Daily Thunder.com

Matt Moore of CBSSports.com on Russell Westbrook: “There’s been a subtle shift this year from Westbrook. The aggressiveness is there, the mistakes have been tempered. He has, time and again, made it clear he understands Durant needs the ball late in the game. At the same time, he’s passing less (his assist rate is down 12.8 percent), scoring more. The criticism has actually fueled him to be an even better scorer. He’s taken over games to get them back into it or to take the lead in the late third and early fourth quarters. (His work in the third quarter of the Spurs series was nothing short of masterful.) He has his role, important and prominent and often brilliant on this team. But he no longer is so fired up that he’s sacrificing the team at the altar of aggression.”

Rick Reilly of ESPN.com on the LeBron-KD matchup: “It feels like a watershed moment, like there is just enough rocket fuel to launch one to greatness, not the other. If James doesn’t win this one, if Durant gets a ring first, Durant may have such confidence James will never beat him, the window will have closed, the student will snatch the pebble and never return. As ever, all the pressure is on James. Lose and it’s another offseason of unkempt beards and unanswered questions. But win and he blows some of that blast furnace onto Durant, redirects the hounds, leaves him simmering in all those insomnia worries about unfulfilled promise. Stuff like, “What good is owning scoring titles but no real ones?” Me, I like James. Durant’s day will come soon enough. Followed by so many more. But my Lord, this could be good. And to think they almost canceled this season.” Keep Reading…

Anthony Macri for ESPN.com: “One of the things that Miami’s defense tends to do very well is contest every catch and force players to make one-on-one decisions against closeouts. They choke off passing lanes and their length forces teams into difficult shots, especially when Bosh is healthy and contributing big minutes. His presence allows the Heat defenders to press up and get into the feet of their opponents, and offenses tend to back away from this kind of pressure. Oklahoma City, however, may be able to thrive in this situation. The one-on-one ability of their “Big Three,” especially the always-in-control Harden, could become a difference-maker in this series. Miami closes out so hard that the Thunder’s ability to take advantage of the tendency to over-pursue could make a huge difference.”

Paul Forrester of SI.com: “The Thunder seem to have all the pieces in place to play for championships for many years: young stars in Durant, Westbrook and Harden, an improving, 22-year-old power forward in Serge Ibaka, a defensive-minded center in Kendrick Perkins and unselfish role players such as Nick Collison. But it won’t be long before small-market Oklahoma City is forced to confront the question of whether general manager Sam Presti will be able to keep the team together, especially if it means having to pay the luxury tax. The Thunder might have to become a taxpaying team to retain both Harden and Ibaka, who are set to be restricted free agents in 2013, unless they agree to contract extensions after this season. Are the Thunder willing to spend like a big market?” Keep Reading…