by Jim Bearor
I’ll say that I consider myself a “casual” basketball fan. I follow the highlights during the regular season, and occasionally tune in if the matchup piques my interest. I watch enough to know that the Oklahoma City Thunder can drop 120 points effortlessly when they are rolling on all cylinders. I also know that Lakers fans (and some players) are unhappy how Mike Brown is handling his aging team. So going into this series, I had a feeling that we would be watching a large part of the power shift in the NBA.
Similar things are happening in the East as well, as the young Philadelphia team poses a legitimate threat to the geriatric Celtics, especially after stealing Game 1 in Boston. This changing of the guard is something that everyone saw coming eventually, but it’s hard to believe that its happening now. Nobody wants to be the first one to say that the sun is setting for Kobe Bryant and the entire core group of the Celts, but I think this is as good a time as any. After watching the Lakers get absolutely hammered by the Thunder last night, I really don’t think ther is any denying it. Oklahoma City is no longer the future of the NBA – they are the present. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook dominated for the 3 quarters that they played, and made Los Angeles look older and feebler than they actually are.
Westbrook completely outplayed Kobe on both ends of the court, and even pulled off a couple huge steals early on. The game was never a contest, and it made me realize how grudgingly everyone held on to the Lakers because of their success in the recent past. Sometimes you have to take a step back and actually pay attention to what is happening on the court, as opposed to giving Kobe and his squad the benefit of the doubt. Everyone should recognize and appreciate how great they have been in years past, but nothing lasts forever.
Looking back on these playoffs in a few years, everyone will remember it as the season where the Durantula stole the crown from the Black Mamba. The young guns are growing up before our eyes, and the stars of yesterday are starting to fade. Oh, the times, they are a’changing.
Follow Jim on Twitter: @JimBearor
