NBA’s Western Conference Player of The Week Is Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant

This week, former James Harden teammate, Oklahoma City Thunder captain, and now 2013 All-Star Kevin Durant led his team to continue his team’s winning streak from last week to six consecutive wins. Despite playing four games this week, three of them on the road, the Oklahoma City Thunder kept their record at #1 with 32 wins and 8 losses. Kevin Durant reached a new career high, playing against his idol, Vince Carter of the Dallas Mavericks. Despite the similar styles the two times have, The Oklahoma City Thunder should have an easy win over the Denver Nuggets considering the superstar fire power their team has from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. His field goal percentage was  from each game leading up to a 51.9 field goal percentage overall this week. He average 36.5 points this week again excluding the Sunday game.

Jan 13, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) dunks against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant starts his first game of the week with four-of-six shooting against Portland. He begins with an opening shot, a three-pointer that goes in, his opening two layups in the second half in as well. He also had a big 3 in the 3rd quarter with 2 seconds left on the shot clock that pushed the lead from 54-50 to 57-50. He pushed the lead against the Trailblazers even further by drawing the defense towards him as he ran towards the hoop only to dish it out towards Deandre Liggins for a 3! He then finishes up the quarter with a final run-the-clock drive fall back shot. He then began the fourth quarter with a drive to the hoop. Durant then blocks the ball from Jared Jeffries. he had 33 points overall against the Trail Blazers.

In his second game of the week, Kevin Durant played the Phoenix Suns, scoring 41 points. Durant broke the 33-33 tie with an opportunistic layup with an +1 in the second quarter. He then added to Oklahoma City’s dominating 92-81 lead with two more awesome replay worthy layups and a +1.

Against Denver, he scored below his average, but above the NBA average with 20 points. He begins the game for Oklahoma City, stealing, before passing to Thabo Sefolosha, who passes back to him for a 3! I’d say more, but it’s not like he needed to do any more to defeat Denver.

Against Dallas, Kevin Durant scored 52 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, beating his career high, in front of his childhood idol, Vince Carter. With Russell Westbrook they totalled 93 points outscoring the smaller scoring teams of the league.  Durant scored 9 key points in after regulation giving Oklahoma City the win in overtime.

Honorable mentions:

Jan 18, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Russell Westbrook. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Westbrook

His fellow teammate and captain for getting close, even excelling on Kevin Durant’s off days, when he is becoming more double teamed when he is.

Jan 18, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma City Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Vince Carter (25) defends during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Thunder defeated the Mavericks in overtime 117-114. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Vince Carter

Just for once again playing like a superstar, albeit his dunks do not look as cool.