While the last post looked at a broader perspective, this one will look at just one shot. One shot that sent an entire franchise that was dreaming of contending into full fledged tank mode. The OKC Thunder were finally looking good in the post Kevin Durant era, Russel Westbrook off his third straight season averaging a triple double and Paul George coming off a career season earning him the third spot in MVP voting in the regualar season.
The Thunder previously could not get past the first round with humiliating defeats against the Jazz and Rockets. Things were finally looking up for the Thunder when they came into the first round of the playoffs fresh off o beating the Rockets with a PG buzzer beater. Things were finally coming together for Russ and PG after a tough period in their careers, the first obstacle in their way were the Portland Trailblazers.
The Trailblazers were also coming off an embarassing first round exit in the previous year and actually looked like the underdogs in this match up. But Dame and CJ had different ideas, the duo came out all guns blazing in this years playoffs. The guard duo combined to average 57 points per game with ice cold shooting from all over the court. The Thunder duo were massively underperforming right from the get go. The Thunder lost the first two games before being able to pull off their solitary win in the series at home. After a Trailblazer blow out win in game 4, the series went to game 5 in Portland, the Thunder surprisingly held on well in a game they were destined to lose. The game was tied at 115 and with 2 seconds to go Dame had the ball near the sponsor logo which was 37 feet away from the hoop, standing in front of him is Paul George, one of the best defenders in the game, Dame then goes on to do the unthinkable and pulls up from the logo and hits a three in PG's face.
GAME. SERIES. DAME TIME.
That one shot sent the Thunder from dreaming of contending to trading away Paul George and their franchise player Russel Westbrook for Chris Paul, SGA and lots of draft pics. Just like that, Dame called game on an entire franchise's plans.
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