Post-Westbrook Era for 2013 playoffs starts off with a win

I'm sure by now everybody knows that All Star PG Russell Westbrook is out for the season....what a huge low blow to this team. I was seriously thinking we finally were gonna go all the way.Kevin Durant said in his press conference that he is going to lead this team back well he did just that last night in Game 3 in Houston. Durant tallied up 41 points and was dominant all game. Sadly if the Thunder want a chance at the playoffs Durant is going to have to play like this throughout the playoffs. Ibaka helped significantly as well with 17 points. The key to make up for Westbrook's scoring is Ibaka and Kevin Martin. Well Martin has been a disappointment  this post season and he needs to pick it up. The Thunder held on to a close win against the Rockets who erased a 20+ Point deficit to take the lead with 5 minutes left. Then comes MR. 35 with the huge dunk to retake the lead. This series may be 3-0 but the Thunder have had to fight for every game they won. Now lets talk about what happens after this series (Assuming the Thunder win the series) they will face the winner of the Memphis vs LA series which is tied at 2-2. This could help the Thunder if they can rap up the series in game 4 and also if the series in LA can go to 7 it could be a huge advantage for the Thunder. I believe this team can still get to the Western Conference Finals if they can get a better match up in Memphis rather than the Clippers who have a high powered offense that Durant just simply won't be able to keep up with. Now with the Spurs if they can get to the Conference Finals I don't think the Thunder can pull it off to get back to the NBA Finals. I am sorry OKC Fans but its just too big of a loss to sustain. The Thunder pulled together as a team to beat the Rockets in Game 3 but the effort that KD put in might not be able to be as consistent but hey I've seen more crazy things happen. Anyone else think the Thunder can still beat the Heat? A guy can dream can't he?

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Thunder stomp Rockets. Take 1-0 Series Lead

For the Thunder their NBA playoff start could not have started better. The Thunder dominated the Rockets in Game 1 at OKC 120-91 Kevin Durant was dominant with 28 points as well as Russell Westbrook teasing with a triple double but had 19 Points and 10 assists but the most impressive performance was the play of PF Serge Ibaka. Ibaka was amazing notching over 3 blocks and racked up 17 Points and most were in the paint. My theory for the Thunder to win a title is all on Ibaka, His impact on the team is huge showing obviously yesterday. James Harden returned to play in his first playoff game since leaving the Thunder this fall and well statistically it wasn't a bad night but mentally and the physical toll he took all game....it couldn't have gone any worse. After getting posterized by Durant he then came down the court and got slammed by Ibaka, Rough night huh? Well it didn't go well for any of the Rocket players. Their fast break offense was shut down thanks to Thabo Sefelosha and Perkins who played incredible defense. Perkins had a beautiful steel from Lin getting the ball to Westbrook and Sefelosha just a complete team play. Perkins is going to be big as well in the playoffs mainly on the defensive side but he contributed some what in the offensive side with 4 points and 4 rebounds so he contributes when he is needed. Again I will mention a guy who doesn't get any attention and to my viewers I apologize but Ronnie Brewer (Again Sincerely Apologize) did not get any minutes mainly because the Thunder simply dominated but I will be interested in crunch time if they look to him and Sefelosha as the 2 and 3 then move Durant to 4 and Collison at 5, I really like that lineup as it gives us a tough defense but small so it makes our offense just as good with Westbrook and Durant still on the floor and don't underestimate Thabo Sefelosha's 3 point capability. The Thunder take on the Rockets in Game 2 in OKC on Wednesday in what could be another butt wooping for the Rockets. I predict this is a sweep of a series unless Harden would like to steal another game with a 46 point performance and that still might not be enough. Do you think Harden regrets not re signing with the Thunder, Well he should and the fans let him know that last night. Prediction for Game 2: Thunder 107-96 Rockets. Thunder Win lead 2-0.

Thunder clinch First Seed in West with Win over Kings

It's official the Thunder will have home court throughout the playoffs and maybe the Finals after a easy win over the Sacramento Kings in OKC. The Thunder just out ran the Kings all game and the soon to be Seattle Sonics were just no match. Kevin Durant and Westbrook had 50 points combined and Serge Ibaka had a solid 14 but what I loved seeing from his was his low post play which yes I have said in nearly every article will be huge for the Thunder to get back to the finals and win. The forward that I would like to talk about most first is Ronnie Brewer who yes got more than 3 minutes of playing time and made it worth his while. He only had 2 points but what is Brewer's strength is his tight defense which he played to his ability stopping Evans until he got injured. I am so caught up with Brewer because when the Thunder gave up a 2nd round pick for him I knew exactly what they were doing, the key in the trade was all about #6 Lebron James. The Thunder struggled all series in the Finals last year against Lebron who just played more physical than Durant forcing his way to the paint well with Brewer you get another big guy who isn't going to get pushed over by anybody not even the "King" himself. Brewer in my opinion will be big in the Thunder run. With the seed clinched we now watch to see who will be our 1st rd opponent and as it stands right now it is looking like the Kobe-less Lakers but its not over. The Utah Jazz need a win against Memphis and a Laker loss to the Rockets and they get the 8th seed. Personally I believe the Thunder will have a easier time against the Jazz who they won the series on 3-1. Utah does not hold a PG nearly capable of playing to Westbrook's level or defending him. Perkins and Ibaka will be big in both cases as both the Lakers and Jazz have 2 big time big men. For the Lakers they have All Star Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol and for the Jazz they have Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson. Ibaka's shot blocking must be key and Perkins low post defending needs to stay consistent. With 1 game left the Thunder will sit their starters as it is a meaningless game except for the fact that Kevin Durant is 71 points away from winning his 4th scoring title.....he said in is interview "Do you want me to go for it......alright I'll try" I really like the approach Durant took with the scoring title situation where he could of easily won but he put the team first and contributed in other ways then just points with rebounds and assists as well, His main goal right now is to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy and needs to do everything that will help that happen. The Thunder take on the Bucks Wednesday and then its playoff time! Starting April 21 for the first rd!

