook to lead the Thunder with Durant right behind him, complimenting and filling in all the gaps that Westbrook misses. The absence of Kevin Durant has unleashed the greatness of Russell Westbrook. Massive triple-doubles, gauging game play, and an attitude of ferocity have had the fans of basketball on the edge of their seats. This superior stretch of games has portrayed what Westbrook's capable of and the potential he possess. Westbrook has just started his amazing run and with Durant expected to miss a couple more weeks, the NBA is impressively witnessing, regardless of the time Durant misses, the ascension and remarkable rise of Russell Westbrook.

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Thunder, Durant Look To Keep Rolling In 2015

The Oklahoma City Thunder (17-17) visit the Golden State Warriors (26-5) tonight in a match up of Western Conference foes. Looking for their third win in a row, this will the the Thunder’s first opportunity to break the .500 mark this season, albeit a tough one. The Warriors won their previous match up 114-109, and have defeated the Thunder twice this season. 

2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant has been on a quick tear since returning to the lineup two games ago; leading the Thunder to back-to-back wins while scoring 44 points versus the Phoenix Suns and 34 points against the Washington Wizards. Look for Durant to continue much of the same tonight, as he scored an easy first half 30 points on the Warriors last time in OKC. KD left that game during the final play of the first half, ending up with a sprained ankle that kept him sidelined six games.

There are two key things to watch in this game:

1. Can the Warriors guard the dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook?

      and

1. Can the Thunder guard the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson?

It is very well possible that this game quickly turns into a Wild West Shootout. This game can be explained with a ‘simple to understand, but terribly difficult to execute’ formula: Which team can stop the other team’s superstars? Look to see both teams come out fast and spicy as there is always a lot on the line in the NBA Western Conference.

2015 Forecast

Late 2014 ended with much speculation that 2 Time Champion and 4 Time MVP LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers has maybe lost a step since his Miami days, which seem light years away already. The Cavaliers have had a rocky start, coupled with a struggling LeBron James who is currently out at least 2 weeks with back and knee injuries. Does LeBron still sit on a throne atop the NBA as it’s overall best player? Many headlines currently place Pelican’s center Anthony Davis as the unanimous pick-for-the-future.

But how about right now?

Seems like the perfect timing for Kevin Durant, a fresh 2015 start after an injury plagued beginning of the season. Durant’s has very quietly racked up a solid stat line of 25.5 PPG, on 55% shooting and 45% from 3, 5.7 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.9 BPG while knocking down 89% of his FT’s.  KD has 48 games left in the season not only to kickstart his MVP campaign, but also officially declare himself...

Yes I dare say it,

The best current basketball player in the world.

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Forecast Calls For More Thunder!

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 104 - 92 win over the Sacramento Kings Tuesday night marks the team’s 7th straight win in a row, raising the Thunder's record to a respectable (12-13) after an abysmal starting record of (3-12). The returning presence of guard Russell Westbrook and forward Kevin Durant has catapulted the Thunder back into not only the NBA spotlight, but into the Western Conference playoff race. The Thunder has risen to win nine out of their last ten games, and currently sit half a game behind the New Orleans Pelicans for the 8th and final playoff slot in the Western Conference. While the early season headline was that Oklahoma City would have a tough uphill battle if they still wanted to reach the playoffs this year; the return of the Thunder’s dynamic duo has given the doubters little ammunition for their argument. 

Kevin Durant seems level headed so far after his first few games back, “Yes. We’re, what, 21 games in, 24 games in? We’re not even close to the halfway point of the season yet. It’s too early to think about that. We just want to build our habits and continue to play good basketball.” 

Heading towards Christmas, where most people say is when the NBA season really starts, the Thunder seem to have good momentum and are looking to get back to their usual winning ways. Russell Westbrook looks to already have found his groove, with Kevin Durant following closely behind. Look for both Westbrook and the reigning placeholder Durant to jump into the MVP discussion, along with the likes of Stephen Curry, James Harden, Anthony Davis, and last but not least LeBron James. 

The Thunder have a huge match up tonight as the NBA's hottest team comes into town. They will face the team with the NBA’s best record, the Golden State Warriors (21-3). Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, with the direction of their new coach Steve Kerr, had recently led the Warriors to a 16-game win streak until they lost in Memphis Tuesday night to the Grizzlies. The Thunder hope to extend their own win streak to eight straight.

A point of emphasis will be to see if Steph Curry can get his red-hot shot off under the constant duress and pressure of Westbrook’s defense. Westbrook has been on a tear against the other team’s point guards; constantly a defensive predator while remaining almost un-guardable when attacking the rim. It seemed like Russell made it a point in last weeks match-up with the Cleveland Cavaliers to make his dominance over Kyrie Irving known. Westbrook is averaging 26.4 PPG, 6.8 APG, 5.8 RPG, 1.9 SPG while shooting 49.5% from the floor this season. The Thunder hope his upcoming performance versus Steph Curry tonight follows suit. 

