After Hours

When Bennett Salvatore is calling an NBA game, controversy is only a short distance away. The Thunder found out in a harsh way Tuesday night, when they lost a 140-139 overtime thriller at Utah in the best NBA game of the season. It was the best until the unfortunate end.

Salvatore, Tony Brothers (no stranger to swallowing his whistle either) and Eric Dalen didn't call a foul when Kevin Durant, who finished with 45 points, got hacked by Utah’s C.J. Miles on a possible game-winning jumper at the buzzer.

“A tragic no call!” screamed Thunder play-by-play announcer Brian Davis. Imagine how Durant and Oklahoma City Coach Scottie Brooks felt. Still, not many NBA officials are going to make that call, especially in Utah.

But the NBA, to its credit, saw it differently. Joel Litvin, the NBA’s president of league and basketball operations, issued this short statement today:

“On the final play of last night’s Oklahoma City-Utah game, the officials missed a foul committed by the Jazz’s C.J. Miles on the Thunder’s Kevin Durant during a 3-point shot attempt.”

Too little, too late. The loss bumped Utah into the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference race and dropped Oklahoma City into a tie with the Spurs at No. 6. And the Thunder play tonight in Denver, where the going has been anything but friendly. Portland, which is only a game back of the Thunder and Spurs, gets a gimme tonight against the Clippers.

Salvatore has been the source of controversy lately. He was the reason Phil Jackson got fined for his comments following the Lakers' loss to the Spurs on Sunday. Jackson said, “With Bennett, you don’t know what you’re going to get.”

Jackson was ticked because of a late first-half double technical Salvatore called on Ron Artest and Manu Ginobili, who were doing some minor shoving for position, then followed that one by hitting Kobe Bryant with a ‘T’ a short time later for asking about the first one. The NBA nailed Jackson for $35,000. Chump change for him, but the league didn’t want to hear his whining again.

So imagine Jackson’s reaction today upon hearing that the NBA admitted Salvatore, Brothers and Dalen blew the call in Utah. Unfortunately, we won’t hear his thoughts because that would result in another fine.

Salvatore's 25 years in the NBA has history. The 60-year-old official has a reputation for being one of the worst in the game.

Maverick fans know him well. Salvatore is the official who made the critical phantom foul call on the Mavericks, allowing Miami's Dwayne Wade to win Game 5 on the 2006 NBA Finals. It practically cost the Mavericks the title.

Still, this might benefit the Thunder in the long run. Drawing Utah in the first round of the playoffs might turn into a blessing since they’ve beaten the Jazz in 3 of their 4 meetings. Last night’s loss might be their gain. That is unless Salvatore (or Brothers) shows up and ruins it again.

Read more of Forrest Lee at Blak4rest.com.

They don't generate the same wattage as the Lakers or the Nuggets, but the Oklahoma City Thunder is making as much noise as any club in the Western Conference.

The hottest team (along with the Suns) in the NBA and winners of their last nine before the Suns burst their bubble tonight, the Thunder continues to be one of the league’s biggest surprises. They are a half-game back of the Suns for the No. 5 spot in the hierarchy of Western Conference playoff contenders and just two games back of the fourth-place Mavericks.

Before their went on a nine-game winning streak, the Thunder weren’t even within sniffing distance of a playoff berth. They were 11th in the competitive West. Though some experts believed they were capable of making a run for the playoffs, the Thunder’s inconsistent play initially prevented their rise. But now Oklahoma City is performing as well as any NBA team though it isn’t taking its recent success for granted.

“It’s satisfying that we’re improving. But we have a long way to go,” Thunder Coach Scott Brooks told the Daily Oklahoman this week.

True. But this season’s club is a much better one than last year’s, which lost 59 games. Several reasons point to the Thunder’s dramatic improvement. One is their ability to capture more close contests. Second, despite being one of the league’s youngest ball clubs, it’s a talented bunch that keeps getting better. Of course their best weapon is one of the NBA’s leading MVP candidates, All-Star guard Kevin Durant.

Durant, the No. 2 pick in the 2007 draft, is playing on the same high level as LeBron and Kobe. He is the only active player to record 29 straight games with at least 25 points or more. Not even LeBron or Kobe can stake such a claim. You’d have to go back to 1988, when Michael Jordan ruled and was on a similar scoring binge.

For the season (entering the contest against Phoenix), Durant is averaging 29.8 points per game (second behind LeBron’s 30) and 7.5 rebounds. He is shooting almost 48 percent from the field and 88 percent from the free throw line. And when it comes to delivering a victory in tight games, Durant frequently delivers. None of this surprises Brooks.

“KD is as consistent as a worker as we have on our team,” Brooks told the Oklahoman. “It’s based on his consistency, his preparation, his approach to the game. He prepares himself every day to be a better player. It doesn’t surprise me that he has success.” But for all of Durant’s success, defense has been another significant factor for the Thunder. Oklahoma City ranks third overall in defense and second in the Western Conference behind the Lakers.

Another reason for their success is the development of point guard Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 16 points and 7.7 assists and had a triple-double in a road victory last Saturday over the Knicks. Jeff Green and rookie James Harden have also played well. And Nick Collison, Thabo Sefolosha and the high-flying Serge Ibaka have been key contributors in clutch moments.

If there is one weakness of this club, it’s the lack of a quality big man, which could spell trouble down the stretch. But the Thunder aren’t worrying about that now.