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Thunder take 1st seed....for now

The Thunder took care of the Blazers Friday night in what was a game I found very interesting as Ronnie Brewer finally got some playing time! The Thunder traded for the Forward at the deadline with the Knicks for a 2nd round pick and since then he hasn't played at all. Well that changed and he played some rock solid defense and notched 5 points on the board which helps but he is all about his big time D and against the Heat in the Finals if they get there is where I think the Thunder wanted him the most. Westbrook put up 33 points in a big game for him but it wasn't a surprising victory. The Thunder now take the first seed in the Conference by a half a game over the Spurs and would be taking on a Kobe-less Lakers team that is a game up on the Jazz for the 8th and final spot. Well now I for sure want that first seed as before I was a bit nervous about how the Lakers would give us a tough time to the 2nd round I just didn't see the Lakers making it easy on OKC but without Bryant there is no worries for me. Come playoff time you want it to be a easy road to the Western Conference Finals like it was last year with a easy sweep on the Mavericks and then taking out the Lakers in 5. Well this year might be a bit more difficult, maybe not in the first round but in the second round teams like the Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Clippers are going to give the Thunder a tough time especially Denver. The Grizzlies slow but tough defense worries me as it slows down Durant and Westbrook in recent games but the Nuggets fast break was just deadly to the Thunder as OKC could only take one of the 4 games this season to Denver. The best match up for the Thunder come the 2nd round is the LA Clippers. The Thunder swept the Clippers this year in the regular season and are just a faster and better team. Blake Griffin's big time dunks in the regular season will most likely not be as effective in the playoffs, the game just slows down and the court gets more narrow with the tight defense all teams play. The two teams standing in the way of the Thunder title hopes is the Spurs and the raining champion Miami Heat. The Thunder vs Spurs match up on April 2 made it easier to know that the Thunder still have the Spurs number. Without Tony Parker at 100 percent if he isn't by the playoffs, I don't even know if they get to the Conference Finals. OKC takes on the Sacramento Kings in their 2nd last game of the regular season....you smell that, Playoffs are right around the corner.

Thunder get big win against Spurs .5 game back for 1 seed

2-2 is the series finish for the Thunder and Spurs and boy was this a big game for confidence and for playoff standings. The Thunder started off swinging and the two stars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant scored 52 points combined a great game for both and this could be a good sign for fans worried that this team can't get back to the Finals without #13. Well the Thunder dominated off the bench Derek Fisher had a huge bounce back game with 17 points and Kevin Martin had a bad game with only 2 pts and that needs to change as he will be a huge factor if the Thunder are going to get back to the Finals and beat the Heat or any other East team....but most likely the Heat. That is the big concern for the Thunder is finding that extra scoring punch off the bench now Derek Fisher was just that this game but the consistency is not there. Serge Ibaka had a solid game with 11 points and 3 blocks he and Perkins really shut down the paint and the Thunder defense was stellar holding the Spurs to only 88 points. So now the Thunder stand at .5 games behind the Spurs for the top seed and they have the Indiana Pacers tonight this is a huge game. Tony Parker only had 2 points which props to Westbrook for playing some great defense but at the same time Coach Pop said Parker has a shin injury he has been battling. The Thunder are just faster then the Spurs and like Charles Barkley said the Spurs are built the best to beat the Heat but they can't beat the Thunder in a 7 game series and that could be true but if Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka can be hit in the post and excel there then they might be able to beat the Heat but I agree with Barkley jump shots will not beat the Heat. This game was a great one but it gets me thinking about the Finals now last year OKC won 1 game in the Finals series, Are we better than last year and if last years team won one game what will this years team do? A stronger Kevin Durant and Westbrook or James Harden? I think this years team might be built better to beat the Heat if Ibaka can score more that's the key but as for the Spurs at 2-2 on the series I think we can beat the Spurs again in a 7 game series but this year home court is a big thing for OKC to have throughout the playoffs.