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Kevin Durant sheds light on Team USA departure in HBO documentary

August 7th, 2014

“This was an extremely difficult decision as I take great pride in representing our country,” said Durant. “I know that I owe it to my USA Basketball teammates to be totally invested in the experience. After going through training camp with USAB, I realized I could not fulfill my responsibilities to the team from both a time and energy standpoint. I need to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season. I will be rooting for USAB and look forward to future opportunities with them.”

It was seemed too convenient at the time, to manufactured and not from the heart.  When Team USA needed him the most after the injury to Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder F Kevin Durant stepped away citing fatigue.  Only 7 days removed from George's gruesome injury and an off-season that included workouts with Los Angeles Lakers G Steve Nash and New York Knicks F Carmelo Anthony, the reigning league MVP needed a break or so many thought.  

Tuesday night, October 4th, HBO will air The Offseason:  Kevin Durant.  The 60 minute documentary showed a glimpse of what it's like to be Kevin Durant on and off the court, an intimate detail piece of work which also feature the real reason Durant decided to step away from Team USA. While at a basketball camp Durant decided that he couldn't move past George's injury and sent a text to Coach K indicating a need to talk.  

“It took everything out of me seeing that,” Durant later told friend Randy Williams and a Nike executive at his camp of George. “Everything I had to play for Team USA, that injury stripped it away from me.”
Without spoiling, one could see the tense moment as someone handed Durant the phone and he simply asked the follow:  
“That’s him?”
The situation could have been handled smoother, the truth could have been demanded by fans on the time of his departure but this coming Tuesday on HBO at 10 pm ET, the truth was revealed and the veil that has always shrouded Kevin Durant for the duration of his career was finally ripped away.  From a desire to not be second, to the drive of validation to win a champion, The Offseason offered it all.  

“It was cool to see how moved people were by my speech, but that’s not what I’m here to do,” Durant said in the film. “I’m in this league to win a championship.”

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Could Kevin Durant really leave the Thunder for his hometown Wizards?

With LeBron James leaving Miami to return to play for his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, many people are now starting to wonder if Kevin Durant will pull a similar move and leave the Oklahoma City Thunder to join his hometown Washington Wizards. Durant was born and raised in the D.C. area and he is proud of where he is from, but would he really leave the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Washington Wizards when he hits free agency in 2016? While it sounds like pie in the sky for Wizards fans, I will argue why it could actually end up happening.

The first reason why it is possible that Kevin Durant joins the Wizards in 2016 is that he may find their roster more attractive. If Kevin Durant can't win a championship or at least get back to the NBA Finals with Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka, he may look at what the Wizards have with Bradley Beal, John Wall, and Marcin Gortat and think to himself that his odds of winning a title with the Wizards are higher than they are with the Thunder.

I don't doubt for one second that Durant likes Oklahoma City a lot, but he is also a very competitive guy who wants to win. If he feels like the grass is greener somewhere else, odds are good he leaves, especially if it's his hometown team calling with an attractive roster.

                                                  (credit: worldsportswag.com)

The second reason why it's possible he makes the move from Oklahoma City to Washington D.C. is that I'm not convinced he really likes playing with Russell Westbrook. Russell Westbrook will be a free agent in 2017, which means that if Kevin Durant re-ups on another 5 year max contract with the Thunder, he'll have to do it with Russell Westbrook still on the team for the following season. It would be hard to negotiate things in such a fashion in which he says "It's me or him" when Westbrook still has one year left on his contract, which is why I think if he doesn't care for Westbrook, he'll probably just go somewhere else to play.

The final reason why I think a move to Washington D.C. is possible is that if Kevin Durant wanted to get out of Oklahoma City, Washington D.C. would be the most publicly acceptable place for him to go. Nobody would criticize him for desiring to bring his hometown team a championship especially since it is the Wizards, a team that has historically been unsuccessful at recruiting marquee free agents. If his hometown team happened to be the Lakers, Bulls, or Knicks, a lot of people would perceive the whole "I wanna play in my hometown" argument through a more cynical lens.

While I think these are legitimate reasons for thinking he goes to the Wizards, there are reasons for why it's also very unlikely that he leaves the Thunder. For one thing, he seems to enjoy playing for the Thunder and seems to really have an attachment to the fans and the Oklahoma City community. Durant has repeatedly talked about how much it would mean to him to bring that city a championship and how he feels a sense of duty to the community. Durant comes off as a really humble and sincere guy. If he says he loves it there, I want to believe him.

