Finally. At last. It's about time. Just a few expressions that had to be running through the mind of former NBA MVP and 4-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant who can now be regarded as a champion after finally getting the monkey off his back by adding a Larry O'Brien Trophy to an already impressive resume following Golden State's 129-120 win over the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers last night in front of a max capacity crowd. After being on the losing end to a LeBron James-led team in his first NBA Finals experience back in 2012, Durant appeared much hungrier in his second go around, leading his team in scoring in all five games and averaging 35.2 Points Per Game, 8.4 Rebounds and 5.4 Assists, while shooting 60 for 102 from the floor (.588) and earning Finals MVP honors in his first year with the team. Something only Moses Malone (1983) and Magic Johnson (1980) had done before him. By pouring in 39-points in last night's series-clincher, the 28-year old Durant joined an elite class of players as only Jerry West, LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki managed to average more career playoff points at the time of their first NBA title.
Avenging last year's heart-wrenching loss in which the Warriors became the first team in NBA Finals history to blow a 3-1 series lead, Golden State made quick work of their counterparts, needing only five games to seal the series and claim their second title in three years. Though he wasn't with the team at the time, the heartbreak of blowing that 3-1 lead was also shared by Durant who saw the Warriors storm back from a 3-1 deficit in the Western Conference Finals against Durant's then Oklahoma City Thunder. Both collapses would prompt Durant to leave and the Warriors to pursue him, making for what would ultimately be a mach made in heaven as evident by their remarkable run in this year's playoffs. Finishing 16-1 along their chase to the title, this year's Golden State team has to be up there among the greatest runs in NBA history for their pure dominance. And had it not been for a blowout defeat at Cleveland in Game 4, the Warriors would've been the first to go a perfect 16-0 in the postseason. But it's not just this postseason that's been impressive.
Led by head coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors have stringed together one of the greatest three year stretches of all-time. After claiming the franchise's first NBA title since 1975 in 2015, the Warriors followed that up with an all-time great regular season record of 74-9 as well as another trip to the Finals and managed to bookend it with another NBA title. Had it not been for the 3-1 collapse in which the Cavs climbed their way back to pry the championship away from Golden State's grasp just a season ago, we'd be looking at the first three-peat since the Kobe-Shaq Lakers of the early 2000's. In what's become somewhat of a rivalry, Cavs-Warriors has certainly become must-watch TV over the past few seasons and last night's Game 5 was no different and the viewers would agree as it gained the highest rating for an NBA game since Game 5 of the 1998 NBA Finals. Generating a 16.0 metered market rating, ratings shot up 13 percent from the Game 5's of each of the past two years when these two teams met.
The Real MVP - Immediately following the game, it was only appropriate that Durant was greeted on the floor by his mother Wanda who Kevin based much of his memorable MVP speech around after the 2014 season. The two shared a moment and were brought to tears as confetti fell from the rafters at Oakland's Oracle Arena. Not shying away from his emotions, Durant hasn't been one to shy away on the game's biggest stage either as he became one of only three players to score 25 points or more in each of his first 10 NBA Finals games, joining only Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal. Durant also received a congratulatory hug and handshake from LeBron who Durant told they're, "tied up now" at an even 1-1 against one another in the Finals and that they'll, "have to do this again." Assuming Durant returns to play for the Warriors next season and chooses not to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract, both teams are perennial favorites to make it back to a fourth consecutive NBA Finals next year. And I'm sure we'd be treated to yet another show between LeBron and Durant if they met up as both players were equally good against one another when guarding each other in this series. While Durant scored 43 points and shot 18-for-30 from the floor including 4-for-11 from three with James guarding him, LeBron scored 44 points on 18-for-32 shooting and an identical 4-for-11 from three with Durant guarding him.
Despite becoming the fourth player and first NBA MVP to lose in five NBA Finals, the 32-year old LeBron averaged the first triple-double in NBA Finals history by posting 33.6 Points Per Game, 12.0 Rebounds and 10.0 Assists to further his claim for the greatest of all-time in his seventh consecutive Finals appearance. Sure it's another Finals loss to his belt, but like LeBron said in his post-game presser, "I left everything I had out on the floor every single game for all five games", doing all he could while receiving minimal help from his teammates. A much different approach than the one he took two years ago when he sat at his locker for nearly an hour with a towel over his head. Even when LeBron was on the sideline getting the little rest he received (28 minutes), the Cavs were outscored by 27 points in the series.
