Why does the NBA love OKC so much?

[Clipper Nation]

Stern has a vested interest in OKC's success in order to justify allowing Seattle to get ed over, tbh.... Durflop and Westbrick being marketable is a side bonus....

[HI-FI]

Stern has a vested interest in OKC's success in order to justify allowing Seattle to get ed over, tbh.... Durflop and Westbrick being marketable is a side bonus....

pretty much this. I'd say of the top reasons, no.1 is the NBA is doing everything it can, short of 2002 WCFesque levels of tomfoolery,to hook OKC up so they have a reason to stay engaged. When you're crashing hard on meth, the last thing you want is a ty team to watch.

Next is the superstar reason, but even Lebron doesn't get nearly the love from the refs and he's better than both.

Third is Clay Bennett could quite possibly be butt ing David Stern, not sure on that though.

[.G.]

Stern has a vested interest in OKC's success in order to justify allowing Seattle to get ed over, tbh.... Durflop and Westbrick being marketable is a side bonus....

But marketable to whom? I seriously doubt the league caters to hippsters n . Thats what I dont understand at times.
For me, this is all about the league reaching for "stars" by molding them and paving their way to success. Meh

[TampaDude]

But Durant doesn't match Lebron, not even close

^ this

LeBron is THE BEST BASKETBALL PLAYER IN THE WORLD right now, and it's not even close.

[timmy2003]

Right now, Paul George is. Durant has seriously regressed to being a free throw chaser. If Durant goes back to what he used to do and just relies on his skills, then yes but not anymore.

Durant is still the better scorer at this stage but I agree that Paul is a terrific all around player.

[james evans]

durant is as one dimensional as they come. as tall as he is with those long arms, he can't average 10 rebounds a game and his defense is horrible. in 2012, spoelstra attacked him on defense, something popovich didn't do, so by the 4th period, he was fresh and scored a lot. but yeah i know, popovich is a hall of fame coach. i should never question his tactics... he knows everything.

[Bill_Brasky]

Clay Bennett (Thunder owner) email to Stern:


http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...nnett-s-e-mail

Holy its like a love letter.

[BanditHiro]

Then how come when Duncan was in his prime the nba never created Duncan Kobe or Duncan Garnett or Duncan Nowitzki?

because Duncan isn't a perimeter player...if he was, despite his demeanor, he would still be hyped up and marketed. the league and media are always looking for their next Jordan and never the next Kareem or Wilt etc.

[wildbill2u]

The league office wants to promote the new generation of stars. Look at their advertising and you will see players like Durant, Westbrook, Paul George , Chris Paul, Blake Griffen and Steph Curry along with Lebron.

[bklynspursfan]

28 FTA thus far tonight, not even mid-way thru the 3rd.