It was apparent almost from the tip: Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinal series between OKC and Memphis hinged on how much weight Kevin Durant could carry. With no Russell Westbrook, with Serge Ibaka building a brick road, and with Kendrick Perkins struggling just to catch passes, Durant was forced to do everything. Literally. He finished with 35 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, and made six of his team’s last seven shots, including the game-winner with just over 10 seconds to go. Read More »

Here’s Quincy Pondexter‘s role in Memphis’ Western Conference Semifinal series against OKC: make Kevin Durant work, chill in the corner and drop a couple of three-pointers, and don’t do anything stupid. But at the end of the third quarter in today’s Game 1, he added a little spice to his admittedly reserved expectations: a double-pumping 40-footer that beat the buzzer. Read More »

The Houston Rockets are in the same place as the Boston Celtics after winning Game 4 at home, 105-103, on Monday night. They successfully faced down a possible sweep at the hands of the Russell Westbrook-less Oklahoma City Thunder, and set themselves up to play spoiler during Game 5 tonight in Oklahoma City’s raucous Chesapeake Energy Arena. They might be able to survive and put the pressure back on Oklahoma City if they continue to deny Kevin Durant the ball, which is a lot easier to do now that Westbrook is out with a lateral meniscus tear. Read More »

Bringing up the argument of who won the James Harden trade is almost as pointless as the best rapper debate at your local barbershop. There’ll always be one or two guys who co-sign your stand, and there’ll always be a handful who think you’re out of your mind. There will be a lot of pointless arguing and talking in circles. There’s almost never a middle ground. Read More »

After acquiring a new nightmare earlier in the game, courtesy of Carlos Delfino, Kevin Durant dropped five straight points when OKC needed it most. First came a deep three-pointer. And next was this crossover and slam in the lane against four Rocket defenders. Yet the best part of the highlight probably wasn’t the one-handed sledgehammer or the dribble escape. It was Chris Webber. Read More »

The complex layers of the relationship between Josh Smith, Atlanta fans and NBA fans at large run deep, and they’ve been there throughout his entire career. Not quite an All-Star. Incredible all-around talent. Not a jump shooter. But he can make them. Not a building block. But building-block level talent. In the third quarter against Indiana last night, with Atlanta slowly blowing what should’ve been an easy win, the Josh Smith demons came to the surface again. Read More »

Put all of the timetables, speculation and hope to bed – there will be no Russell Westbrook playoff comeback this season. Word just broke on various outlets that Westbrook has undergone successful meniscus surgery and will not return this season. Read More »

Sometimes in the NBA Playoffs, two squads will matchup and eventually it’ll become so obvious who the better team is that even the players just have to give in. The Knicks and Celtics have reached that point, and they got there in the early moments of the second half during New York’s 90-76 Game 3 win. Carmelo Anthony was lighting people up on his way to 26 points, and whenever he took a break, J.R. Smith (15 points) responded with fadeaways and pull-ups. Read More »

From the intensity of the playoffs, the most memorable moments arise. Amid the chaos, reputations are forged, particularly for those whose renown does not (yet) land them gaudy shoe deals. Yesterday we took a look at hidden x-factors in the Grizzlies/Clippers series. Read More »

According to Royce Young of Daily Thunder, Russell Westbrook will undergo surgery to repair a meniscus tear. No timetable has been announced at this time. Read More »