With another ring to his resume, Warriors coach Steve Kerr adds ring No. 7 to his mantle after winning 5 as a player with the Bulls and Spurs. As for someone else destined for the Hall of Fame who waited even longer than Durant for his first Championship ring, Steve Nash can finally say he's got one. After playing 20 seasons with the Mavericks, Suns and Lakers and never making it past the Conference Finals, 2-time league MVP Steve Nash joined the Warriors following their 2015 title run as a player development consultant as was one of the first people to receive a hug from Kevin Durant in the tunnel as the players made it from the floor towards the locker room. With Durant being one of the players Nash worked the most with during the season, the two can now share in common that they've got a Championship ring on the way, regardless of how they got it. With the sole mission of winning a ring being the reason Durant signed with Golden State during the offseason which sparked plenty of criticism, he can finally sleep well knowing his decision payed off as a success.
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The moment the buzzer sounded after the Oklahoma City Thunder failed to put the Golden State Warriors out of their misery in the Western Conference Finals, allowing the defending champs to overcome a 3-1 deficit and make it to their second consecutive Finals appearance, Kevin Durant was as good as gone. But where he would decide to take his talents was anybodies guess, with meetings scheduled with the Warriors, Spurs, Clipppers, Celtics, Heat and of course the Thunder. Sure the idea to team up in the Bay Area with Steph Curry and company was a logical one, but we didn't think it would actually happen. Whether it be financial problems or just plain old chemistry issues due to adding yet another superstar to a squad that already has three, KD to Golden State -- the team that just handed him and the Thunder franchise arguably their most crushing defeat, wins the Durant sweepstakes and hands Oklahoma City yet another punch to the gut. But hey, at least Durant was courteous enough to announce his decision on the Fourth of July, making it easier for the pyro's living in Oklahoma to burn their jersey's.
With the salary cap increasing by $24 Million this offseason, the timing was perfect for the Warriors, enabling them to acquire another superstar talent to add to their already star-studded lineup. After setting a record for the most wins in a regular season with 74, the Warriors now have a chance to be even greater than they were in 2015-16, thanks to the signing of Durant. Not to mention Oklahoma City, one of Golden State's biggest threats out west, is now hampered with the departure of their former MVP. With the signing of Durant who agreed to a 2 year, $54.3 Million deal with a player option after the first year, now come the lofty expectations of delivering a championship, something Durant has come close to, four years removed from his only NBA Finals appearance, but has yet to accomplish. Anything short of back-to-back titles for Golden State in 2015-16 was already deemed a failure considering their record-setting regular season, but the pressure to deliver a title will be even higher this coming season. After blowing a 3-1 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals for the first time ever, head coach Steve Kerr knew work needed to be done and adjustments needed to be made in order to climb back to the hilltop of greatness and become champions once again. Landing Durant was their answer.
While many criticized LeBron James in the summer of 2010 for making the unpopular decision to leave the Cavs for the sunny beaches of Miami, Durant's decision has also had its fair share of critics, but nowhere near the magnitude of LeBron's. In some ways it's worse and in others it's not quite on par on the hate-o-meter and here's why. James' decision was not only criticized because he left his home state of Ohio, but because the manner in which he made it. As if announcing in front of a live television crew that he would take his talents to South Beach didn't rub people the wrong way, his WWE-like introduction alongside best friend Dwayne Wade and All-Star teammate Chris Bosh where he told the world they would win "not five, not six, not seven..." NBA titles, sealed the deal for most people. But Durant isn't leaving the area in which he was born and raised in, nor was he brought up and brought in to be the savior out of high school like James was.
As for a few reason's it's just as bad if not worse, Kevin Durant is all Oklahoma City fans have ever known. Since being drafted in 2007 by the Thunder, known then as the Seattle SuperSonics, OKC fans have watched Durant grow and develop into one of the game's elite players right before their very eyes. He now leaves them to chase a ring, joining the enemy in the process. And unlike Cleveland's situation when LeBron left, the Thunder are the only major sports franchise in the city (hell, in the state for that matter) which is why they've been so loyal and invested in the team since relocating from Seattle. Durant's contributions inside the Oklahoma City community will never be forgotten, but I think it's safe to say he'll be showered with boo's every time he touches the ball when the Warriors pay a visit to Chesapeake Arena next season. To their credit, the Thunder franchise and their fans were a little more prepared for life after Durant than Cleveland was when LeBron left the Cavs. It wasn't for a lack of help as was the case in Cleveland, but with former Sixth Man of the Year James Harden long gone and both Durant and Serge Ibaka now out the door, the 2016-17 Oklahoma City Thunder will be an entirely different team than the one that made it's lone NBA Finals appearance in 2012 as the reigns are now handed to Russell Westbrook who's departure from the franchise may be next.
