The Oklahoma City Thunder prevailed in the first-round playoff series versus the Denver Nuggets and now heads to the semi-finals facing either the Memphis Grizzlies or the San Antonio Spurs.

Kevin Durant became clutch, sealing the victory in Game 5 following massive criticism heaved upon teammate Russell Westbrook for not sharing the ball in Game 4.  Westbrook is among the most non-traditional point guards in the league; the type that leaves you amazed at his fearless explosiveness to the rim while sometimes leaving you confounded by his out-of-control play and decision-making.

Westbrook recognizes he has much to learn in mastering the position, and the person helping him may surprise you.

It’s his backup, Eric Maynor.

"Eric’s been playing at that position for awhile and he’s older," Westbrook told HOOPSWORLD. "I listen to him to see what he’s doing on the floor. We communicate with each other to make each other better.

"I think that’s what makes me and him kind of similar, yet we’re different in a lot of different ways…the way he plays, the pace. I’m just trying to learn that type of pace that he’s playing with."

Maynor – just 17 months older than Westbrook – is composure personified on the court.  The yin and yang of the two players is obvious, and Maynor shared why it works.

"It’s basically what a team needs, especially if your starter is a certain speed," he explained.  "I think you gotta have somebody to come in after him and calm stuff down. Not be at that same speed and change the game up a little bit. I think that’s what makes our team good, me and him being at the point guard position."

There is a discernable difference in how the game is orchestrated and how the ball is distributed when Maynor is substituted in the game for Westbrook.  Gone are overt flashiness and the what-unbelievable-play-is-Russ-going-to-make excitement, replaced by a controlled Maynor directing and moving in a more methodical manner.  And more often than not, Maynor pushes the second unit in the right direction on the scoreboard.

What do C.J. Watson, Steve Blake, J.J. Barea, Delonte West and Maynor have in common?  We’re fairly certain you recognize all players as backup point guards enjoying their respective teams’ postseason right now, but there’s something noteworthy to consider.  In the first round (as of 4/27/11), none have averaged more than 18.2 minutes; on the lower end sits Maynor at 11.8 mpg, yet he’s the top scorer (5.8) and has the highest Player Efficiency Rating (17.1) of the five players.

Since we’re talking PER, let’s lay it all out.  During the 2009-10 season, Maynor averaged 15.7 minutes with a PER of 11.8 (playing for Utah and OKC), and in the 2010 playoffs, he averaged 12.7 mpg with a PER of 8.0.  During the 2010-11 season, he averaged 14.6 mpg with a PER of 11.7.  Now compare that information with the 2011 playoffs data noted above.

Maynor didn’t realize how his efficiency rating had spiked in this postseason, and what’s remarkable is he accomplished it playing the fewest minutes yet.  He attributed this to "just learning more and knowing more about the game, especially about this level."

"I was just new to things last year," he added.  "Totally different now."

He also ranked 15th in the league in assist-to-turnover rate, as well as 13th in Assist Rate (rate of assists against possessions used) among all players, in the 2010-11 regular season.

When Maynor steps on the floor, a blend of quiet confidence and spark exudes from his deliberate playing style.  Game 1 of the Denver series is a perfect example.  Maynor, finishing with 12 points, was credited with providing critical lifts in both halves.

"You work so much on your game and you feel like you put all that work in and it’s going to pay off when you get out there on the floor. That’s how I feel about my game."

{AUTHOR_BOX}Those who speculated newly-acquired guard Nate Robinson would steal Maynor’s minutes were mistaken.  Robinson appeared in four regular-season games (he was sidelined two weeks with arthroscopic knee surgery) averaging 7.5 minutes; coach Scott Brooks has not yet called his number during the playoffs.

Brooks is keenly aware of how important a reliable backup point guard is to an NBA team as he played the role himself for years.

"It’s a tough position.  I was in that position for a long time.  You want to get more minutes, and in the games that you’re playing well, you know that the starters…," Brooks said, trying to find a delicate way to phrase his thought.

Then he just came out and said it.

"He starts for a reason, because he’s better than you. Russell’s really a good player."

"It works because he (Maynor) understands his role very well, and that’s one of the strengths of a backup point guard," Brooks explained.  "If you have a backup point guard who doesn’t understand his role, it’s not going to work. And he does."

Teammate Thabo Sefolosha weighed in with his views on why the two vastly different point guards work so well on this team.

"They’re both very good players. Very talented," he began.  "Coach (is) also putting them in the type of offense that they can be good in. Russell has a lot of plays where he can score, drive to the basket and make plays.  Eric in different ways, he’s got a lot of ways that he can make plays also, drive to the basket, kick it out, stuff like that.

"And all the small things that he do(es), he does it well," Sefolosha continued.  "He’s got a great vision, he’s got a very decent jump shot, so I think those are the things that make him so successful."

Maynor is one of those rare players, these days anyway, that completed four years of college before entering the draft.  He was a highly-decorated point guard at Virginia Commonwealth (starting every game in his junior and senior years, he averaged 20.1 ppg, 5.9 apg in 35.2 mpg), where his buzzer-beaters (remember Duke?) have transferred very nicely to the NBA.

Shortly before the 2009 draft (selected 20th by the Utah Jazz), Maynor told Draft Express: "I just want to land in the right situation for me."

We posed that very question to him, now two years and two teams later: Did you land in the right situation?

"I think this is good for me right now," Maynor answered.  "Great organization, great teammates, great coaching staff. They’re going to develop their players, get better. We’re building something good over here.  So, yeah, I think I’m in a good situation right now."

Brooks realizes the playing time, or lack thereof, may be frustrating for Maynor.

"Eric understands his role and he really embraces it and takes advantage of those six or seven minutes a half, or eight minutes a half that he gets, and he plays good," he said.

Maynor deflects any hint of dissatisfaction when we asked about the minutes Brooks gives him.

"Man, I’m just trying to win. We’re in a situation right now where we got something good going, and it doesn’t matter how many minutes I get.  Whenever I get out there, I’m just gonna try to do whatever the team needs me to do."

It’s easy to see why Maynor fits the Thunder DNA.  It’s all about team.  The fact that his on-court style contrasts significantly with Westbrook’s benefits the Thunder.

"He’s solid. He makes good decisions.  His outside shot has improved.  His three-point shot has gotten better," Brooks said.  "But his decision-making has always been solid. He’s a different player. He’s more of a traditional point guard, if you want to say that, than Russell is, but they both work for us very well."

And, as Westbrook said, he’s both listening to and trying to learn from Maynor.  Many hope the art of patience, court vision and cool-headedness are lessons well-learned.

"He’s been playing for awhile, for a long time," noted Westbrook.  "Even though I may be in the NBA longer, that doesn’t mean anything."

Supporters say Maynor could be a starting point guard in this league.  Whether or not that’s true, the Thunder knows how valuable he is in the backup role and would surely like him to stay put.

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Be sure to participate in Susan Bible’s weekly NBA Chat tomorrow, Saturday, April 30th at 11:00 am EST.  Get your questions in early!