Russell Westbrook to Kevin Durant for alley-oop (GIF)

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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Things did not look good for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Two games into the Western Conference Finals, the San Antonio Spurs looked ready to cruise to a second consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals. In the meantime, there were some people who were starting to wonder about the future for young stars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant and how they would fit in the NBA hierarchy.

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With two victories at home, however, the Thunder have made this an intriguing series once again. That is thanks in large part to the stellar play of Durant and Westbrook. Looking to continue that trend on the road in San Antonio, Westbrook found Durant on this play for an alley-oop.

Westbrook_to_KD_for_the_Alley_Oop
Westbrook_to_KD_for_the_Alley_Oop /

Sometimes the Thunder create problems for themselves in the half court because they do not have a plan other than getting the ball in the hands of Westbrook or Durant and letting them create on their own. That philosophy works so often in normal circumstances that they fall back on it in the playoffs as well. It just doesn’t work so well under those bright lights the way it does on a Tuesday night against the Timberwolves, or whatever the case might be during the regular season.

Perhaps a play like this one is a sign that the Thunder are ready to click in those sets as well. And if they can find a way to score in the half court in addition to their potent transition attack, that spells trouble for the Spurs.