OKC Doesn't Deserve Durant

[LarBrd33]

Seriously, though.  Is there any sports fanbase less deserving than Oklahoma City?  They inherited Seattle's franchise with Superstars on the roster.  They have never not had Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.  It's easy to root for a team that has two of the greatest players in the world on it.   Both of those guys were drafted by the Sonics.  OKC has never had to struggle through tanking seasons with minimal hope.  They've never had to feel the pain of striking out in the lotto or failing to add a franchise hope via free agency.  Their first year, they had young Durant and Westbrook to root for and the excitement of a brand new sports team.  Second year, they won 50 games.  Third year, they were in the Finals. 

Would people even go to their games if they didn't have two of the greatest players in the world playing there?

I obviously want Durant to come to Boston next year, but if I'm being perfectly honest, I'd rather see Durant go to to the Lakers than stay in Oklahoma City.  Ok, maybe not the Lakers, but seeing Durant flee them for pretty much any other team would make me pretty happy. 

Let's see if those frontrunning OKC fans stick around when the chips are down.

[alldaboston]

Certainly an interesting opinion.

This can be said for many franchises though, can't it? It's the whole element of "bandwagoning" is it not? Many fans won't follow their team after they lose stars and start rebuilding. Where did the Cavs fans go from 2010-2014? And where did they come back from?

[CelticSooner]

Your Washington bias is showing.

[max215]

Your Washington bias is showing.

Doesn't everyone wish they were still in Seattle, though?

[LarBrd33]

Your Washington bias is showing.

lol

[CelticSooner]

Your Washington bias is showing.

Doesn't everyone wish they were still in Seattle, though?

Sucks what happened but it wasn't the first or last time it will tho. Greedy people do greedy things.

[jambr380]

Sucks to be from Seattle and see such a promising team leave. I went out to see my sister and her family to see them before they left for OKC and the building was half-empty. I hated the move to OKC and will never understand why they were so desperate to bring a franchise there.

Durant belongs in Boston - let's hope for the best this summer.

[Fred Roberts]

I agree they don't deserve a team of this caliber, but they made their mark as a fan base when the Hornets were playing there after Sandy. I recall the support for that mediocre team was impressive. Not even their team either.

[CelticSooner]

I agree they don't deserve a team of this caliber, but they made their mark as a fan base when the Hornets were playing there after Sandy. I recall the support for that mediocre team was impressive. Not even their team either.

Yep. OKC fans supported that mediocre Hornets team which was the first domino in moving the Sonics to OKC.

[86MaxwellSmart]

With all the talent that team has...THEY got a higher draft pick than us this last time around....REEEEdiculous.

[makaveli]

Westbrook doesn't deserve Durrant

[SHAQATTACK]

OKC will be up for sale a few years after Durrant is gone.

[GreenFaith1819]

At least Westbrook seemed contrite after yesterday's loss.

I believe he's maturing as a player....he's rarely been able to point finger at himself before but he seemed willing to take most (if not all) the blame yesterday.

"Execution. That starts with me," Westbrook said. "I've got to do a better job of executing and putting guys in position to score the basketball, especially late. And especially against good defense. You've got to find ways to move the ball around and that starts with me, so I've got to do a better job leading into the next game."

"I turned the ball over, especially with the game on the line," he said. "Just got to do a better job, man, lock in. I take responsibility when the ball is in my hands to make plays for my teammates and I didn't do that tonight."

"Just too many shots," Westbrook said. "Honestly, man, I've got to do a better job, like I said before, getting guys shots. Steven [Adams] got one shot. Got to get other guys involved, especially to beat this team. Even though I had some shots I made, I've got to read and find ways to get guys shots. I take the blame."

http://espn.go.com/blog/okc-thunder/post/_/id/1527/russell-westbrook-takes-the-blame-for-the-thunders-game-3-loss

I have no doubt that he will continue to mature as a player and when he does it will be something special. However, I seriously doubt that he and Durant will be enough to beat San Antonio (or GSW if they should get by the Spurs).

Even Michael and Scotty had Rodman. And they had Prime Phil. Serge is no Rodman even though I like him a lot.

[Celtics18]

Seriously, though.  Is there any sports fanbase less deserving than Oklahoma City?  They inherited Seattle's franchise with Superstars on the roster.  They have never not had Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.  It's easy to root for a team that has two of the greatest players in the world on it.   Both of those guys were drafted by the Sonics.  OKC has never had to struggle through tanking seasons with minimal hope.  They've never had to feel the pain of striking out in the lotto or failing to add a franchise hope via free agency.  Their first year, they had young Durant and Westbrook to root for and the excitement of a brand new sports team.  Second year, they won 50 games.  Third year, they were in the Finals. 

Would people even go to their games if they didn't have two of the greatest players in the world playing there?

I obviously want Durant to come to Boston next year, but if I'm being perfectly honest, I'd rather see Durant go to to the Lakers than stay in Oklahoma City.  Ok, maybe not the Lakers, but seeing Durant flee them for pretty much any other team would make me pretty happy. 

Let's see if those frontrunning OKC fans stick around when the chips are down.

I agree with this sentiment, but so far they have paid the price.  Great for them that they get to watch their superstars, but anything other than bringing home the big chip will ultimately be seen as abject failure for that crew.

At this point, it looks like there's a very good chance they may never reach that goal.

[Moranis]

I disagree with the premise.