We'll find out tonight if the Thunder and Nuggets will have a rematch of their first-round playoff series from last season. While Kevin Durant waits to see who his second-round opponent will be, he responded to the news that he finished second to LeBron James in the MVP voting. "I've been second since high school, man. I was drafted second. I was the second best player in high school. And second in MVP voting twice," Durant said to reporters, including Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman (Twitter links). "So I'm over that being second stuff." Here's the rest of what's going on with Northwest Division teams:
- Justin Kubatko of The New York Times argues that James Harden and Serge Ibaka, both of whom are eligible for extensions to their rookie contracts this summer, hold the keys to the title for the Thunder.
- The Jazz gambled and won with this year's signings of Josh Howard and Jamaal Tinsley, a pair of players who have been the subject of controversy in years past, writes Steve Luhm of The Salt Lake Tribune.
- Utah, 27th in three-point percentage during the regular season, could use some outside shooting, and Brad Rock of the Deseret News advises the Jazz to go after Clippers sixth man Mo Williams, who has an $8.5MM player option for next year. One player Rock says the team should not pursue is former BYU star Jimmer Fredette.