The Future of The NBA

I have said this before...but I must say it again. I have seen the future of the NBA, and his name is Kevin Durant.

You see...when the whole Oden/Durant debate around who would go number 1 in the draft talk was going down a few years back...and the Cs had a remote chance of landing one of the two...I dreamed of Kevin Durant in a Celtics uniform.

That didn't happen.

What did happen -- is Danny didn't get what he wanted in the lottery...so he went out and traded for Ray Allen, lured KG, and built a team that brought home the team's 17th banner.

You couldn't ask for more...but that doesn't mean I still can't have a little man-crush on the dude who I think is the single most exciting player in the NBA.

Durant has it all...he is 6-10, can play like a guard, can score from just about anywhere on the floor and his defense is continuously improving. So when I got the Cs 2010 calendar...I circled tonight's game. Might as well break out a running diary of the Cs/Thunder game.

First Quarter

-- Gotta love the OKC fans...standing from the start of the game until their team scores a basket...so far the Cs are up 4-0...I hope they are wearing comfortable shoes.

-- Rondo has plantar fascitis but is playing. I hope this doesn't become a lingering problem this season. The Cs are stacked, talented and old. I think anyone following this team thinks they have the potential to win the ring if they can stay healthy. You expect that there will be injuries to the older guys throughout the season...but you don't expect it to be Rondo. Gotta hope this can be a quick recovery. This team can't win 18 without him.

-- I think there is a guy playing for the Thunder named Chewbaca. I think that is what Mike Gorman keeps saying.

-- Count me as one of the many who are impressed by the play of Marquis Daniels this season. I couldn't believe they re-signed him this year -- but so far, I'm glad they did. Just playing great ball..and tonight is no different...off the bench with some 7 points so far in the first.

-- Nobody has better length in the NBA than Durant. He looks like he is has octopus arms.

-- End of 1 ... Cs up 28-21.

Second Quarter

-- Despite seeming to find his shot late in the game last game -- Neo Nate is really struggling offensively.

-- Early in the second...Durant is 4 for 7 for 12 points.

-- Maybe I spoke too soon...as Nate buries a j from just inside the arc.

-- Nope...I don't think there is a better pure point guard in the NBA than Rondo. Assists, steals, traffic layups...the guy is unreal.

-- I'm not sure there is a player in the league that takes more charges than Big Baby.

-- Cs up 5 halfway through the quarter.

-- Can you imagine the amount of shit that is talked in the Cs locker room with Pierce, KG and Rondo talking non-stop smack? Then you throw in Shaq...and a little bit of Big Baby?

-- Speaking of Baby again...man he can finish.

-- And along those lines...Jermaine O'Neal can block shots.

-- You can never underestimate the smoothness of Ray Allen's J.

-- I will say that I have beat on Doc a lot on this blog...but he has won me over. The dude can draw up an in-bound play.

-- Nate back in the game to close out the half -- takes the in bound pass with seconds to go -- races up to about a foot outside the 3-pt arc and launces a running three that falls as the buzzer sounds...giving the Cs a 21 point lead going into the half at 58-37.

Third Quarter

-- Donny Marshall -- filling in for Tommy tells us that if you have more turnovers than assists, you can't win. Donny obviously went to the Tim McCarver Color-Man Summer Camp this year.

-- Durant just took a three from two or three steps behind the line and drained it...dude is amazing.

-- Cs up 15 after three hoops in a row by OKC. Doc calls timeout and walks onto the floor looking to fight the refs.

-- PP just banked home a jumper after dribbling for about 10 seconds...bringing back bad memories.

-- Ray 3 puts the Cs back up 20.

-- Durant -- 8 of 14 for 27 points so far...

-- Durant and Westbrook go 2 on 5 for about three minutes...along with a number of Boston turnovers cut the Cs lead to 11.

-- Make that 9 on another amazing Durant shot.

-- End of three following an OKC 13-2 run...73-64.

Fourth Quarter

-- OKCs Harden opens the quarter with a 3....its now a two possession game. Shoot me now.

-- Glenn Davis has worked on his 13-15 footer ... and it is paying off...the guy is money from that range.

-- OKC is losing the turnover battle 17-10...still a 12 point game.

-- Baby again from the top of the key...back up 14.

-- Ray for 3....got it...88-71.

-- This game is in the books...up 92-78 with a minute in a half left....the crowd has started to hit the road.

-- Thunder takes a Knee with a minute to go...Cs win 92-83.

And no...despite the OKC loss...Durant didn't disappoint.