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OKLAHOMA CITY -- The way Kevin Martin describes it, the Oklahoma City Thunder lost the "vision" of a potential championship run the morning they learned All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook would be out for the rest of the post-season. Despite fighting to the end in a series of narrow losses to Memphis, the Thunders season -- which seemed so promising even when the playoffs began -- is over much sooner than expected following a five-game loss in the Western Conference semifinals. After making it to the NBA Finals a year earlier, Oklahoma City claimed the No. 1 seed in the West and was the favourite to make it back and challenge the Miami Heat for the title. And then? "We lost the guy that has the keys to our car," Martin said Thursday. The Thunders offence fizzled without Westbrooks scoring punch and ability to create shots for teammates. To make matters worse, they drew the Grizzlies and their league-best defence in the second round. Three-time scoring champion Kevin Durant tried to pick up the slack, but to no avail. "Lets face it, Russells really good. Hes not only one of the best point guards, hes one of best players in the league," coach Scott Brooks said. "He has earned that with all of the work he has put in. He has a great work ethic and a great attitude to improve every day, and his will to win is at the highest level. "We are a much better team -- theres no ands, ifs, buts about that. But were not an excuse team either." Right up until the end, the club believed it could overcome even Westbrooks injury, suffered in a chance collision with Houstons Patrick Beverley in Game 2 of the first round. But after winning the next game, Oklahoma City went 2-6 without Westbrook. "It ended too soon. Thats what Im going to say about the whole experience," Martin said. "I think the year, we set ourselves up to be Western Conference champions this year. Heading into the playoffs, we was playing such great basketball and then you have a fluke injury. You know thats part of sports but you never want to think its going to happen to you or your team. "I feel like thats how our season will be looked at now. Its more like a what if season." The Thunder won 60 games in the regular season and had the best record in the West for the first time since 1996, when the franchise was in Seattle. But all that was thrown out when Westbrook tore cartilage in his right knee during the collision with Beverley and needed surgery. Durant said hed still look back on the season for the good times spent with teammates and the opportunities for growth, not a simply a wasted year. "Im going to be who Im going to be. Im not Kobe Bryant, Im not Michael Jordan, not LeBron James, not Magic Johnson. Im me," Durant said. "Im not going to ever compromise myself or my integrity or what I believe in to win some basketball games or to win a championship. Thats just how I was brought up. "Im always going to fight for the game I love. Im going to claw until the last buzzer sounds. If thats after the championship, then of course Ill be happy. Im not satisfied just being in this league and losing." Durant ended up second in the NBA scoring race to New Yorks Carmelo Anthony but improved his efficiency, becoming one of a handful of players in league history to make at least 50 per cent of his field-goal attempts, 40 per cent of his 3-pointers and 90 per cent of his foul shots. After Westbrooks injury, Durant averaged 31.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists. It still wasnt enough to lift his team. "You dont win championships ... You dont win playoff series or games with one or two guys. Its always about a team late in the season. Its always about a team in the playoffs," Durant said. "Were going to need everybody to step up, and I like the way we grew up as a unit." Some key decisions loom in the off-season for the franchise that traded eventual All-Star James Harden away at the end of training camp in a bid for financial flexibility under the salary cap. Most notably, Martin will be an unrestricted free agent and may have to take a pay cut to return to the team. "Im at a point in my career where I dont need to get what I can get. ... I have a vision of what I want my career to be, and the main thing is happiness and being a part of something special," Martin said.Wendell Carter Jr. Bulls Jersey . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. Robin Lopez Bulls Jersey . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. http://www.officialbullsfanstore.com/kids-toni-kukoc-bulls-jersey/ . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Wendell Carter Jr. Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Denzel Valentine Jersey . