While we stayed inside watching the regular season, we all assumed Oklahoma City vs Los Angeles would be our Western Conference Final matchup. We saw the series before, but we saw a young Oklahoma team, led by young humble players take the eventual champions to 6 games. It would have also signaled a changing of the guard. Oklahoma City and Kevin Durant, the upstarts, knocking off Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Even with Los Angeles going through problems, the bigger problems potentially lie in Oklahoma City. Did I mention it involves it’s two stars?
From Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson, to Shaquille O’ Neal and Kobe Bryant, to the more apt comparison of Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury, the Kevin Durant- Russell Westbrook combo has hit a bit of a snag in this year’s playoffs. In all three of Oklahoma City’s losses this postseason, Russell Westbrook has decided to take the game into his hands. The bigger part is he’s using his weakest part of his game, his jumpshot, in order to keep Oklahoma City in the lead and eventually win the game. Like Marbury, Westbrook has quietly decided to take the ball in his hands, and out of Durants, which is huge. The question isn’t Westbrook’s shooting, it’s Westbrook’s decision making being the point guard, as well as what seems to be the choice to keep the ball out of Durant’s hand, or anyone for that matter.
At first, I was starting to believe this was all Westbrook’s fault, but the more I watch, the more I end up critizing Kevin Durant. Since the day he’s step into the league, Durant’s never shown any extra oof in his game. He never stunned up with his appearance, nor has he said anything that made you look twice, or smirk wondering how you can twist this into a negative. What if the Durant-Westbrook is exactly like the Kevin Garnett-Stephon Marbury situation? While we all knew Garnett was the better of the duo, Marbury had nights where it was his game, and soon, we discuss is Marbury more valuable, and possibly, is he the better player? Like Westbrook now, it seems the praise the media has given him has gone to his head and suddenly, Westbrook has decided the game will be in his hands. Along with the praise, we can also look at draft classmate Derrick Rose and his recent success and use that as a caveat to what’s to come with scoring guards. Westbrook watched Rose in Chicago and said ” I can do that, I can score. My jumper has slightly improved, I can take 18 footers” and it’s all coming in one swoop in the players, while Oklahoma City fans can tell you, this has happened all season.
What does this mean for Oklahoma City? Looking back, it usually take a trade. Alonzo Mourning was traded from Charlotte to Miami in 1995 after issues with Larry Johnson, Shaquille O’ Neal was traded from Los Angeles to Miami in 2004 and in the Garnett-Marbury saga, Marbury was traded as well. If your Thunder GM Sam Presti, do you just move Westbrook this offseason? Well, it isn’t that cut and dry. If head coach Scott Brooks and Sam Presti feels he’s becoming too ego-driven for his own good, at least test his value, see what deals you can build under the table for him. Similar to what Utah did, Oklahoma City can check what’s the price for Westbrook around the league and he will be surprised, it’s quite high. The only issue is, do you want to move a 22 year old point guard, who probably has the best defensive skills at the position? Another issue is, do you want to invest in Russell Westbrook? 50 million in a player who think he’s better then he is? That could spell issues down the line.