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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Moore's 3 Pointer With 4.9 sec Left Wins It vs OKC

Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder almost had another triple double. He did however score 43 points, the only Thunder player to do that in 3 straight games.

OKC was playing the 2nd game of a back to back and in the waning moments of the 4th quarter, the team looked fatigued.  The Bulls outscored OKC 36-26 in the 4th en route to a thrilling finish when reserve E'Twaun Moore sunk a big trey to give the Bulls a 107-105 lead with 4.9 secs to go. An exciting win without Rose or Butler and the Bulls played like a team.

Nikola Mirotic added a Free-throw after Westbrook stepped out of bounds to give the ball back to the Bulls. Chicago won 108 to 105 against a tired team and a hot player.

This was one of the most satisfying wins of the year, beating a hot team with a sensational player in Westbrook.  The Bulls earned the victory because Mirotic again stepped up to score 23 points and was uncanny from the charity strip. Pau Gasol scored 21 points and had 12 boards. Mike Dunleavy scored 21 points. and Joakim Noah had a big game. Although he only scored 4 points, he had 9 assists (team high) and 12 rebounds.

Moore scored 19 (a career high) and his game winning shot is one to remember. "It's been a while," he said with a smile. For the Bulls call it great timing.

The play was drawn up by head coach Tom Thibodeau. Dunleavy threw a pass to Gasol, who drew two defenders to him, he then passed the ball right to Moore who was wide open on the left of the key.  Moore swished the shot and the United Center went bonkers.

Chicago closed out it's 7 game home stand with a 5-2 record and are now 39-23 for the season.

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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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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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Defining Moments......The Los Angeles Clippers

The Final Chapter has yet to be written.......

There are times when a victory can change the course of a series in the NBA Playoffs and today was no exception but ironically the same can be said of a defeat.  The Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers engaged in a battle that will likely be remembered in the annals of time as one of the most significant playoff games in the history of the respective franchises.  The Thunder were 12 minutes, 720 seconds from escaping Los Angeles with a 3-1 series lead and a 90% chance of moving to the NBA's Western Conference Finals.  The Clippers and more so Chris Paul were 12 minutes, 720 seconds away from once again questioning one's place in the NBA after potentially preparing to suffer another second round loss and then it happened.

It was run that has been orchestrated in the past by the likes of the Thunder and the two time defending NBA Champion Miami Heat but the scoring outburst this time belonged to the Clippers and it came at the expense of one of the NBA's best defenses.  While on cruise control and at one point leading by 22 points in the first half, the Thunder was then outscored 38-24 in the 4th quarter by a resurgent Clippers team that was as close to being run out of their home arena as a franchise could be.  The plight of the Clippers has been well documented over the last 2 plus weeks and as the NBA world along with the real world were caught up with the salacious details, the players of the Clippers were united in a way that's greater than sports and entertainment, young men on a quest not only to win an NBA Championship but to also prove that they belong in a world that continues to shun them, disrespect them and treat them as the hired help.

The Thunder stood united behind the media's "MVP" in Kevin Durant, the "best basketball player" in the NBA.  It was a time where the eye test trumps the analytics of those who try to appear smarter than they are.  40 points on 50% shooting from the field, all the while converting 15 of 18 free throws should equate to a win for Durant and the Thunder but sadly that wasn't the case.  What was't visible in the numbers of the world of analytics is how the media's "MVP" failed to convert in the closing moments of the game.  Durant, standing at 6'10 seemed ineffective as the 6 foot Chris Paul crowded his airspace.  99.9 percent of the time 6'10 trumps 6 foot but when it mattered the most, Oklahoma City's Mr. Unreliable proved to be just that as he was pestered and bamboozled by the suffocating defense of the diminutive Paul.  As the war of attrition came to a close, a mini duel erupted between former UCLA teammates Russell Westbrook and Darren Collison.  Fueled by a three point shot by the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford to put the Clippers ahead for the first time in the game, Collison would have the last laugh as he scored the Clippers last 4 points on layups.