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game.PHILADELPHIA -- Andy Davidson spent his first year at Army as a linebacker. The coaches are certainly glad they moved him to the offensive side of the ball for his sophomore season.Davidson ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns in his first game at fullback and Army piled up 329 yards on the ground to beat Temple 28-13 on Friday night in the opener for both teams.Andy was a great addition for us to move from linebacker, Army coach Jeff Monken said. Hes one of our best football players. Im glad we made that move with him.Three other Army players gained at least 50 rushing yards for the Black Knights, coming off a 2-10 season. They attempted only five passes all night and backed their offense with three interceptions.Temple, which entered the season with huge expectations after a historic 2015 campaign, finished with 251 total yards of offense to lose to Army for the first time in its last seven meetings.Its a measuring stick, Monken said, When you play a team that won 10 games, won a bowl game, played for a conference championship -- thats a huge win for us.Trailing 10-7 at halftime, Army drove right down the field to start the third quarter with Davidsons 3-yard TD plunge capping a 12-play, 77-yard series that chewed nearly seven minutes off the clock.After a Temple field goal pulled the Owls within one, the Black Knights again went on a long drive with Tyler Campbell scoring on a 12-yard run on the 14th play of the series to put Army ahead 21-13 with 9:38 left in the contest.Kenneth Brinson sealed the win with an interception with 3:11 remaining, sending many of the 34,005 fans in attendance to the parking lot early. Davidson scored his second TD of the game -- and of his career -- less than a minute later.The offensive line did excellent, Davidson said. They bolstered me all night. I couldnt be more proud of them. I owe all the yards to them.With standout senior Jahad Thomas out with a hand injury, Ryquell Armstead got the start at running back for Temple, finishing with 77 yards on 16 carries, scoring a first-half touchdown that put Temple up 7-0 less than 30 seconds into the second quarter.Phillip Walker, the Owls four-year starter at quarterback, completed 12 of 26 passes for 168 yards and three interceptions. He became Temples all-time passing leader with a 14-yard pass to Keith Kirkwood in third quarter, surpassing Henry Burris.Ahmad Bradshaw and Chris Carter shared quarterbacking duties for Army with Bradshaw taking the bulk of the snaps and tying the game at 7-7 on a 10-yard TD run in the second quarter. He finished with 50 yardds on 16 carries.ddddddddddddOne of our goals this season is to finish games no matter what, Bradshaw said. To put a stamp on it felt great.THE TAKEAWAYARMY: The Black Knights famous triple-option attack was certainly in gear as Army sliced through a Temple defense that was the best in the American Athletic Conference last season. The game could not have gone much better for the Black Knights, especially when you consider their disappointing 2-10 campaign in 2015 ended with a heartbreaking-season ending loss to Navy in the same stadium.Its big for us, said linebacker Jeremy Timpf, who led Army with eight tackles. We were here last year and had a tough loss to Navy. It feels really good to start the season right. All the hard work in the offseason paid off.TEMPLE: Following a memorable season in which Temple matched a program record with 10 wins, went to their first bowl game since 2011 and captured an AAC Eastern Division title, Temple entered the 2016 campaign with high hopes. Getting upset by a team coming off a 2-10 season was certainly not the start envisioned by fourth-year head coach Matt Rhule, whos been trying to build the program into a national power.They just dominated us, said Rhule, whose first win at Temple came against Army in 2013. They literally just knocked us off the ball.START OF A TURNAROUND?Considering theyre only one game into the season, Monken tried to downplay whether Armys convincing opening victory could be the start of something big. But for the players, the excitement of beating a strong team on the road was certainly palpable.Weve had rough patches, Timpf said. Hopefully this is a turnaround and the programs headed in the right direction.TOUGH SLEDDINGAlthough they gained so many yards on the ground, Monken praised Temples defense for making them work for every one of them.It was a tough sled, Monken said. It wasnt like we were ripping off 20-yard runs. We were getting it bit by bit.SURVIVING SPECIAL TEAMS BLUNDERSMonken was particularly proud that his team won despite missing two field goals and having a punt blocked by Sharif Finch in the second quarter.That punt block was the fourth of Finchs career. The Owls led the nation in blocked punts last year with five.UP NEXTARMY: The Black Knights have their home opener, welcoming Rice next Saturday, Sept. 10.TEMPLE: The Owls host Stony Brook next Saturday, before a huge road clash with in-state rival Penn State the following week. ' ' '