With the future of fellow superstar and teammate of Durant's for eight seasons, Russell Westbrook also uncertain, who will become a free-agent following next season, Durant wasn't exactly promised that his sidekick and partner in crime would be there after next season had he re-signed long-term with OKC. While the possibility of Durant returning to the Thunder the same way LeBron did the Cavs, could present itself say if Golden State wins a title in Durant's first year with the team, he may want to consider being a Warrior for the long haul seeing as they have the potential to be even better than the Heat were when James, Wade, Bosh and Ray Allen teamed up in Miami. With Durant, Curry, Thompson and Green all under the age of 29, younger than Wade was when Miami's super team was formed in 2010, Durant could be part of a dynasty for many seasons to come if he chooses to stay with the Warriors past this season. With an Olympic gold medal, Rookie of the Year Award, four NBA-scoring titles, seven All-Star appearances and an MVP Award to show for, the only thing missing in Durant's trophy case is an NBA title. And for the first time in his career, he'll be on a team that's the odds on favorite to win it all and add to that case heading into the season.
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With both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals coming to an end, the table is now set for the 2012 NBA Finals. And like last year's Finals which featured plenty of drama-filled storylines from LeBron James being unable to follow through on his promise of bringing Miami a title, to he and teammate Dwayne Wade mocking Dallas Mavericks Forward Dirk Nowitzki for his late game heroics in Game 4 despite having a fever of 101 degrees, this year's series should be no different. Though the storylines differ from last season, there shouldn't be any shortage of excitement as fans will be treated to what's expected to be an all-out battle between a high-octane offense in the Oklahoma City Thunder and a defensive juggernaut in the Miami Heat. Not to mention the series will showcase arguably the best two players in the league (Kevin Durant and LeBron James) facing off against one another.
The road these two teams took to get here, however, is a bit one-sided as far as which has been more impressive. Of coarse no path to the Finals is an easy one, but to say the Thunder's journey was a more difficult one than Miami's would be an understatement. While the first round of the NBA Playoffs saw the Miami Heat face an underachieving New York Knicks team which dropped the first three games until finally claiming Game 4 before eventually being eliminated in 5, Oklahoma City made quick work of the defending World Champion Mavericks by completing a four game sweep. The Conference Semifinals featured the Heat against an Indiana Pacers squad which stole home court advantage and took a 2-to-1 series lead before falling three straight. The Thunder on the other hand faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers, but aside from Kobe Bryant's valiant effort to try and put his team on his back and carry them to another championship, the combination of speed and youth proved to be too much for a banged up Laker team as OKC prevailed in 5 games.
For Miami, the Conference Finals would prove to be their most difficult challenge yet. After winning the first two in Miami, the series would shift to Boston where the Heat would lose Games 3 and 4 as well as Game 5 back in South Beach. With their backs against the wall facing elimination, the Heat would need a Hall of Fame-like performance out of LeBron James in Game 6. And with 45 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists, they would get just that as LeBron and co. forced a decisive Game 7 to be played in Miami where the Heat came alive in the second half and never looked back. As for the Thunder, they'd have to take on the daunting task of having to play the number one seeded San Antonio Spurs who tied the Chicago Bulls for the best overall record in the NBA (50-16). And with Games 1 & 2 in the books, Thunder head coach Scott Brook's team appeared to have finally met their match in a deep, veteran-filled Spurs team, facing an 0-2 deficit. But a trip back to their home court coupled with the two game disadvantage would be the perfect wake up call for Kevin Durant and company as OKC would win the next four, sending the Spurs home packing earlier than they would've hoped for the second straight year as the no. 1 seed.
Prediction: With the Thunder appearing to be clicking on all cylinders, for Erik Spoelstra's Miami Heat team their toughest task might be what lies a head. With this year's MVP LeBron James expected to draw plenty of attention on offense, it'll be up to Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of the Miami Heat cast to step up and do their part. LeBron hasn't necessarily duplicated his MVP-like stature on the biggest stage of them all in the Finals in his first two trips there having lost last year against the Mavs and in 2006 to the San Antonio Spurs while with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but as of late he's been playing on a level unmatched by the opposition. And unless the Thunder find an answer for him, they might be sitting in the locker with their heads down while Miami pops bottles of champagne in celebration by series end. But with such a young cast of talent led by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, I don't think that'll be the case. And with the ball in their court owning home court advantage, all signs point towards the Thunder coming out on top given they're yet to lose a home game during these Playoffs (8-0). And while I see the series going the distance if not six games at the very least, I've got the Thunder prevailing and being crowned as this year's NBA Champions with Kevin Durant writing a chapter in the history books as the Finals MVP.