12 minutes, 720 seconds away from almost guaranteeing a spot in the Western Conference Finals to now having given birth to a franchise that's hungry for more than an NBA Championship.  Giving that team life is a colossal mistake on the part of the Thunder and the media's "MVP".  Due to allowing the Los Angeles Clippers to become only the 10th team in the shot clock era to win a playoff game after trailing by 17 plus points after one quarter of play, the Oklahoma City Thunder has opened the pandora's box of a city, a nation that will support this team as they not only fight for the right to win the champion but also to prove that yes they do belong against the will of those who continually try to oppress them.  Championship teams don't blow leads, championship teams come back from seemingly impossible leads.  The Oklahoma City Thunder has welcomed the Los Angeles Clippers to have their first of many defining moments.

The Final Chapter has begun........

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What we've learned from the 1st-round of the NBA Playoffs

The NBA regular season is entertaining due to seeing all 30 teams put out their best effort day-in and day-out. With that being said during the 2014 NBA Playoffs we've begun to learn that the regular season isn't as important as we first thought. In hindsight, teams aren't as formidable and players are gaining respect on a national level. Class is in session and we've learned a lot about multiple teams and players through week one of the postseason.

Predicable?

For years we've heard people call the NBA playoffs predictable because traditionally the higher seed would decimate the lower seed and it's always easy to have an idea of which franchise will be holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy late into June. The thoughts of predictability led viewers to prefer the NCAA Tournament, NHL Playoffs and NFL Playoffs as they aren't predictable.

Surprisingly, the 2014 NBA Playoffs have been far from predictable with multiple games ending in over times, 4-point plays that make you rub your eyes asking yourself “Did he just do that?”, star performances and more. What no one predicted or saw coming was road teams winning 9 of the first 16 games with two sweeping the first two games on the road (Washington & Portland). Also it's the first time in NBA history road teams are 9-7 through the first two games of the postseason.

Superstar players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Chris Paul are expected to put up insane stats but it has yet to happen however Portland Trail Blazers All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge is averaging 44.5 PPG and 13.0 RPG on the road. No one expected him of all people to breakout this early in the playoffs — his 89 points through two games the most since Allen Iverson's 90 points through two games in the '01 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. It took eight years but Aldridge has finally received a invitation to join the "elite players" group which wasn't expected. 

Regular Season Impact: 

San Antonio Spurs Head coach Gregg Popovich won the Coach of the Year Award after leading his team to a regular season best 62-20 record.  It's Popovich's third time winning the award joining Pat Riley and Don Nelson as the only coaches to receive the prestigious award that amount of times.

Now it's great for Popovich to win the award, it shows that more coaches can regularly rest their players during the regular season as he did in San Antonio with not one player playing 30 minutes per game. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra did pick-up Popovich's method and rested his "Big-3" throughout certain points of the season. Popovich winning C.O.Y is going to promote more teams to rest their key players throughout the regular season and looking at it from a fans perspective, it's going to suck seeing million dollar sitting on the bench healthy, especially if your a season ticket holder.

The consistent winning of the road team is a NBA record and raises the question, Why compete during the regular season? The 2014-2015 NBA Season could be in jeopardy because teams like the Indiana Pacers put in max effort for 82-games to secure homecourt throughout the East section of the playoffs just to lose in Game 1 to the only playoff team with a losing record which was the Atlanta Hawks.

Early Collapse?

Ever hear the song "Started from the Bottom" by Drake? Yea well a few teams have started at the bottom and are staying because their whole team isn't there. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers have been exposed for their weaknesses which could lead to their demise.