In addition, he and Russell Westbrook overall make a great team and he once again seems to like playing alongside Russell Westbrook. While I do think it's possible that things between them are strained, it sure doesn't look like it judging by what Durant says about him. He seems to genuinely enjoy Westbrook's company and seems to want to make things work between them.

Finally, he has a great thing going with the Thunder as is. The fans love him, the community loves him, the Spurs are sure to go away eventually, and the team is really good. Leaving behind the Thunder would be leaving behind a very good team, which may only be one piece away from a championship. He knows what he's getting in Oklahoma City, whereas in D.C. there would be some unknowns such as whether or not the team could afford both him and Bradley Beal.

                                                (credit: washingtonpost.com)

While over $70M in cap space will open up in 2016 to sign Kevin Durant thanks to Nene and Paul Pierce becoming free agents, Bradley Beal will be a free agent, too. Beal is certain to command a lot of money which means that Durant may not be able to play with John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Marcin Gortat. He may only be able to play with Wall and Gortat, which suddenly doesn't sound as good.  Plus, going to the Eastern Conference means playing in the same conference as LeBron James and I'm not sure he wants to do that.

In conclusion, could Kevin Durant really leave the Thunder to join the Wizards? I think it's very possible, but it's far from being a slam dunk. A lot of factors are still at play that could make him lean one way or the other. His love for the city of Oklahoma City, the fact that he knows what he's getting there, and also being in an opposite conference from LeBron James are good reasons to stay where he is. On the other hand, his hometown would also fully embrace him while also providing him with an attractive roster to play with. Both options seem possible to me at this point, and only time will tell what decision Durant ends up making. It will certainly be interesting to see.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

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5 Potential Busts of 2014 NBA Draft

The 2014 NBA Draft was one of the more loaded drafts in recent memory. There were franchise changing players at the top, with plenty of strong players following right behind. While there are plenty of good players in the draft, there undoubtedly will be some that fall short of expectations. Here are some potential busts from the 2014 NBA Draft.

Aaron Gordon, Forward, Arizona: Gordon is as athletic as they come in this class, but that is about all that he has going for him currently. Like so many of the players who grew up playing AAU basketball, Gordon does not have a true position, being labeled a tweener at small forward and power forward.

Associated Press

Gordon was a top-prospect in this draft, and he falls into the bust category more because of where he was drafted and selected before. It was the first surprise of the draft that he was taken ahead of Julius Randle, Marcus Smart, Dante Exum and Noah Vonleh. When you are selected ahead of players expected to excel at the level those are, you better bring your A game.

Gordon has some ways to go on both ends of the court, and is joining a team he will have every opportunity to showcase himself. The Magic though are currently loaded at the forward positions, so Gordon will have to prove himself worthy of the minutes as he will be facing plenty of competition.

Nik Stauskas, Shooting Guard, Michigan: This pick for bust has less to do with the player, and more to do with the team he was selected by. Stauskas is joining a team that is in flux with its roster, trying to figure out who is in their long term plans and who to move on to. Not to mention the Sacramento Kings first round pick from 2013 is a shooting guard in Ben McLemore.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Stauskas can score the ball offensively, but he may not have a good chance to do it with the Kings. Getting lost in the shuffle is something Stauskas should be very worried about as players such as Rudy Gay and Travis Outlaw will be playing minutes at the same position as Stauskas in addition to McLemore. The track record the Kings have with first round picks make Stauskas a candidate to be a bust.

Tyler Ennis, Point Guard, Syracuse: Ennis is a bust candidate because he does not fit the mold of where the NBA is heading at the position. He is a smart player, but it is hard to imagine him being able to consistently stick with the super-athletes that are filling up the point guard position now.

Mark Konezny - USA TODAY Sports

He is also not a strong shooter, something teams need from their point guards. Last season at Syracuse Ennis shot only 41 percent from the field and 35 percent from the three point line. Those are numbers he must improve upon at the NBA-level to have any success; NBA teams cannot afford to have a player that offers nothing offensively on the court, especially when your defense is as in question as Ennis’ is.

Ennis also falls onto this list because of how things are looking with the Phoenix Suns. The Suns signed Isaiah Thomas from the Kings in free agency, further pushing Ennis down the depth chart. They already have breakout player Goran Dragic on the team, and are in contract negotiations with Eric Bledsoe to bring him back as well. Ennis could very well be the fourth string point guard heading into the season, firmly placing him on the bench with the bust label.

Josh Huestis, Power Forward, Stanford: It is not Huestis’ fault that he was selected in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder, but like all other players he needs to be judged by his draft selection, and he has bust written all over him. Huestis is known more for his rebounding and defense, something that is not always appreciated when it comes to evaluating draft prospects.

