The pressure is all on Kevin Durant, now let's see how good he really is. (Credits: Getty Images) |
Durant's first test? Passed with flying colors, defeating the Rockets on Saturday to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. KD went off for 41 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. He did it all and showed us, for at least that night, that he wasn't phased by his fallen teammate. Challenged accepted.
But this is the Rockets we're talking about. A young, relatively inexperienced team who really doesn't have anyone that can slow Durant down let alone stop him. The challenge will only grow greater as he meets either the Grizzlies or Clippers in the second round; each could present a unique, but equally difficult task. Will Durant abandon his high percentage tendencies when teammates go cold, will he float in Carmelo Anthony territory (a pretty unpopular place when things go wrong)? Or will he embrace the task, do his best LeBron impression and will his Thunder to the NBA Finals. It's still very possible; no team in the West has proved to me that they are leagues ahead of the Thunder even without Westbrook.
I fully expect there to be moments when Durant is overwhelmed with this pressure, when he can't harken back to his days carrying the Texas Longhorns with consistent 35-plus point, 15-plus rebound games. If he can keep those moments to a minimum then the Thunder should be just fine. On the other side of the coin, those moments (and their frequency) should prove to the world that the oft-criticized Westbrook is an integral part of this team. That his game causes more success than harm. That yes, he might shoot more than Durant, but that he is the true catalyst for this offense. KD must create for himself and create victories for his team. It's unchartered territory for him, at least since the team moved to Oklahoma City.
Everyone has labeled Durant as the league's second best talent, now he'll truly have the opportunity to prove it to us.
Ball's in your court KD.
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