The Chicago Bulls entering the playoffs were thought of as "The team you don't want to face" but right now with the way they are playing against Washington Wizards, that assumption by many has become invalid. Chicago is known for their great defense and were thought by many to be able to put the clamps on the Wiz's offense. Bill Russell said is best, "It's all about getting buckets" and the Bulls can't do that. It doesn't matter how good your defense is, if you can't put the ball in the hole then expect to be bathing in the sun early. No disrespect to D.J. Augustin and Kirk Hinrich, but they should not be your leading scorers through two games in the NBA Playoffs. Along with their lack of offense, Chicago has been exposed for their lack of depth as their starters are over played; most notably Jimmy Butler who played all 53 minutes in Game 2 and has only had a 4:54 minute break through two games.

You've heard the cliche "If it ain't broke don't fix it", but apparently Kevin Pritchard and Larry Bird saw a mistake in something perfectly good. When long-time Pacer Danny Granger was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers it made us say two of the Ws "what and why" because it was a shock as Evan Turner came to town. Andrew Bynum came to town also and fast forward to today and the championship hopes in Indiana are becoming as slim as the Charlotte Bobcats' chances to eliminate the Miami Heat. The panic button for the Pacers should've been hit repeatedly because now they have problems with Evan Turner and Lance Stephenson reportedly getting into a scuffle, Roy Hibbert doing his best Kwame Brown impersonation, Andrew Bynum having knees worse then a 80-year old and Paul George's off the court issues.

The Houston Rockets were chosen by many as championship contenders with the pairing of Dwight Howard and James Harden as they were thought of the second coming of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. While they might achieve something close to Shaq and Kobe, both Howard and Harden have issues they need to resolve. Harden is struggling through two games as his shooting woes have led him to 29.8% shooting and 26.3% from the 3-point line but as for his sidekick Dwight Howard, well he's been dominate averaging 29.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and 4.0 rebounds through two games. You'd think with Howard making a mockery of his opposition that Houston would lead or at least tie the series, but Harden's insufficient shooting is the reason why the Rockets have a huge problem being down 0-2. Houston should not be running their offense inside-out because it's hindering the success of others. Also worth noting is that Harden's temper is as thin as Mohawk when he verbally attacked a reporter after Game 2.

Since 2011 we've talked about Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Their relationship reminds me of a married couple that has so many flaws but for someone they stay together. Both are great players at their respective positions but they will not a championship by living outside the paint. Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal have said it the best, "You don't live by the jumper you die by the jumper" and right Westbrook is digging OKC's grave next to other teams that thought they could win a ring by consistent shooting. In Game 2 Westbrook and Durant combined for 56 shot attempts (28 a piece). Now Durant can take 28-shots but Westbrook can't and that might seem like a double-standard but it's true. Durant is a 4x scoring champ and likely MVP for a reason and Westbrook is just a sidekick with great athletic ability. OKC may go far but they won't win it all unless Westbrook learns that his hand isn't always hot.

Show some respect:

Respect is earned not given and Al Jefferson has earned it rightfully from us all. A few minutes into the Charlotte Bobcats' playoff game, Al Jefferson heard a pop in his foot and was diagnosed with plantar fascia. Plantar fascia is a painful injury according to those who have had it and "Big Al" Jefferson is a 7-foot burly man who is currently playing through it. Jefferson hopped his way up and down the court against Miami because he's determined to get Charlotte their first ever playoff win. The injury was so bad that Jefferson needed to take a injection to even walk but had the heart of a champion to keep fighting. 

Jefferson entered AmericanAirlines Arena the same way he left which was in a boot for Game 2. Before tip-off he needed to take another shot to play and did and just like in Game 1 he was hobbling up and down 94-feet. Jefferson has earned the respect from anyone following the series because he could easily be shutdown for the season with that injury but refuses to go down without a fight.

Wrap-up:    

In general we've seen a great start to the NBA playoffs with nothing turning out as many expected it to with teams becoming exposed for their weaknesses and collapsing at the wrong time. As we get deeper into the 1st-round their are just so many questions; Will the Chicago Bulls get swept by a young Wizards team? Will the Indiana Pacers have the biggest collapse in NBA history? And can Russell Westbrook realize that OKC won't a ring with him shooting 20+ shots? These are all feasible questions to think about as we progress to crowning a champion.

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