The Best Decision for Both
 |
| Kevin Durant leads the Warriors in points, steals and blocks (bleacherreport.com) |
Kevin Durant leaving OKC was a huge disappoint to me. As a fan of small market teams, seeing Durand and Russell Westbrook having success in the NBA was refreshing to watch. With LeBron "allegedly" creating superteams, OKC has primarily built their team off of draft picks. In 3 consecutive years the Thunder drafted Durant, Westbrook and Houston Rockets point guard James Harden and in 2012 lost to the Miami Heat in 5 games. Questionable roster moves followed including trading James Harden to the Rockets for Kevin Martin and others; to clear cap space to keep rim protector Serge Ibaka. With season-lingering injuries to Kevin and Russell, the Thunder's window to win a championship were steadily declining
The Oklahoma City front office received mostly negative criticism after the firing of coach Scott Brooks. Brooks who lead the Thunder to the playoffs each of his first 5 season was let go after missing the playoffs despite season ending injuries to 2 of the team's 3 leading scorers. Coach Brooks; now with the Washington Wizards, was criticized for having a stagnant offense, especially in the 4th quarter.
Since the firing of a coach that KD thought highly of, speculation about his departure begun. Anytime someone would ask "Do you think KD leaving" my response would be "Now why would he do that?" I saw a superstar in Durant that had his own team, city and had the perfect sidekick in Westbrook. The one-two punch of these two perennial all stars would eventually win a championship, proving that you don't have to join forces with other elite players to win.
Then 3-1 happen....
During the western conference finals versus Golden State, I started sensing that Durant and Westbrook playing styles began to build a strife between them on the court. Playing together for 9 years you begin to adapt to each other styles but KD and Westbrook never got to that point. Both players are best with the ball in their hand but Durant is more of a half court set scorer. Westbrook on the other hand is scoring in the open floor and
creating for teammates on fastbreak opportunities. Off talent alone the Thunder were able to make it to the WCF but without the cohesiveness of their two superstars, making it to the finals was just outside their reach.
I don't know if Durant and Westbrook had a conversation prior to KD decision to play for the Warriors, and it doesn't matter. KD had to make the best decision for him and so far it is working out. After the first week of the season it's clear that the Warriors offense starts with the 4-time scoring champ. Golden States doesn't push the ball off a rebound as fast as Westbrook does which gives Durant time to set up in a offense and not have to be ball dominant to score. Currently KD is averaging 28.5 points per game, 4 assist and career high averages in rebounds and steals with 9 and 4 respectively. Having the Splash Brothers on the floor with KD gives him the space to operate in more one-on-one situations.
After Durant chose Golden State, Westbrook was left with a broken roster. Serge Ibaka was traded to the Orlando Magic for shooting guard Victor Oladipo. Without last years tip 2 out of 3 scorers, many predicted the Thunder to struggle. Westbrook's shooting percentage is nothing to brag about and at nearly 4 turnovers a game last season, doubters have good reason to do so. But this season is different. Russell Westbrook is playing with raw emotion that the league has never seen before. Numbers don't lie. 37.8 ppg 10.8 rpg and 10 apg in the first 4 games of the season is astounding, but it's the leadership that stands out most in Westbrook this season. With the 7th youngest roster in the NBA, Russell has to be the mature ball player that KD always wanted to play with. After last night victory in Los Angeles versus the Clippers, all eyes will be on Westbrook and the Thunder just to see how far they can go without the former MVP Kevin Durant.
The Thunder were at a stagnate pace as far as how far they could go to the playoffs. Even if they didn't blow a 3-1 lead they still wouldn't have defeated the Cleveland Cavilers. Rather you feel like Durant's decision to stay in OKC was right or wrong; you can't say it wasn't the best decision for both stars. KD is now in a situation where he can play to his strength of half court basketball. Steve Kerr is one of the best at drawing up plays and getting shooters into open space. I've KD developed his on ball defense, he will fit right into the Warriors system.
And with Durant in Oakland, Russell Westbrook can now play his up tempo style of basketball without hesitation. The Thunder will be one of the elite teams in the NBA and it will be more so Westbrook's leadership that everyone will be impressed with the most. Some may say tonight is just a regular season game but to Westbrook it's a chance to show the league that he can hold his own.
Since the firing of a coach that KD thought highly of, speculation about his departure begun. Anytime someone would ask "Do you think KD leaving" my response would be "Now why would he do that?" I saw a superstar in Durant that had his own team, city and had the perfect sidekick in Westbrook. The one-two punch of these two perennial all stars would eventually win a championship, proving that you don't have to join forces with other elite players to win.
Then 3-1 happen....
During the western conference finals versus Golden State, I started sensing that Durant and Westbrook playing styles began to build a strife between them on the court. Playing together for 9 years you begin to adapt to each other styles but KD and Westbrook never got to that point. Both players are best with the ball in their hand but Durant is more of a half court set scorer. Westbrook on the other hand is scoring in the open floor and
creating for teammates on fastbreak opportunities. Off talent alone the Thunder were able to make it to the WCF but without the cohesiveness of their two superstars, making it to the finals was just outside their reach.
I don't know if Durant and Westbrook had a conversation prior to KD decision to play for the Warriors, and it doesn't matter. KD had to make the best decision for him and so far it is working out. After the first week of the season it's clear that the Warriors offense starts with the 4-time scoring champ. Golden States doesn't push the ball off a rebound as fast as Westbrook does which gives Durant time to set up in a offense and not have to be ball dominant to score. Currently KD is averaging 28.5 points per game, 4 assist and career high averages in rebounds and steals with 9 and 4 respectively. Having the Splash Brothers on the floor with KD gives him the space to operate in more one-on-one situations.
 |
| Russell Westbrook scores 35 points in the win over the Clippers (bleacherreport.com) |
After Durant chose Golden State, Westbrook was left with a broken roster. Serge Ibaka was traded to the Orlando Magic for shooting guard Victor Oladipo. Without last years tip 2 out of 3 scorers, many predicted the Thunder to struggle. Westbrook's shooting percentage is nothing to brag about and at nearly 4 turnovers a game last season, doubters have good reason to do so. But this season is different. Russell Westbrook is playing with raw emotion that the league has never seen before. Numbers don't lie. 37.8 ppg 10.8 rpg and 10 apg in the first 4 games of the season is astounding, but it's the leadership that stands out most in Westbrook this season. With the 7th youngest roster in the NBA, Russell has to be the mature ball player that KD always wanted to play with. After last night victory in Los Angeles versus the Clippers, all eyes will be on Westbrook and the Thunder just to see how far they can go without the former MVP Kevin Durant.
The Thunder were at a stagnate pace as far as how far they could go to the playoffs. Even if they didn't blow a 3-1 lead they still wouldn't have defeated the Cleveland Cavilers. Rather you feel like Durant's decision to stay in OKC was right or wrong; you can't say it wasn't the best decision for both stars. KD is now in a situation where he can play to his strength of half court basketball. Steve Kerr is one of the best at drawing up plays and getting shooters into open space. I've KD developed his on ball defense, he will fit right into the Warriors system.
And with Durant in Oakland, Russell Westbrook can now play his up tempo style of basketball without hesitation. The Thunder will be one of the elite teams in the NBA and it will be more so Westbrook's leadership that everyone will be impressed with the most. Some may say tonight is just a regular season game but to Westbrook it's a chance to show the league that he can hold his own.
Comments
Post a Comment