HoopsHype.com Rumors

Yet this much is also clear: With apologies to Jason Kidd, Dallas’ 39-year-old point guard, and the Los Angeles Lakers’ two-headed monster of Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake, Westbrook has yet to face anyone quite like Parker, either. “I’m definitely going to go at him,” said Parker, 30, who is averaging a team-best 19.1 points and 7.1 assists in the postseason. “It’s not going to be like Dallas or the Lakers, where their point guards are not as aggressive. I’m going to go at him and make sure he works a little bit.” San Antonio Express-News

Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook 

But fans in the Oklahoma City area might be advised to “fear the cake” after the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year’s image has been baked into a deliciously gooey chocolate cake by a Homeland grocery store in Oklahoma City. San Antonio Express-News

Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden 

Harden’s head has been replicated into detailed form, particularly his beard which is made up of swirly chocolate icing. The pictures were taken by GiANT Impact CEO Jeremie Kubicek and spread by CNBC’s sports business guru Darren Rovell. San Antonio Express-News

Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden 

Westbrook is averaging 24.1 points in the first two rounds, third best among players whose teams are still alive. What’s even better, though, is that his shooting percentage is way up from last year’s playoffs while his turnovers are way down. A year ago, he shot 39.4 percent from the floor and committed 4.6 turnovers a game. This year, 47.2 percent and 1.6 turnovers. “He’s been really, really efficient in his moves and his shots,” Durant said. “Not to say that he’s made every shot, but every shot I think he’s taken has been a good shot.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Kevin Durant 

And we haven’t even talked about his defense yet. The job he did shutting down Mavs sharpshooter Jason Terry in the first round was stellar. He was every bit as good on whatever Laker the coaches stuck him on in the second round. “We’re not in this position without Russell’s play,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “We have a good team, but Russell makes us very good with what he does.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook, Scott Brooks 

Darnell Mayberry: Kevin Durant on Monday's violence: "Any time violence is involved it's unfortunate. But the only thing I can do is pray for the victims." Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Law 

Parker said ''it's not going to be like Dallas or the Lakers'' for Westbrook, adding that their point guards are ''not as aggressive'' as the Spurs' leading scorer. Parker is averaging 19.1 points and a career-best 7.1 assists through eight consecutive playoff wins. FOXSports.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker 

Thunder fans will continue to have a pregame opportunity to gather in Love’s Thunder Alley outside Chesapeake Energy Arena prior to the Thunder Western Conference Finals home games, but the event will conclude when the game begins. The Thunder will no longer show the game broadcast on the video board outside the arena. Love’s Thunder Alley, an outdoor block party along Reno Ave, will begin three hours prior to tipoff and will end when the game starts. It includes music, games, food and drink, face painting for kids, Thunder merchandise sales and the Thunder Rewards Zone, a game-day opportunity to win or buy remaining game tickets. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Media 

Kurt Helin: NBA Announces All-Defensive team. First Team: LeBron James & Serge Ibaka at forward, Dwight Howard at center, Chris Paul & Tony Allen guards Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Tony Allen, Serge Ibaka 

Chris Tomasson: Danny Granger on Haslem foul: “It was just as dangerous as what I think Metta World Peace did to James Harden.’’ Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Danny Granger, James Harden, Dexter Pittman, Referees, Metta World Peace 

22-year old Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden has become quite popular for not only his play as the NBA’s top sixth man but also for his wild beard. Apparently someone decided to display Harden’s unusual facial hair in decorative pastry fashion with this equally unusual cake made out of Harden’s likeness: Los That Sports Blog

Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden 

After a shooting in Bricktown marred a big victory for the Thunder Monday night, Oklahoma City's mayor Mick Cornett said the wildly popular "Thunder Alley" has to change. An estimated 10,000 fans gathered outside Chesapeake Energy Arena downtown to watch the game on a big screen to go with 19,000 inside the arena. "The city manager and I spent some time with the chief of police and many members of our security detail (Monday)," said Mayor Cornett to News 9 in OKC. "We came to the conclusion that the manner in which we have known as 'Thunder Alley' has taken place and continued to grow just can't continue." CBSSports.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Law 

The team issued a statement saying that Thunder Alley will continue, but the watch part on Reno Ave. may not. "We are working with the City and the Police Dept to look at ways to control crowds and ensure safety," said Thunder spokesman Dan Mahoney. "We are strongly considering eliminating the watch party, but Thunder Alley, the pregame party on Reno, will continue as normal." CBSSports.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Law 

Police have arrested a man in connection with the shooting. Rodney Dewon Hill, 19, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on eight complaints of shooting with intent to kill, police said. An arrest warrant filed Tuesday at the Oklahoma County courthouse said Hill was identified by one of the victims of the shooting after the Oklahoma City Thunder's Monday night game. According to the affidavit, Hill, two other men and a woman were involved in an altercation with several of the shooting victims before one of the men pulled a gun and started shooting into the crowd. A pregnant woman was trampled and kicked during the melee. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Law 

NBA players union executive director Billy Hunter utilized union funds to support former NBA forward Charles Smith's attempt to overthrow the National Basketball Retired Players Association, sources say, one of several maneuvers that inspired union president Derek Fisher to call for a business review of the union's activity. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Derek Fisher, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Charles Smith 

The players' union is currently being investigated by the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, sources have confirmed. Recent reports by both Yahoo! Sports and Bloomberg News detailed a number of other expenditures and hirings made by Hunter without executive committee oversight. The financial support of Smith is another one, sources said. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Derek Fisher, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Charles Smith 

Several months later, as Smith fought to win back his position, the NBPA's late lead counsel, Gary Hall, told a retired players' association representative that the NBPA was in full support of Smith, would pay his legal fees and play "the race card," if necessary, sources said. Smith is black and Danny Schayes, selected to replace him, is white. Hall's comments were made, sources added, with Hunter present. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Derek Fisher, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Charles Smith 

Chris Palmer: A Harden/Bynum duo could be the Lakers future. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Free Agency, James Harden 

The Thunder is moving on to the Western Conference Finals for the second straight season after closing out the Los Angeles Lakers 106-90 in Game 5 on Monday night. And in the clincher, it was Westbrook and fellow All-Star teammate Kevin Durant who carried the Thunder. Westbrook scored a team-high 28 points, while Durant chipped in 25. None, however, were bigger than the three by Westbrook that caused that passionate celebration. The play started with Westbrook intercepting a Ramon Sessions pass to Kobe Bryant at the top of the key. As Westbrook raced the other way, Sessions intentionally fouled Westbrook, wrapping him up in an attempt to prevent a shot attempt. But Westbrook powered through the contact and banked in 15-foot runner, sparking pandemonium inside The Peake. “That was an amazing play,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “Obviously, there was a lot of luck to that. But he put himself in that position to get a little lucky there.” Oklahoman

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Ramon Sessions, Russell Westbrook 

Pau Gasol was much more aggressive after the passive Game 4 in which Bryant called him out after for poor play, finishing with 14 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. Bynum had what he told TNT was "the worst game I've probably played in the playoffs," tallying 10 points, four rebounds and no blocks. And yet largely because of the putrid effort of the Lakers' bench (combined five points compared to the Thunder's 35), it wasn't nearly enough to counter the collective attack of the Thunder team that always seemed destined to get to this point. "Experience is always important in this league," Brooks said. "You have to have good talent. You have to have good players. You have to have a team that competes and is self motivated. I have a group of guys who do that -- every single day." SI.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Pau Gasol, Scott Brooks