Kevin Durant Passing Kobe Bryant as NBA's Best Closer?

Last night, once again facing a deficit heading into the final minutes, Kevin Durant stepped to the free throw line for two shots that could have tied the game. 

Normally fluent at the free throw line, Durant had not one, but both of his free throws roll in-and-out, helping the Los Angeles Lakers maintain a slim lead. 

Rather than get rattled, Durant came back with a vengeance with 13 seconds left in the game, hitting the game deciding three-pointer from the top of the key to put the Oklahoma City Thunder up 101-98.

On the ensuing Lakers possession, Kobe Bryant launched a quick three of his own in hopes to tie the game with some time left on the clock.

Unfortunately for Lakers fans, Bryant's shot rimmed out, allowing James Harden to hit two free throws to close out the game with the Thunder winning 103-100 and earning a 3-1 series lead. 

With Durant hitting that shot under that amount of pressure, he is quickly proving why he, being the three time scoring champion that he is, is no fluke.  Make no mistake about it, Kevin Durant can play basketball and play it at as high of a level as any other player in the league.

In this series alone, Durant has now hit two big-game deciding shots: the first in the Thunder's Game 2 comeback where he hit a running floater from the baseline, and then last night's remarkable three. 

Considering the ramifications of Durant's shot in this series, one could make the argument for Kevin Durant surpassing Kobe Bryant as the NBA's best closer.

Now, before the outpouring of Kobe-faithfuls come surging at me, allow me to state my case.

Kobe Bryant, without question, is one of the best, if not the best, player in the world. He's seen and done it all, winning five NBA championship rings, scoring the second-highest point total (81) in NBA history, MVP winner, Olympic gold medalist, All-Star game MVP, the list can go on and on.

With Kobe's reputation for winning at a high volume, he has also made his mark as a player who is relied upon heavily in clutch situations, coming through on a number of occasions. Although, an argument can be made that many of those clutch shots have come more during the regular season than the postseason, but that is not the topic at hand.

Kobe is a cold-blooded scorer.  Except, with his aging legs and defenses finding out ways to slow him down in those situations, clutch shooting performances from Bryant appear to become even more difficult. 

Enter Durant.

With Durant, you have a 23-year old pure scorer whose height and skill set allow him to play inside and outside, wreaking havoc on any and all defensive match-ups that are presented to him.  Factor in Durant's long arms and smooth shooting stroke, you have a recipe for disaster when trying to guard him. 

Even so early in his career, Durant has made a name for himself by torching defenses not only in the early stretches of any given game, but also at the end, when it all matters the most. 

Given his young age, incredible shooting stroke and youthful exuberance, Durant has quietly inserted his name in the discussion of "NBA's Best Closer."

In no way am I saying that Kobe's days of closing out games over.  I am merely presenting the discussion of has Durant not only placed himself into the discussion for league's best closer, but potentially has he passed Bryant as THE best closer in the league?

What do you guys think?  Has Durant overtaken Bryant for league's best closer? Is it too soon to call? 

Feel free to open up the discussion in the comment section below.  I'm looking forward to hearing what you, the readers, have to say about the subject.