Daily Thunder.com

Tom Ziller of SB Nation looks at why no one scores 50 anymore: “The well-rounded superstar is the highest ideal. During the Kobe era, being well-rounded was perhaps not as valued as being incredible at what you do. I imagine Durant doing the Kobe-McGrady-Vince Carter era … and I imagine him taking many more shots, and maybe having a 60-point game under his belt. These days, we opine about completionism in our stars — LeBron and the post game, Durant and the assists. Coaches do, too, and so we have better players. But fewer big game scorers. It’s a net good with a drag on something we enjoy. Are there any current players who could signal a return to prominence for the 50-point game? Durant is an obvious choice, but it’ll take an injury to or trade of Russell Westbrook to make that happen. And vice versa: Westbrook could have a few big nights if Durant misses any time.”

Tony Manfred of Business Insider on how KD is trying to LeBron himself: “His assist numbers have increased as a result. In addition, his slightly reduced scoring role has allowed him to attack the boards more freely, and he’s grabbing a solid share of rebounds despite playing alongside two rebounding specialists in Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka. Look, we’re not saying Durant is going to be as good as LeBron. But it’s clear that he’s making an effort to expand his game by mimicking some of the ways LeBron plays.” Keep Reading…

Beckley Mason for the NY Times on OKC’s spacing: “One of the underrated advantages of good spacing is that the options for the player with the ball become clearer. It’s easier to see the floor and quickly discern the right read. The Thunder’s big men, in particular, have improved in this regard. When they aren’t setting high ball screens, Oklahoma City positions them extremely low along the baseline to make help defense on Durant or Russell Westbrook more difficult and make the Thunder playmakers’ decisions easier when the help does come.”

KD to Sam Amick of USA Today: “Larry Bird is a guy I like watching,” Durant said with a smile. “I watch film on him all the time. I like his approach to the game when he was playing. When I first started playing the game, my Godfather Taras Brown – who taught me how to play – he always was a Larry Bird guy, always used to look up his stats.” Keep Reading…

Darnell Mayberry: “You can tell the Thunder gets up for games in New York. They can say whatever they want about marquee games being “just another game.” But its baloney. Bull crap. OKC came to Brooklyn, felt the buzz in the building and wanted to put on a show. And that’s exactly what the Thunder did tonight.”

Tyler Parker of Baller Ball on KD’s near poster from God: “I say this with sincerity: What a cool miss. I think I speak for basketball fans and lovers of effortless scoring everywhere when I say that if you harm a hair on Kevin Durant’s head, Andray, I will come to your home and politely cry like Garth from Anchorman at your doorstep until you open the door and I ask you why you would do such an awful, miserable thing. Durant wouldn’t hurt a soul. He’d hurt their eyes with Thunderstruck, sure, but he wouldn’t hurt their soul.” Keep Reading…