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Oklahoma City Thunder – Serge Ibaka Finally Stops Missing Shots
Much has been said about the Oklahoma City Thunder deciding to trade James Harden in order to avoid the luxury tax and give Serge Ibaka the big contract extension. After a rough start to this season, many fingers were pointed at the big man’s inability to become a trustworthy third scorer next to Kevin Durant. However, the return of Russell Westbrook from injury, looking like he hasn’t been gone at all, has brought Ibaka back to a more pleasing form, hopefully a sustainable one as well.
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Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant Gets His Russell Westbrook Back
The Oklahoma City Thunder weren’t going anywhere without Russell Westbrook, so the point guard decided he’ll come back early to help out Kevin Durant, bringing his energy, athleticism, speed and selfishness all back in one package to lead his team in a 103-96 win over the Phoenix Suns.
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Russell Westbrook Injury Means Kevin Durant is Under Too Much Pressure
Last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder were knocked out prematurely from the playoffs because of Russell Westbrook being injured, and Kevin Durant not being able to carry the team on his own. As the new NBA season approaches, at least the start of the year is going to look quite similar.
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Oklahoma City Thunder – Reggie Jackson is the Key to Turn Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook into NBA Champions
The general concept the Oklahoma City Thunder have tried to follow in recent years is having a third perimeter scorer next to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, usually coming off the bench. Reggie Jackson seems to be the one that’ll step into those shoes in 2013-2014, hopefully improving enough to help the franchise win the NBA championship.
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NBA Rumors – Oklahoma City Thunder Might Get Some Offense Out of Kendrick Perkins
One of the more glaring weaknesses in the very effective Oklahoma City Thunder offense is the presence of Kendrick Perkins. Despite usually being somewhat of a forgotten man on offense due to his ineffective play, the team and the big man are trying to change that issue, hoping it’ll be enough to carry them into the NBA finals and hopefully the title.
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Oklahoma City Thunder – Trying to be the Miami Heat Won’t End With an NBA Championship
When using the perfect vision glasses of hindsight, was trading James Harden the right decision? As of now, no, but titles in the near future, with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka leading the ship, will change that view on the controversial transaction, with the Oklahoma City Thunder putting the model of the Miami Heat in front of them as something to follow.
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Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook Won’t Become Champions With Ryan Gomes
The fact that Ryan Gomes joins the Oklahoma City Thunder does make them slightly better heading into next season, but it doesn’t change the fact and the outlook of their current situation, which seems to be Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook just not having the right team around them to win an NBA title.
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Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant Kept Getting Worse & Was Running on Empty
A true superstar doesn’t hit only 23.8% of his field goals attempts (taking 21 shots) as his team faces elimination. But Kevin Durant had to be everything for the Oklahoma City Thunder in their conference semifinals series, and ended up without anything left to give in the final two games. Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson actually put up the numbers they were supposed to in giving him the helping hand he needed, but it was a little too late, as Durant couldn’t find anything left in his arsenal in the fourth quarter.
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Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant Isn’t Good Enough to Win Without Russell Westbrook
For about three quarters, Kevin Durant and the rest of the players around him were doing exactly what the optimistic among the Oklahoma City Thunder personnel knew they should be doing in order to win the series. Knock down their shots, and try to hurry up the game as much as possible. At some point, reality hit them in the face. Without Russell Westbrook it was easy to focus on their best player down the stretch, and the guy who thinks he should be the best in the NBA wasn’t good enough to live up to his own desires.
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Kevin Durant Needs to be Better, But How Much More Can He Give
When you look at the transition offense the Oklahoma City Thunder had during the regular season, the best in the NBA, and what they’re trying to pull off now, you suddenly realize why Russell Westbrook is so important, despite his obvious shortcomings. Kevin Durant is trying to do everything for his team, but it doesn’t seem to be enough, and it’s not certain he has anything else to give.