Best of National Basketball Association: Westbrook leads Thunder to win in Donovan’s debut

Will Kevin Durant reestablish his dominance as the NBA’s most deadly weapon, or is the age of “the Brow” upon us?

Especially not the hated San Antonio Spurs.

Even as they’ve tried to build competitive rosters for the current season, a few teams have been particularly careful with the future money they’ve committed, which would give them flexibility to chase a superstar like Durant. I’m one of those guys that just likes to chill. There will be 81 more games to grease the jumper, and reestablish his place in line among the National Basketball Association greats, and thankfully for him, most will not be against the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

“No normal defender does that-not while trailing a ball-handler, not against a 6’10” opponent and certainly not against an MVP and scoring champ as unstoppable as Durant. Kawhi Leonard notched a career-high in points with 32 and played terrific defense on Kevin Durant but it wasn’t enough, as Russell Westbrook countered with 33 points and 10 assists.

There were an abundance of storylines entering this game, from Billy Donovan’s debut to LaMarcus Aldridge’s, but it was always about Durant’s return. Count on the Thunder to remain as unsafe as ever.

Myles: Before you grab your pitchforks, I must note that Christian (an avid Warriors fan) was also in agreement with this projection. Last year’s Western Conference playoff picture included the Trail Blazers and Mavericks.

San Antonio won two of three in the season matchup a year ago and now the two will get started right away this season.

Myles: Am I too low on them? It might be just on my head but he seemed out of rhythm. The Spurs are 2-9 ATS in the last 11 meetings in Oklahoma City and 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings overall. Though Westbrook lacks the steadying vision and offensive patience of traditional point-guard orchestrators-think Chris Paul and Magic Johnson-they don’t have his earth-shattering combination of strength and speed, which he ramps up to a maximum on both ends of the court.

Myles: The Pelicans’ outlook for this season is equally as unsettling as their mascot choices.

“What people don’t know is that they are brothers”, said Charlie Bell, Durant’s best friend since childhood. Despite being coached by the somewhat inexperienced Dave Joerger, the Grizzlies still have the same identity that they maintained under Lionel Hollins and are being led by Mike Conley and Marc Gasol-two of the better players at their position in the entire league.

Myles: I will put my Lakers fandom aside for the sake of this section’s credibility.

Myles: I would literally rather see any other team slotted here than Atlanta. So you can understand all the angst.

Christian: Chicago has kept the same formula going for the better part of the decade, with strong team defense and a dynamic, wing-lead offense. In a post game interview with Doris Burke, Russell Westbrook commented on the new Donovan coaching style where he was given the freedom to be himself.

Wednesday marked the pro debuts of the top three picks in the 2015 National Basketball Association Draft. “For us right now, going into the game – how do we play, where do we need to improve, where do we need to get better – and then we have to move on to the next one”.

Raptors 106, Pacers 99 – Jonas Valanciunas had 21 points and 15 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 25 to lift host Toronto over Indiana.

Even leaving Aldridge in late doesn’t explain why Green or Parker didn’t make way for Ginobili.

The Golden State Warriors won it all last season, but this time around, they have a target on their backs. To round off the East, the Bucks is going to be my team to watch this year.

Enes Kanter had 15 points and 16 rebounds off the bench for the Thunder. Milwaukee only allowed 96 points per 100 possessions with Middleton on the floor. Jabari Parker is back after a short rookie year to play along side the newly-signed Greg Monroe, and starters Carter-Williams, Antetokounmpo, and Middleton.

“I was really struggling”, he admitted. Ibaka says that corner 3s, like the one against Minnesota, are emblematic of his collaboration with Westbrook: “Sometimes he says to me, ‘Serge, stay in the corner, space.’ Then he drives on objective just to get me open”. Longtime Miami star and hero Dwyane Wade is seemingly healthy. Each conference’s top eight teams now will be seeded in order of regular-season record. He’s not the creator Waiters is but makes more intelligent decisions with the ball.

Gibberman: I have the Suns at 50 wins and the sixth-seed so I obviously see Phoenix making the playoffs at higher than a 50-50 proposition.

The Spurs have the most victories over the past 20 years in league history, and likely have one of their most-talented units since the David Robinson-Duncan pairings early in the run. Durant wasn’t far behind, scoring 22 points of his own.