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Durant named NBA MVP

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant was named as the 2013-14 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, the league announced today in a press release. Durant received 119 first-place votes, with Miami's LeBron James landing the other six. The half dozen voters who had LeBron as first on their ballot each had Durant second. LeBron was second on 118 ballots, with Clippers forward … [Read more...] about Durant named NBA MVP

How Derrick Rose’s injury ultimately impacted the NBA playoffs

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Now that Miami has clinched the NBA Finals with a decisive Game 5 victory, we can most accurately assess what impact Derrick Rose’s knee injury may have had in the 2012 NBA Playoffs.  Think back nearly two months ago, when Chicago (50-16) was the NBA’s top seed—holding the tiebreaker over San Antonio thanks to a head-to-head victory—with its star point guard seemingly back at … [Read more...] about How Derrick Rose’s injury ultimately impacted the NBA playoffs

NBA Finals: Lack of execution late leaves Thunder in 3-1 hole vs. Heat

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With the game once again knotted up late in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma City choked. Despite the league’s best player—the only guy who has shown the ability to slow down Kevin Durant, by the way—checking in and out of play with a leg cramp, the Thunder failed to execute on both ends of the floor, falling into a 3-1 hole in the NBA Finals with a third consecutive … [Read more...] about NBA Finals: Lack of execution late leaves Thunder in 3-1 hole vs. Heat

What the offseason might have in store for the Indiana Pacers

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With the highly anticipated NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder now under way, a thought randomly popped into my head: It wasn't very long ago that I was thinking the Pacers could conceivably be playing in this series. That, of course, was when the Pacers had taken a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals after trouncing the Heat 94-75 in … [Read more...] about What the offseason might have in store for the Indiana Pacers

Let the rivalry begin: Can Lebron-Durant compare to Bird-Magic?

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Since LeBron James took his talents to South Beach and Kevin Durant proved himself as the NBA’s most dangerous offensive weapon, we’ve wanted nothing more than the inevitable NBA Finals matchup pitting these two against each other.  Now that it’s finally here, don’t expect this to be a one-time confrontation.  In reality, this LeBron v. Durant championship showdown—a preview of … [Read more...] about Let the rivalry begin: Can Lebron-Durant compare to Bird-Magic?

Thunder pass Final test, erase 18-point deficit to oust Spurs

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Could there have been a more perfect way for the darling Oklahoma City Thunder—an energetic bunch of youngsters who for years were described as “waiting their turn”—to make their first trip to the NBA Finals? Since moving to Oklahoma City, the Thunder have simply climbed the Western Conference ladder step by step.  After missing the playoffs in 2009, they lost to the … [Read more...] about Thunder pass Final test, erase 18-point deficit to oust Spurs

Back in the series? Spurs-Thunder will hinge on Game 4

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After falling down 0-2 to San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals, Oklahoma City continued its home court playoff dominance and ended the Spurs’ remarkable 20-game winning streak with a convincing 102-82 victory in Game 3.  The Thunder stomped San Antonio up and down the court by playing stifling defense and scoring in the paint at will, handing the Spurs their largest … [Read more...] about Back in the series? Spurs-Thunder will hinge on Game 4