David Butler II - USA TODAY Sports

Huestis was also not expected to be in the mix as a first round pick, so expectations are automatically heightened for him. Getting selected to a team like the Thunder gives you time to develop your skills, but there are a slew of players ahead of Huestis currently on the roster, and playing time will be hard to come by. He also has to contend with fellow first round draft pick Mitch McGary

Huestis has a long road ahead of him to crack the rotation and get minutes with the Thunder this season. He is destined for a spot in the D-League this upcoming year.

Bruno Caboclo, Small Forward, Brazil: There is not much known about Caboclo other than he is the Brazilian Kevin Durant. ESPN international scout Fran Fraschilla also said that he was two years away from being two years away, meaning Caboclo is nowhere near ready to contribute to the Toronto Raptors.

Dave Abel/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

Caboclo it has been said will be a part of the NBA roster, but it is hard to imagine him giving much positive to the Raptors. He is an extremely raw basketball player, and could be stapled to the Raptors bench for many seasons to come. Like Huestis, it is not Caboclo’s fault that he was selected where he was, but he will be judged with where he was selected.

The Raptors would have been better off getting another wing such as Rodney Hood, Jordan Adams or P.J. Hairston, all three of which were selected after Caboclo.

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NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Finals Preview

San Antonio Spurs (1) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (2)

The San Antonio Spurs were able to advance to the Western Conference Finals once again after a surprisingly comfortable victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in five games. After seeing LaMarcus Aldridge dominate the Rockets in the first round, the Spurs were able to keep him relatively quiet.

The news that Ibaka will be out for the postseason will have been welcomed by the Spurs, whether they want to admit it or not. For now, San Antonio are reportedly preparing for this series with the assumption that Ibaka will in fact play, choosing to take a “we will believe it when we see it” approach.

If Ibaka is indeed out for the playoffs, it will leave the Thunder lacking a prominent shot blocker; which gives players like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli the freedom to drive to the rim knowing that there is a high probability that they will not get blocked.

Could Parker's injury stop the
Spurs from moving forward?

Tim Duncan will also benefit from the absence of Ibaka, as he will have an easier job getting his shots off, as he will not have to go up against someone as athletic as Ibaka. It is hard to see anyone on the Thunder’s roster that can defend Duncan, and it may be that we might even see Durant guarding Duncan at times, as his length and athleticism would cause the future Hall of Famer problems.

The Spurs, however, have problems of their own, with Tony Parker struggling with a niggling hamstring injury. Parker left the Spurs’ game five blowout win over the Trailblazers in the second quarter and did not return, a scary time for San Antonio fans. He is expected to play in game one, but it remains to be seen how much the injury will affect him. The Spurs will certainly need their point guard to be at his best; especially with the tough defensive assignment he has trying to stop Westbrook.

The Oklahoma City Thunder progressed to the Western Conference Finals after defeating the Clippers in six hard fought games. This was quite a controversial series, with a number of questionable calls going in favor of the Thunder, especially late in the game. Clippers’ head coach Doc Rivers expressed his disappointment in the officiating after seeing his team eliminated from the playoffs, receiving a $25,000 fine for his troubles.

Regardless of whether the Clippers were robbed or not, they were unable to compete with the scoring prowess of league MVP Kevin Durant and his sidekick, Russell Westbrook. In Oklahoma’s game five victory over the Clippers, Westbrook and Durant were the only Thunder players to score in double figures, proving that as long as they are on form the Thunder will always have a chance to win the game.

The Thunder will miss
their perennial shot blocker

The chances of the Thunder progressing to the NBA Finals have been seriously hampered by the news that Serge Ibaka will miss the remainder of the postseason after suffering a calf injury in Oklahoma City’s game six win over the Los Angeles Clippers. This could force the Thunder to completely change their game plan, due to them not having a backup who can step into the team and do the same job that Ibaka does.

An option for the Thunder could be to slide Durant over to the power forward to guard Duncan, as Durant is as equally long and athletic as Ibaka. The problem is that they will likely have to play Kendrick Perkins and Hasheem Thabeet a lot more minutes than they would normally like to in order to cover the minutes that Ibaka’s absence leaves available, as they offer next to nothing offensively, although as game five in the last series proved, the Thunder do not need many people to contribute offensively to secure a win.

The Thunder swept the regular season series 4-0 against the Spurs as they could not match the scoring output of Kevin Durant. It is very unlikely that we will see this postseason series being as uneven as it was in the regular season. Oklahoma’s speed and athleticism was too much for this aging Spurs roster to handle, however, San Antonio are a lot more rested than the Thunder after the whole team was held to minute limitations during the regular season. Expect this series to be closely fought, with the likelihood that we could see a seven game series between these two excellent teams.

Winner: Spurs in 7

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