Un-Dur(ant)-rated

It’s very rare for an athlete to go throughout his career and not be recognized for his accomplishments. The 2007 NBA draft was birth to a one-in-a-lifetime superstar who wasn’t even the first pick. Unfortunately, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant will be forever attached in name, with the latter out-doing the former tremendously.

Kevin Durant is a superstar, plain and simple. After two incredible individual seasons, Durant’s biggest knock was his inability to help the Thunder win. Durant averaged 20.3 points per game his rookie season, good enough to win Rookie of the year, but his improvement has been remarkable. Not only has he averaged five more points per game per season in the last two seasons to raise his season average to 29.7, but has virtually improved every year in ever statistical category, including field goal percentage, rebounds, and assists.

Kevin Durant has subtly incorporated his name amongst the NBA’s most gifted, yet due to the small market economy of Oklahoma City, has yet to be recognized as a superstar. The second pick in the 2007 draft reached 3,000 points in 134 games, good for third fastest in NBA history. Trailing behind two players who are nothing short of household names: Michael Jordan, who accomplished the feat in 108 games, and Lebron James, who took 133. So why is it that the second leading scorer in the NBA, only three years out of college, is still looked over? Is it because of a silly plus-minus stat that was brought up last year? Impossible, cause according to the same writer, Durant now, “eats plus-minus for breakfast.”

At 6’9 and athletic, the young forward isn’t done making history. Only three players since the 1986 season have had 25 consecutive games of 25 plus points or more. Durant is on this list once again accompanying the one and only Michael Jordan, as well as Allen Iverson, who has a career average of 26.7 points per game, good for sixth all time. Not even Mr. 81 Kobe Bryant, a man that posted nine consecutive 40-point games is on the list. Not even the great Lebron James, who has a career average of 27.1 points per game and already this season scored 24 consecutive points in a six minute span over the Knicks.

Oklahoma City’s records the last two years have been pretty forgettable, averaging 21 and a half wins a game. Durant and his teammates have completely turned it around though, heading into the All-Star break 30-21, good for fifth in the tough Western Conference and riding a six-game winning streak.  The Thunder’s top eight players are an average age of 23, leaving the sky as the limit for this young and talented crop of players. Kevin Durant continues to play at an incredible level, the question is, how many more records does he have to break to be included amongst the NBA’s elite?

Race Against Time

More than halfway through the 2009-10 season, the NBA’s expected elite stands at the top. With the Cleveland Cavaliers stock rising, the Boston Celtics seem to be moving in the opposite direction. Bruised and battered, it seems age isn’t just a number anymore. After assembling their Millennium version Big Three in Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, as well as an extremely talented supporting cast. The Celtics, led by Defensive Player of the Year Garnet, raised their 17^th banner in an already historic stadium. It seemed the new Big Three where ready to form their new Celtic dynasty and etch their names amongst some of the greatest to ever play. They came back the following year even stronger, posting a 27-2 record and a 19 game winning streak heading into their Christmas Day showdown and finals rematch with the Lakers. The Lakers snapped their winning streak with a little redemption; trying to wash away the bitterness the Celtics left them with after their 39-point demolition of the Lakers.

Things seemed to move in slow motion for the C’s after that. The once always-reliable Kevin Garnett began his string of knee problems. His intensity seemed to work at his disadvantage, pushing himself to return too early. This led the Celtics without their floor general throughout the last quarter of the season and into the playoffs. Their dreams of repeating were shattered by the Orlando Magic. After wearing themselves out in an epic seven game series with the Chicago Bulls, a series that need seven overtimes, the Celtics fell to the Magic in seven games after leading the series 3-2.

Then began the 2009 offseason, with trade rumors circulating their budding point guard Rajon Rondo and their three-point specialist Ray Allen. Danny Ainge, Celtics general manager put these rumors to rest, but stated if he had to make changes he would not hesitate to do so. 

Maturity had been the Celtics problem with Rondo. There was no denying his talent. With Garnett out, Rondo averaged a near triple-double in last year’s playoffs against the Bulls. Despite that, the Celtics were ready to trade the soon to be All-Star point guard due to his inability to grow up.

Ambiguity and controversy has surrounded this Celtic team and will eventually lead to its demise. Garnett is once again playing injured, refusing to rest his knee and legs that have logged over 40,000 NBA minutes, which is good for 19^th overall and third amongst active players. Joining him on the injured list is key free agent acquisition Marquis Daniels, who has played sparingly since joining the team, and captain Paul Peirce, who recently suffered a left foot sprain. Despite not being injured, Ray Allen is averaging career lows across the board and reportedly is once again being shopped by the Celtics. Allen has made it clear he would love to come back to the Celtics but doesn’t believe he will be offered a contract.

It seems the only player playing up to expectations is the player they were most worried about, Rondo. Despite earning his first All-Star appearance, the league leader in steals is still surrounded in some controversy, recently hinting to the Boston Herald that there are locker room problems.

“We gotta make a change and do something quick…I can’t really elaborate on it too much, but I think we’ve just got to be a team with no agendas. We’ve got to play unselfish, you know?”

Rondo went on to explain how the camaraderie and togetherness has completely changed since their championship run. Rondo was given a five year 55 million dollar extension this year, so he is in Boston for the long run, but what about the rest of the team. They have signed Rasheed Wallace to a three-year deal, who has seen his production drop as well, averaging career lows in rebounds and points but on pace to receive his usual amount of technical’s. Ray Allen becomes a free agent next year and Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are a year older trying to limp their way to another title.

When they were brought together in the summer of 2007, the Celtics new it was a race against time. Winning a title their first year opened up an opportunity to have something special. Unfortunately, the two parts of the NBA that cannot be controlled are injuries and age, both working against this historic franchise.