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Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook appeared on the same court just 27 times last season. They played only 46 games together during the 2013-14 regular season, and two postseason contests the previous spring. The league’s most dynamic duo, basically, hasn’t had much chance to be it of late. Injuries have robbed basketball fans around the world the pleasure of watching Durant and Westbrook wreak havoc simultaneously.
There’s no telling whether or not that will prove the case in 2015-16. Now that the foot problems that plagued Durant last season are firmly in the rear view mirror, though, it’s certainly encouraging that bad luck is by far the most likely aspect to sideline either of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s superstars.
Well, encouraging for their teammates, coaches and fans, that is. But for the rest of the league, the prospect of dealing with Durant and Westbrook for 82 games and multiple playoff series is harrowing at the very least.
Just how, for instance, is any defense supposed to stop the Thunder when their one-man wrecking crew is leading the break with basketball’s most fearsome scorer trailing right behind him? We’re not sure. Especially when Westbrook uses trickery to find Durant a wide open trey like he did against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.
There’s a lot to be excited about as the regular season approaches. But for the nonpartisan hoops follower, is there more enthusiasm to be gleaned from something other than Durant and Westbrook reuniting on the hardwood? Doubtful.
