Can Durant Break Scoring Curse?

Durant averaged 27.7 PPG this season,
leading the NBA for the second
straight year.

If history stays true in recent years the Oklahoma City Thunder will not reach the Western Conference Finals in 2011.

Many believe, with the addition of center Kendrick Perkins from the Boston Celtics, the young Thunder have added the final piece to the puzzle and could legitimately challenge the Los Angeles Lakers for a spot in the NBA Finals.

In only his fourth season in the league after being drafted second overall in the 2007, Kevin Durant has led the NBA in scoring back-to-back years.

That might not be such a good thing for Oklahoma City heading into this year's postseason. Since the 2001-02 NBA season the NBA scoring leader has failed to lead his team to the conference finals. Former NBA point guard Allen Iverson was the last player to do so, averaging 31.4 points per game in the 2000-01 season.

That year Iverson led the Philadelphia 76ers to the Eastern Conference Finals in a thrilling seven-game series against the Milwaukee Bucks, eventually reaching the NBA Finals. The 76ers would lose to the Lakers in five games, paving the way for the NBA's next dynasty. Iverson would lead the league in scoring again the following season, but his team was bounced out in the first-round by the Celtics.

A trend was born.

Since that time, the NBA has seen some of the most elite players lead the league in scoring and not reach the conference finals. The list of players includes Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and now Durant.

A year after James led the the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first Finals appearance in franchise history, for the first time in his career, he led the NBA in scoring (30.0 PPG), but unable to get them back to the promise land, losing to the eventual NBA champion Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Durant and Co. are in for a hard-fought battle in this year's postseason, no longer playing the role of underdog after capturing the No. 4 seed in the West. The road does not start easy for the Thunder with them opening up a first-round matchup with one of the hottest teams in the NBA during the second half, the No. 5 seeded Denver Nuggets.

Not only will the young man out of Texas need to live up to the expectations this season has brought. but will need to break a scoring curse to reach them.

Oklahoma City Now a Finals Contender

Westbrook and Durant will now experience
life after Jeff Green.

The trading deadline came and gone Thursday afternoon with a lot of teams making moves to set themselves up for a deep playoff run.

None bigger than the Oklahoma City Thunder trading for center Kendrick Perkins.

Perkins being the centerpiece of the deal, Oklahoma also acquired guard Nate Robinson in the process, while the Boston Celitcs received forward Jeff Green and center Nenad Krstic. This move now makes the Thunder a legitimate Finals contender this season.

A young, high energy team, the Thunder were thought to be at least a year or two away from competing for a championship. That seems to have all disappeared in light of this recent trade. Oklahoma City has plenty of offensive ability, but was lacking size in the front court to compete in the Western Conference, especially with the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

With the acquisition of Perkins, it adds much needed size and physical defensive presence in the middle. Perkins also brings championship experience to a relatively young and unexperienced team.

With already two of the brighest young stars in the NBA, forward Kevin Durant and guard Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma's future looks bright. Durant, who is leading the NBA in scoring for the second straight year, is averaging 28.8 points per game in 2011. Westbrook on the other hand is having a breakout season and launching himself in the discussion of being the best point guard in the NBA. The former UCLA standout is averaging well above his career averages in points and assists, averaging 22.1 points and 8.5 assists per contest.

The Thunder are currently fourth in the Western Conference standings, posting a record of 36-20, but good enough for the top spot in the Northwest division. However, The Thunder are only 16-16 against teams with a record above .500. And even though they possess an impress home record at 20-8, they are only 16-14 away from OKC Arena, that all could change with the addition of Perkins.

Oklahoma City showed last season that they can play with the best of the NBA, forcing the eventually NBA champion Lakers to a hard-fought six-game series in their first-round matchup. With the emergence of '11 Slam Dunk contestant Serge Ibaka and James Harden playing well, Oklahoma has the pieces around to be successful playoff team.

Durant and Co. will be ready and have the "Thunderdome" as loud as ever. A thunderstorm is rolling into the postseason.