Game 7 Preview

I never planned on having to write this after the Thunder had a 3-1 series lead so I’m not really sure what I want to write. The Thunder had this series right where they wanted it entering the fourth period in Game 6 at friendly Chesapeake Energy Arena. More to the point, they had it where they wanted it with five minutes left before Westbrook and Durant just basically handed the car keys of the NBA Finals over to the Warriors.

Granted, Klay Thompson was splendid hitting 11 threes, but no one on this earth is going to beat the Warriors fumbling and bumbling the ball away — losing it on six of their final eight possessions. This might not be fair to Perk, but he might have been an offensive upgrade to what we witnessed from Westbrook and Durant in those final minutes.

It was that bad. Like watching little girls in an U8 Y league game unable to complete an offensive possession. I can’t remember when I’ve ever seen anything  in sport as painful to watch with the possible exception of pro golfer Dustin Johnson choking at the end of a major.

But it never should have happened. This game tonight shouldn’t have to be played. The Thunder were playing beautiful team basketball which had the nation captivated. It was team ball. The ball was moving and everyone was all in.

But for some reason, that all changed in Game 5 on the road when Westbrook and Durant took 59 of the Thunder’s 91 shots. It stayed that way again on Saturday night at home in Game 6 when the two stars went thud again taking 58 of the Thunder’s 90 shots.

But like I wrote in my recap, it’s one thing to miss shots, it’s something altogether different to not be able to hold onto the ball long enough to get a shot off.

I’m assuming Billy Donovan has some say about how his team plays — so this is on three people — Billy Donovan, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant.

There was some reporting from Chris Broussard on ESPN that the OKC locker room wasn’t Camp Happy after the Game 6 meltdown from Westbrook and Durant. That the Thunder players were angry with Westbrook and Durant

I wouldn’t blame them. I’m just a fan/blogger and I’m angry. Trust me, I was sitting at midcourt on Saturday night with my father, and the entire building was filled with disbelieving people as well. I didn’t hear a boo. I didn’t hear angry yells or anything like that, but there was an undercurrent of anger and disbelief in the building.

I have no take on this Game 7 whatsoever except Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant owe their teammates an unselfish, smart, effective, and hard fought basketball game in Oakland tonight. Basketball, like hockey, is the quintessential team game. There is an innate beauty to basketball when five people are playing as one versus when two play on their own and play poorly.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in no way whatsoever owe me or any other fan one thing because we were never there with them for one step of the journey in the trenches with them fighting to get to this point. So let’s be clear, I don’t feel I’m entitled to anything tonight in Game 7.

But Steven Adams, Andre Roberson, Serge Ibaka, Enes Kanter, Dion Waiters, Randy Foye, Anthony Morrow, Cam Payne, Nick Collison, and the rest of the Thunder bench are entitled to everything. They’ve earned that right.

At the game Saturday night, I was sitting opposite of Kevin Durant’s mother on the other side of the arena. I couldn’t help but watch her as the meltdown went its full course. I hurt for her and her son. I’m a parent, I have a son the same age as Kevin Durant. It was all so painful to witness. I felt like a voyeur almost.

But here’s the thing, if you’re going to be a mega branded, mega paid, mega worshipped super star athlete in the unfortunate culture we live in — then you have to answer the bell at the most important times your team needs you.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, your teammates need you tonight at Oracle. Please step the fuck up.

I hope that wasn’t vague or ambiguous.

Mike Jackson

 

 

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