Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook Use FIBA Worlds to Show OKC Thunder Will Contend
It's official: Team USA will be playing host Turkey, in what will likely be the toughest test of the tournament for both teams, for the gold medal at the FIBA World Championships in Istanbul on Sunday.
As expected, Coach K can thank Kevin Durant, and to a lesser extent Russell Westbrook, for setting up the Americans' success.
Durant poured in 38 points, a single-game U.S. record for international play, and nine rebounds. Westbrook, Durant's trusty Oklahoma City sidekick, contributed 12 points, seven rebounds, a steal, and two blocked shots while siphoning away minutes from starting point guard Derrick Rose, whose erratic play got him benched in the fourth quarter.
Westbrook certainly took advantage of the opportunity, while Durant took full advantage of his opponent, scoring on three-pointers, dunks, and every kind of shot in between.
The rest of Team USA has been quick to complement these two youngsters in particular on their outstanding play and will surely enjoy playing with them one last time, for all the marbles.
Because once the FIBA Worlds comes to a close, the remainder of the American squad will have to compete against Durant and Westbrook in the NBA.
And judging by the way those two have performed in international play, such a matchup is looking more and more like a horror film on the hardcourt for the likes of Rose, Chauncey Billups, and Lamar Odom.
As a member of the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, Odom must be concerned with what he has seen. His purple and gold endured its toughest Western Conference test in the opening round of the 2010 playoffs against "The Durant-ula" and the Thunder. It took a buzzer-beating put-back by Pau Gasol for the Lake Show to avoid a seven-game series to start its title defense.
That performance, as a capstone to Oklahoma City's remarkable turnaround from 23-59 in 2008-2009 to 50-32 in 2009-2010, has fans and analysts alike suggesting that the Thunder may be the Lakers' biggest threat in the West this season and may even be a title contender sooner rather than later.
How soon?
Well, that depends largely on Durant and Westbrook asserting themselves as the most talented back court in the NBA.
They very well might be just that—even with each currently at the tender age of 21.
Of course, it will take more than just two stars to get the Thunder rolling to the top of the heap. OKC GM Sam Presti has done solid work surrounding his prized performers with a capable nucleus of young talent, including Jeff Green, James Harden, and Thabo Sefolosha.
At present, the Thunder's biggest weakness is in the front court, where Oklahoma City is hoping at least one or two capable bodies will emerge from the likes of Nenad Krstic, Serge Ibaka, Cole Aldrich, B.J Mullens, and Tibor Pleiss.
Because it will take more than just Durant and Westbrook to tangle with the Kobe Bryants/Gasols, the Dirk Nowitzkis/Jason Kidds, and the Deron Williamses/Al Jeffersons of the West.
That is, assuming the Thunder hope to emerge victorious from such entanglements.
Even so, the sky is the limit for coach Scott Brooks and his young squad in Oklahoma City. The fans are there, the front office brain power is there, the team chemistry is there.
And it's official: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are destined for NBA superstardom.
