Summary:
If Durant is to emerge as a superstar in the NBA, he has to prove to everyone that he can lead this team. We know he has the talent, but does he have the intangible qualities to make other players better around him?

That’s a huge question mark. One way to answer it? Take the Thunder to the playoffs.

GAME OVER.

Jay: Both Mo Williams and Delonte West had almost identical numbers before they got to Cleveland, specifically Mo Williams, thats why he was such a big signing two years ago. Moot point and mind you… None of my comments on basketball is idiotic. You should know better.

Galen:
1.All of your negative comments come from a lack of team offensive output in one game, not only Durant, the whole team. Great and well thought out argument.
2.Of course their scoring is going to go down when they score 74 points one game… out of THREE.
3. I never claimed they were going to win the division. This team will beat the teams they are supposed to and teams that are better than them.

Dutra: Don’t be a Democrat: you flip-flopped your argument 3 times in your comment…your better than that.

And yes, I agree he exceeded expectations last year. But the expectations for this year are huge in comparison. I look at Westbrook and Green as potential superstars…but not on the same level as Durant.

When you average 20 points in your first year, get the Rookie of the Year award, then finish 6th in the NBA in scoring in your sophomore season, the expectations are high. I got that.

The point I’m trying to make is that sometimes its not always about statistics, or how many points you end up scoring. It’s the intangibles of the game. Can Durant pick his team up if they are down 11 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter? Can he find other ways to produce when he is having an off night (by the way, Durant had 0 assists on his 3-21 night against the Blazers). More importantly, can he lead this team?

His physical ability and talent have never been discounted. But in my opinion, Durant has to lead this team and make players produce around him. I think he will do this, which is why I’m a proponent of the THUNDERCATS making the playoffs…WOO!

1. Season not being on Durant’s shoulders? Please. I can’t wait until the Thunder start tanking, and I’m not going to have to waste my breath (er…fingers to type).

Are the Thunder promising? Yes.
Is Durant a budding (super)star? Yes.
Is Russell Westbrook nasty? Yes.

But….

Are the Thunder the 3rd worst scoring team in the league? Yes (89.0 Ppg)
Did Nenad Kristic and Thabo Sefalosha, 2 starters, combine for 2 points in the loss to the Blazers? Yes.
Aren’t the Thunder in arguably the toughest division in basketball? Yes (Nuggets, Jazz, Blazers, T’wolves
Haven’t the Thunder lost to the only playoff team they played? Yes (Kings=W, Pistons=W…Blazers=L)
Will the Thunder make the playoffs this year? Helllllll No.

The Thunder WILL NOT be over .500 after November. Stop being Silly. At least I know when I’m being silly, like picking the Sixers over the Celtics for the division.

The only reason Durant might have something to prove is because people are actually believing this is a playoff team.

And to say LeBron doesn’t make his teammates better is idiotic. He basically has put Mo Williams and Delonte West on the map.