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One of the NBA's youngest players has already blossomed into one of the league's best. His name? Kevin Durant. Prior to the start of the NBA Playoffs, both Kevin Durant and LeBron James were neck and neck in the running for the NBA scoring tittle. But with a healthy playoff run more important than a personal achievement, the Cavs decided to sit their ring leader - James for the team's final 4 games. And with the help of LeBron sitting sidelined, Durant became the youngest player in NBA history to win the scoring tittle. With LeBron's decision to sit on the bench for the team's final handful of games, without an injury has caused controversy. With NBA commissioner David Stern well aware of James' health and the good money fans in Cleveland are paying to see their star player, Stern says the issue of healthy players sitting at the end of the regular season will be discussed.Regardless of his decision, no one could be more happy about LeBron sitting out than Durant himself who was given a few extra games to extend his stat sheet and make NBA history. Although James didn't take the chance of jeopardizing his team's playoff run, he might have jeopardized his chances of winning back-to-back MVP awards. Many sports writers with votes have made it clear that they wouldn't vote for a guy who's sitting on the bench healthy, opposed to a guy who's still busting his ass. Besides, both players are heading to the playoffs and mean an equal amount to their team's hopes. And if Durant's 30.1 points per game don't win him the coveted MVP award, his contribution for helping the Oklahoma City Thunder complete the sixth biggest turnaround in NBA history with a 27-game improvement from last season should do the trick.
Prior to game 1 of Durant's Thunder visiting the number one seeded Los Angeles Lakers in Hollywood, the young star played victim in a battle of words with Lakers head coach Phil Jackson. In a ploy to get to the head of the young Durantula, Jackson commented that the refs were letting Durant camp out at the foul line and were already treating him like a superstar. Jackson was later fined $35,000 for his comments, but not before Durant fired back by saying Jackson disrespected him. Despite his costly outburst, the Zen Master accomplished exactly what he had planned, by getting to the head of KD and causing him to reply with some words of his own. If his comments affected Durant in the playoffs, all would've been accomplished by the mastermind of Jackson. And after the first two games in L.A. going to the Lakers, it looks like something is bothering him.Ironically, this all comes weeks after Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett expressed his opinion on Durant. "I thought we was playing Michael fuckin Jordan tonight the way he was getting the whistle. He damn near shot more free-throws than our whole team." Those comments came after a home loss in Boston that saw Durant finish 15-for-15 at the line, in route of scoring 37 points. Coincidentally the player KG referred Durant to is a former player under Phil Jackson. So far this series, L.A.'s Ron Artest has been able to keep Durant to a minimum, including only 24 points in Durant's first career playoff game. With another new haircut, this time gold hair dye, Artest lets it be known that there's only one thing on his mind and that's winning it all. With the Thunder losing game 2 by a close score of 95-92, I see the Oklahoma City crowd being the deciding factor in game 3. Go Lakers! 
For similar posts featuring Kevin Durant, check out one of my older blog's - Durant's Gone Streaking
When the Seattle SuperSonics drafted Kevin Durant as the 2nd overall pick in 2007 from the University of Texas, they were confident they had a winner. And after capturing the Rookie of the Year award in his first year, the future looked bright for both Durant and the Sonics. But after only one season in Seattle, the team would relocate to Oklahoma as the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although the team changed its name and location, Durant's skills only grew. With a rebuilding playoff team in the making, the newly named 'Oklahoma City Thunder' were said to be possible playoff contenders in 2011 at the earliest. However, at the 2010 All-Star break, the Thunder have surprised many and find themselves one year ahead of schedule and in sole possession of 5th place in the Western Conference standings (31-21).It's hard to label an entire squad a 'one man team' when they have a winning record, but scoring nearly 30 points a night can go a long way. The young star is averaging 29.7 points per game and ranks second in the league, only behind LeBron James' 29.9 PPG. One stat Durant does hold, is his league leading streak of 25 points or more in 26 straight games. The 25+ point consecutive game streak isn't expected to win him the MVP award this year alone, but if he keeps it up and his team holds its way into the playoffs this year, Durant could be a likely candidate and could state a debatable case for the MVP award. If there was a mid-season award given to the MVP of the first half of the season, it would be a coin toss between LeBron & Durant, with Kobe & Carmelo injured. In only his 3rd NBA season, the guy has already developed into one of the games premiere ball players and at the early age of 21, the sky is the limit for the young 'Durantchula'.
