Daily Thunder.com

Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider says OKC had the best Game 1 performance: “Since the Thunder led the NBA in point differential, it shouldn’t surprise that the weekend’s best game wasn’t even their best performance against the Rockets. Oklahoma City won by 30 at Houston in December. The start bodes well for the Thunder’s chances. According to Basketball-Reference.com, the last team to win the opener by at least 29 points and lose the series was the Boston Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1985 NBA Finals. All told, since 1960 teams so dominant in Game 1 are 29-2 in series.”

Berry Tramel: “Now you know why the Rockets, who have little answer for the likes of Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, are overmatched in this series. They have no answer for Westbrook. Now you know why, when I asked Rocket coach Kevin McHale on Monday about Westbrook’s jaw-dropping play, he responded, “Which one?” Now you know why the criticism of Westbrook, who not so long ago joined LeBron as the most-scrutinized players in the NBA, has abated and why Westbrook just might make first-team all-NBA this season, at the expense of noted tweeter Kobe Bryant. Westbrook no longer plays basketball like his hair’s on fire. He is the fire. Sunday night, Westbrook had seven rebounds and seven assists in 181/2 first-half minutes. He missed out on a triple double only because he sat out the entire fourth quarter of the rout.” Keep Reading…

Berry Tramel: “The Thunder tried to downplay the Harden reunion angle, but Durant admitted it “felt a little awkward, looking across there and seeing him with another team. We gotta get past that.” The Thunder got past it just fine in Game 1 of this Western Conference playoff series. Most possessions started with Thabo Sefolosha dogging Harden, but when the Thunder switches — with Durant or Russell Westbrook or even Serge Ibaka moving onto Harden — it neutralizes Houston’s pick-and-roll offense. No one knows better than Oklahoma City how productive Harden can be in the pick-and-roll.”

Ben Golliver of SI.com: “The Rockets definitely got a taste of the best the Western Conference has to offer, and Harden’s attempt at optimism is in line with Morey’s pre-playoffs excitement. Given how the match-ups broke, this year was mostly about getting the Rockets’ young core their first set of playoff repetitions together, with an eye towards the future. The Rockets’ regrouping message for Game 2 should be simple: There’s no shame in getting blown out by the Thunder, who led the league with a +9.2 margin of victory, on an off night. Play sharper and shoot better and a more competitive contest awaits. That said, the series goal has crystallized quickly for Houston: try to avoid the sweep.” Keep Reading…