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The Perfect Storm
- Updated: May 30, 2016
There’s never been a more pivotal game all season until tonight’s Western Conference Finals Game 7 between the Warriors and Thunder. Sure, the battles the Warriors had with the Spurs and even their instant classic win over OKC were some of the season’s best- but tonight’s ramifications will be felt even beyond this season.
A win tonight wouldn’t only guarantee a spot in the NBA Finals. It would be the first step in helping keep Kevin Durant in Oklahoma as the team’s cornerstone. The team’s surprising run has come at just the right time for the Thunder Nation- and has Durant front and center.
When it came to the Most Valuable Player chatter, Stephen Curry’s second consecutive season was so dazzling that it had NBA pundits trying- and failing- to explain how he improved. Kawhi Leonard made massive strides in becoming not only the league’s best defender, but one of the NBA’s most efficient offensive weapons as well. Russell Westbrook was an all-around buzzsaw, racking up 18 triple doubles in 2015-2016. Hell, even Draymond was up for MVP consideration with his diverse game, finishing second to Westbrook with 13 triple doubles. Oh, and don’t forget about The King, who’s a perennial MVP contender.
Lost in all this? Kevin Durant. Durant managed to fly under the radar despite being one of the league’s best scorers
Durant’s free agency has been watercooler talk since last year. Wizards fans began their campaigning for KD initially, talking themselves into being frontrunner as his hometown team. But it looks less likely as time goes on. Rumors of him joining the Warriors seem unlikely, despite his admiration for their unselfish play. Why would he join a team where he’d have to play second fiddle to Stephen Curry and fight for shots alongside Klay Thompson? “If you can’t beat them, join them” won’t apply to Durant if OKC loses tonight.
If you asked me before the season, I’d have thought Durant leaving OKC for somewhere new was a layup. Pun intended. He’d clash with Russell Westbrook and realize the Thunder’s window to win an NBA Championship would close very soon, if not already. Billy Donovan in his first season as coach couldn’t possibly handle the duo’s personalities while trying to get other players (Ibaka, Roberson, Adams, Waiters) involved, right?
Wrong.
The team finished 55-27, good enough for 3rd in the ultra-competitive West. Durant (28.2 ppg) and Westbrook (23.5 ppg) would be their double-headed monster and will the team to the Western Conference Finals. After a soul-crushing 124-92 loss to San Antonio in Game 1, who could have foreseen them winning four out of the semifinal series’ next five games? The duo’s scoring didn’t regress or plateau in the postseason, either. KD and Russ improved it by 3 points per game (54.9).
On a side note, if there is one player who’s improved vastly in the playoffs for OKC, it’s Steven Adams. He jumped from 8 ppg/6.7 rpg during the regular season to 10.2 ppg/9.5 rpg during the team’s WCF run.
The Warriors had OKC’s number during the regular season, going 4-0 against them- yet the Thunder found a way to add new wrinkles to their attack and make Golden State look- gasp!– mortal. I pegged the Warriors to win 4-1, but have been pleasantly surprised by Oklahoma City’s resilience and ability to evolve this postseason.
All of these are good signs for the Thunder and its fans. After Game 6, a dark cloud hung over the team’s inability to finish off Golden State after taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. The blame was placed primarily on Durant’s inefficient game (29 points on 31 shots) and lousy fourth quarter (1-7 with two very costly turnovers). He and Westbrook combined for only four points and a staggering six turnovers in the final 5:48 of Game 6.
OKC had one job in that game: don’t let the series go back to Golden State where the Warriors were 39-2 in the regular season.
Oops.
And while the Warriors hold the advantage being back in the Bay Area, a seventh game in a series (especially with two offensive juggernauts) is almost a toss-up. The Thunder have proved they can beat the Warriors at home while doing so convincingly.
If the Warriors win, Curry and LeBron would have their chance to squash their “beef”. The Warriors would also be looking to cap off a 73-9 season with a second straight championship. Anything less would be viewed as disappointing despite their record-setting season.
If OKC wins and goes on to the Finals, a long anticipated rematch between Durant and LeBron would be a sight to see. And if they run the table and win the championship? As any sports “doctor” tells you, winning cures all and that might be the antidote to all of the “KD’s bolting” talk.
With the Warriors and Spurs thought of as the West’s top tier and everyone else on a level below, the Thunder have managed to go against the grain and prove myself and plenty of others wrong all season. With clouds swirling and pressure mounting, Kevin Durant’s focus must not wain as he tries to stay in the eye of the storm.
Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know @SeanNeutron.
