2011 NBA Playoffs: Warning to Kevin Durant—Win Playoff Series Now or Else

Kevin Durant has a lot going for him.

He has won two NBA scoring titles, made millions of dollars in salary and Nike endorsements and elevated a previously hapless Seattle-Oklahoma City franchise to the brink of title contention.

All at the ripe age of 22.

The league's next big superstar, Durant has the world at his feet. He's an unstoppable force on offense, an improving defender and has shown the killer instinct necessary for greatness.

I think the world of Durantula and that's why I'm here to provide a friendly warning to my favorite arachnid:

Win your first round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets. Do it now, get it out of the way.

It doesn't matter if you get it done in four, five, six or seven games and it won't mean a thing if you win the series averaging 14 points or 35. In a year or five years, no one will remember. Just win, move on to San Antonio and enjoy your summer.

Despite his age, ability and the fact that most of his running mates are also in the process of removing their NBA training wheels, there needs to be a sense of urgency here.

Why? Because the annoying media and basketball analysts may not question Durant on why he hasn't been able to win a playoff series yet, but if the Thunder don't beat the Nuggets, I can promise you the No. 1 question heading into next postseason will be "Can Kevin Durant win in the playoffs," or "When will we see Durant advance?"

That adds pressure to an already intense situation. Are those questions he wants to answer if playoff failure continues?

Such attention puts the weight of the world on a player and it can consume and even sometimes, sadly, define a career.

Take Tracy McGrady for example. You may have forgotten, but McGrady used to be considered one of the league's top-five best players. At his peak and when he was healthy, experts would argue that he was a better player than Kobe Bryant.

The two entered the league around the same time; Byrant in 1996, McGrady in '97. Like Durant, both won multiple scoring titles in their mid-20's and no one ever wondered if either would advance in the playoffs.

Bryant never had to answer that question, as he was traded on draft night to a loaded Los Angeles Lakers team that won 56 games his rookie year and won its first round playoff series against the Portland Trailblazers.

Bryant played a measly 15 minutes a game and averaged 7.6 points, but mission accomplished.

McGrady, however, was drafted by the Toronto Raptors, who were still new to the NBA and he didn't make the postseason until his third year. The Raptors were swept by a more talented and experienced New York Knicks team.

No big deal everyone said, McGrady is only 20 and will reach the highest heights.

That summer, he signed with the Orlando Magic. Four seasons in Orlando yielded three playoff appearances, all three in which T-Mac averaged over 30 points per game and three first round exits. 

Unhappy with the direction of the franchise, McGrady was traded to the Houston Rockets in the summer 2004. He was still just 25 at the time, and that was when the questions started to roll in about when T-Mac would get over the hump. 

Amazingly, he never did.

Injuries to him and fellow All-Star teammate, Yao Ming, were largely responsible for keeping the Rockets grounded, as McGrady lost three more times in the first round. 

For his career, which is still dragging on, T-Mac played in 38 postseason games, averaging 28.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists. Again, how he never won a single playoff series is simply beyond belief.

Right or wrong, playoff success or failure defines a career and that's why those questions about who was better between Kobe and T-Mac ended long ago and will never be asked again. 

Could you imagine Durant never reaching the second round? The answer should be a resounding no, but there's no telling what the future brings.

Durant has a slight frame and people say those his size aren't supposed to possess the freakish athletic ability that he does.

Will his body continue to hold up and for how long? Will Russell Westbrook stay healthy? As we saw with McGrady, the health of your second best player is as important as your own personal health. 

How long can the Thunder keep its nucleus together? 

These are all questions we don't have the answers to. What we know right now is Durant has a great opportunity to lift Oklahoma City past a game Nuggets team and into the second round.

He has the cut-throat mentality, the silky-smooth game, a great supporting cast and the ever-important element of home-court advantage.

Durant is young and this is just his second year in the postseason. The Nuggets are a seasoned playoff team.

There are a thousand built-in excuses to fail.

But my advice to you, Mr. Durant, is seize this opportunity or run the risk of facing the harsh consequences of procrastination.