It all started, as these things so often do, with the smallest suggestions. A possession that could have gone another way. Body language that betrayed a moment of frustration. Thread enough of those incidents together and you start to see the outline of something. Squint and that something can become narrative. Russell Westbrook doesn’t pass enough. Kevin Durant settles. This is Westbrook’s team. This is Durant’s team. The two can’t play together.
Every comment between those two stars was used to gauge their relationship. Any game of consequence was broadcast through the noise. The Thunder stars were viewed as an an imperfect pair, even as they progressed deep into the playoffs whenever good health allowed.