This game had been highly anticipated and for good reason. Both teams are serious title contenders, but mainly for the fact that the two best current players in the world were going head to head. Regardless of the score a match between the Heat and the Thunder rarely disappoints. Durant managed to pu up 33 points on his way to 12 consecutive games with 30+.
LeBron managed to add 34 pm 12-20 shooting, but surprisingly points was the only category LeBron contributed a significant amount with Chalmers out rebounding him. If looking at it from a team aspect the story of the game was turnovers and three pointers. The Thunder had a whopping 13 steals and the Heat managed only 4. As for three pointers the Thunder shot 16-27 for 59.3% and the Heat shot a measly 3-19 or 15.8 percent. Two totally different numbers and we can see where the game was lost for the Heat who at one time had built a 22-7 lead. This is just one game in the win and loss column for each team on their way to the players. What are the bigger implications we can take away from this game?
Kevin Durant is the MVP… as of now
The big headline for Durant is obviously the 12th straight game of 30+, but it has been the other areas of his game in which has been most impressive. We always knew he could score, but he is filling up stat sheets with averages of 7.8 rpg and 5.2 apg according to ESPN. Both these numbers are up from his career averages of 6.9 rpg and 3.3 apg. His PER is through the roof at 31.17 and is only rivaled by LeBron who is a little under 3 points behind. It can be argued that LeBron’s assist and rebounding percentages are higher, but that has always been a bigger role. If we want to continue to spitball statistics we can add Durant’s Value Added and Estimated Wins Added is significantly higher than LeBron’s. However, MVP is clearly not just a statistical race. LeBron is very well the most dominate player in the league when he wants to be (aka the Playoffs and Finals). This is the regular season and the Heat are more than happy to coast into the Playoffs with a number 2 seed. LeBron has no need to strain himself. Durant is playing like he has something to prove and rightfully so. It does feel repetitive to elect LeBron as King of the MVP again and again. Additionally naming Durant MVP can create a feeling that there is actually true competition about who is the best in the NBA. This hot streak Durant is riding right now makes him the most valuable player in the NBA right now. There is absolutely no argument that it should be any other player besides these two. Just see the mono v mono duel they had last night.
On the next possession
And on the possession after that
Then
Finally
That makes 14 points in 2 minutes for those of you keeping score at home.
The Thunder have a Supporting Cast
The Thunder have relied on a heavy dosage of Durant and Westbrook with strong support from Ibaka and the mean mugging face but utterly worthless deadweight of Perkins.
However, last night the Thunder had strong support from many of their players. Good ole D-Fish had 15 points all from 3 (5-5). I am expecting this consistency from him every night from here on out. The most encouraging part was that Jeremy Lamb was able to post up a solid 18 points on 7-10 shooting with 4-6 from downtown. Bill Simmons says it best that Jeremy Lamb has the easiest job in the game of hitting wide open jumpers. He has been unable to do so consistently thus far in the season, which worried many people including myself if he were ready to take a significant role in the playoffs. This was a game with the big stage set and he was able to contribute efficiently which bodes well for the playoffs. On another note Perkins still sucks.
While this game does have some meaning the most important thing to take away is that it’s only the regular season. Once the playoffs hit, both teams will be significantly different for better or for worse.
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