They continue to chase their lofty expectations, which will be tested by their tough schedule and their youth. Though 15 of the Thunder’s 27 remaining games are at home (including a March 26 contest against the Lakers, who have beaten them in all three meetings), they’ve got some rough road spots to navigate. They visit the Spurs, who they’ve split two earlier meetings, on Wednesday. They also have upcoming trips to Denver, Charlotte, Toronto, Boston, Dallas, Utah and Portland.

Still, barring injuries, I can’t see them not making the playoffs. Whether its the No. 8 spot or higher, their fans, who are quickly becoming some of the bests in the NBA, will be ecstatic.

Read more of Forrest Lee at Blak4rest.com.

With the NBA All-Star break and its record-breaking game (108,713 served) in the rear-view mirror, we can focus on the second half of the season, which tips off Tuesday. Plenty of plots are emerging as several contenders try to unseat the Lakers as NBA champs.

One of the most significant storylines is whether Cleveland is the destination of All-Star forward Amar’e Stoudemire, whom the Suns are trying to trade. With or without Stoudemire, the Cavs, owners of the league’s best record, are the frontrunners for the crown. Adding Stoudemire to their mix would significantly enhance their chances.

But there are other clubs with legitimate shots at the title. We offer our two cents on the eight contenders — four in the East and four in the West — and which ones have the best opportunities to win it all. We start with the beasts in the East.

1. Cleveland: The Cavs already have swept the Lakers in their season series and have fared better than anyone despite playing stretches without Mo Williams and Delonte West because of injuries. If they acquire Stoudemire, they would become a heavy favorite to win the East and beat the Lakers, who most believe will come out the West, for the championship. Regardless, it’s difficult not seeing the Cavs make a trip to the Finals. Imagine Shaq returning to L.A. and trying to get LeBron his first ring in a showdown with the Lakers.

2. Atlanta: The Hawks have been flying as high as any club except the Cavs and they should continue in the second half. They’ve already swept Boston in their four meetings and we believe they have the best shot of any club to stop the Cavs’ title bid. Jamal Crawford, whom the Warriors gift-wrapped to Atlanta in a lopsided off-season deal, has been the major reason for the Hawks’ rise. He’s averaged 17 points coming off the bench and he’s a cinch for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.

3. Boston: Age and injuries have hurt the Celtics and many doubt they’ll recover. Boston also has been dangling Ray Allen as trade bait, so a deal could either enhance or hurt its run. Much depends on forward Kevin Garnett remaining healthy and returning to prominence as one of the league’s top defenders. If he doesn’t, we could see the C’s being eliminated in the conference semis, where they might have to face the Cavs or Magic.

4. Orlando: Dwight Howard hasn’t played his best this season as foul trouble and the Magic’s frequent habit of becoming a jump-shooting team in the clutch instead of using their best asset has cost them. Speaking of assets (or the lack of), Vince Carter hasn’t been enough of one and Magic fans are longing for the departed Hedo Turkoglu, who bolted to Toronto as a free agent when the club traded for Carter. Add the hysterics and sometimes-questionable strategy of Stan Van Gundy into the equation and we don’t see Orlando getting past the semis.

The best of the West:

1. L.A.: Early on, practically everyone and their mama crowned the Lakers. There also was the insane talk of them beating the Bulls’ record for regular-season victories. But that nonsense has been silenced by injuries and the Lakers occasionally falling asleep at the wheel. And with the Nuggets drilling them twice this season, it isn’t guaranteed they’ll take the West as many have predicted. Health is the major factor for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant has all sorts of ailments though he has fought through them for the most part. Though he missed the last three games (and the All-Star Game) because of an ankle injury, the Lakers were able to prevail in all three, including a key win in Utah before the break. In another statement game, the Lakers host the C’s on Thursday.

2. Denver: It's no secret that the Nuggets are the biggest threat to the Lakers’ repeat bid. Recently, George Karl even went as far as saying they had the Lakers’ number and knew the secret in beating them. The Nuggets backed up his talk with an impressive 126-113 victory in L.A. earlier this month without Carmelo Anthony. In November, they pounded the Lakers with a 26-point blowout in Denver. Mental health issues will be the biggest test for Denver’s cast of characters. But if Chauncey Billups can keep the meltdowns to a minimum, the Nuggets are a good bet to advance to the Western Conference Finals and possibly a trip to the NBA Finals. In a possible preview of the Finals, Denver visits Cleveland on Thursday.

3. Dallas: With the Wizards being their new best friends and giving them Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, the Mavericks have elevated themselves into the West’s upper echelon. Butler provides them another much-needed scorer and a good defender, while Haywood gives them bulk in the middle and some additional offense, both of which could benefit the Mavs against Denver and L.A. Much will depend on how quickly the Mavs mesh and whether the new additions make Dallas a better club defensively.

4. San Antonio, Utah or Oklahoma City: Don’t be surprised if the latter slips into the No. 4 spot. Kevin Durant and the Thunder might be a surprise to many, but not to us. Their ability to close games this season— games they frequently lost last season — has given them a substantial boost. They've got talent, too. They are two back of the Jazz (32-19) in the Northwest Division, but their 30-21 mark is identical to the Spurs, who have appeared a step slow all season. The Richard Jefferson experiment has been a failure so far, but the Spurs’ brass is preaching patience. It rings hollow on our ears. The Jazz, who had a nine-game winning streak snapped by the Lakers in its last game before the break, would be the favorite to clinch the fourth spot based on experience. But the trade winds could blow through Utah, too, with the Jazz desperately trying to deal forward Carlos Boozer. Depending whom they get in exchange, dealing Boozer now could hurt them down the stretch.

Read more of Forrest Lee at Blak4rest.com.