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Thunder-Lakers series has feel of changing of the guard
Published: 5/20/2012 10:32 PM
Last Modified: 5/20/2012 10:32 PM

Could it be this year's Western Conference semifinal between Oklahoma City and the Los Angeles Lakers is more than just a simple playoff series?

The Thunder's elimination of the Lakers (which should happen Monday in Game 5) feels like a changing of the guard.

LA's Kobe Bryant isn't exactly passing the torch -- more like Kevin Durant is jerking it from his hands -- but this feels like a series that is altering the power structure in the Western Conference.

Durant, the 23-year-old NBA scoring champion, is leading his team to the Western Conference finals for the second straight season.

Bryant, the 33-year-old five-time NBA champion, hasn't gotten his team beyond the second round in the last two seasons.

Despite scoring 74 points in two games in LA and getting almost every close call -- to the tune of 32-of-35 from the foul line -- Bryant could only lead his team to one win.

While Bryant was forcing -- and missing -- key shots down the stretch of Game 4 and making key turnovers in Game 2, Durant looked to be surpassing Bryant as the game's ultimate closer.

Durant may be moving past Bryant in superstar status, but there is still one key area where Bryant reigns -- championship rings. If this season truly is a changing of the guard, that could be next on Durant's agenda.

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Gailmail (9 months ago)

Lakers depend on Kobe too much. What about the rest of the team? And the bench? Thats one good thing about the Thunder, they are all-around good as a team. Their 3rd string isnt so bad either.

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Tulsa World Sports Editor Michael Peters has nearly 20 years of daily newspaper experience. A 1993 graduate of Texas A&M, he worked at papers in Bryan-College Station, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, and Galveston, Texas, before joining the Houston Chronicle as High School Sports Editor in 2008. While in Houston, he coordinated coverage of the 2008 Texas Class 5A state football championships and the 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four.

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