AP Photo/John Amis

He may look like a high school math club president stretched out on a funhouse mirror, but Kevin Durant is a killer. Sporting new icicle-shaped sideburns, the player Sonics fans have been waiting for emerged with 1.8 seconds left in the second overtime to hit an implausible, off-balance three-pointer to beat the Atlanta Hawks 106-103. He played it cool on his hop and skip to the bench (reminding this observer of Robert Horry after his famous 2002 shot to beat Sacramento in Game 4) before unleashing a pent-up stream of chest beats and shit talk at his teammates and the suddenly silenced Atlanta crowd. This win was cathartic.

The game’s therapeutic nature was evident early, as Damien Wilkins–playing in front of his dad, Gerald, and uncle, Dominique–dominated from the tip, seemingly determined to prove his rightful place in the family hierarchy. (He finished with 41 points. At this point, shouldn’t Wally Szczerbiak offer his place on the all-star ballot to either Wilkins or Wilcox?) It was evident in PJ Carlesimo’s attire–a professorial wool(?) sportcoat and a baby blue mock turtleneck that colored him more avuncular shrink than ear-chewing hardass. (Little known fact: Carlesimo’s incident with Sprewell was actually an Oedipal role-play gone awry.) And it was undeniable when, just before halftime, Durant and Wilcox threw down back-to-back, emphatic dunks, each punctuated by a primal scream that resonated across the airwaves and throughout the sparsely attended Philips Arena.

Perhaps–and this may be hopeful–something snapped after the Orlando blowout. Beware Farkas, Gooch, and bullies leaguewide: the kids are fighting back!

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 17th, 2007 at 12:14 am and is filed under Supersonics, Roundball. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.