Next step on Kevin Durant evolution = post up moves?

Massamba · Post #1 » by **Massamba** » Fri Sep 20, 2013 4:03 pm

He isn't that 2007 skinny boy anymore. Kevin Durant has the body to play on the post. If he works on his post up game he could be unstoppable.

Some of his post up moves and fadeaway last season.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkiY1UEmbMY[/youtube]

NaturalThunder · Post #2 » by **NaturalThunder** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 5:44 am

I think it's going to be a combination of both postgame and as a playmaker. We already saw some improvement in both areas in 2013. I think his back to the basket game is pretty underrated, kind of like his defense, and to a lesser extent his passing/playmaking in 2013. I still see way too many people posting things like "Durant has no postgame" or "Durant's a bad playmaker" or "Durant's a bad defender" which just tells me they didn't see him play enough in 2013. Some of that was somewhat true prior to this year, but we really did see an improvement in all three areas this past season. His postgame footwork needs some refinement, but he's got a built in advantage that will never go away in his height and insane length, so a Kobe or Jordan-esque post game won't ever be a necessity for him in order to score from the post.

This past season he really did utilize a Dirk-like mid and high post game quite often, right down to the semi-awkward leg sticking out fadeaway. And while he's still probably not as good as Dirk in that regard, he does seem to be a lot quicker in stopping on a dime, kicking that front leg up and out, and fading back and drilling a fader over the defender. I can even recall a few instances where he did the whole move off the bounce which is really impressive if you think about it. Can't remember the exact game or anything, but I know there was at least one time he was dribbling near full speed, did a half-reverse dribble in some traffic, and just killed his dribble and drained a Dirk one-legged fadeaway from 12-15 feet out. I probably butchered the explanation, but it really was one of those "holy *****, I can't believe he just did that" type moves/moments. \

I've always believed being a natural playmaker/facilitator is something you're more-or-less born with, so he'll probably never develop into a natural playmaker. However, he did show a lot of improvements this year, and once ever 5 games or so he'd drop jawdropping type pass. And while some people thought he did a poor or flatout bad job in that role in the playoffs without Westbrook, I thought he actually did fine. I still don't think he'd ever be quite as good in a "one man show/ball-dominant" type role as some recent all-time great wing players like LeBron, Wade, and Kobe, but I do think he'd be better than a lot of people realize.

Post #3 » by **tsherkin** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 12:58 pm

KD isn't primarily an on-ball player out behind the arc, but we saw him working his height and J in the elbow area a decent amount last year and he was straight vicious from 15 feet and in. KD posted up a hair over 10% of the time and he MURDERED his opportunities when he did, logging 1.04 PPP (7th in the league) and shooting 51.8% FG on 170 FGA. It's definitely an area he should continue to develop, because it's a deadly weapon for him and he's much more well-suited to that than to face-up dribble penetration attacks from above the arc.

I hope he eventually takes up Olajuwon's camp, I'd love to see how someone with his speed and touch could develop in that regard.

Post #4 » by **sonictecture** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 3:37 pm

I wonder who voted Durant should stay the same with improved efficiency, following one of the most efficient seasons ever by a player with similar usage?

Posting up more took Lebron & the Heat to a new level and it could do the same for Durant and OKC.

bbms · Post #5 » by **bbms** » Sat Sep 21, 2013 3:49 pm

Next step: keep adding frame and power.

Durant is one of the best back to basket scorers in the league already, just need some bulk to play bigger and closer to the basketball. This will not necessairily increase his ppg or efficiency, but will definitely make him a more resourceful and harder to contain type of scorer, and will probably improves his offensive rebounding numbers, which are imo, the biggest flaw in his game.

Devilanche · Post #6 » by **Devilanche** » Sun Sep 22, 2013 8:38 am

sonictecture wrote:I wonder who voted Durant should stay the same with improved efficiency, following one of the most efficient seasons ever by a player with similar usage?

Posting up more took Lebron & the Heat to a new level and it could do the same for Durant and OKC.

His main improvement should come on the defensive end i think.
I don't think he'll playmake more (responsibilities) or that he will show much higher playmaking abilities with the hands of the starting 5 that he plays with.

Improved efficiency could be possible, he's still young and that length+height is not going to get away anytime soon. If Lamb could be better on offence and Jackson continue to progress, the game should open up more.

Massamba · Post #7 » by **Massamba** » Sun Sep 22, 2013 12:46 pm

I don't understand why he should do more playmaking with Westbrook on the team. In my opinion, Westbrook should improve his playmaking and PG skills to help Durant and the team to score more easily.

Post #8 » by **sonictecture** » Sun Sep 22, 2013 3:26 pm

Massamba wrote:I don't understand why he should do more playmaking with Westbrook on the team. In my opinion, Westbrook should improve his playmaking and PG skills to help Durant and the team to score more easily.

Because teams that rely on a single distributor and don't run a structured offense are easily defended. The Thunder have the advantage of putting the ball in the hands of their best players every trip down the court, this puts a huge amount of pressure on a defense. Resulting in the second best rated offense despite having numerous non-offensive players surrounding Durant and Westbrook and little in the way of a structured offense.

Durant doesn't need help scoring, he arguably the best. If Westbrook continues to improve as a distributor he will help the role players score more efficiently.

MvPderozan · Post #9 » by **MvPderozan** » Mon Sep 23, 2013 3:57 am

Who has a better post game Durant or Melo

Massamba · Post #10 » by **Massamba** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 12:45 pm

MvPderozan wrote:Who has a better post game Durant or Melo

Melo has a better post game, it's not even close.

Post #11 » by **sonictecture** » Wed Sep 25, 2013 5:28 pm

Massamba wrote:
MvPderozan wrote:Who has a better post game Durant or Melo

Melo has a better post game, it's not even close.

Durant was extremely effective in the post last season, he just hasn't used that part of his game as much as Melo historically. Durant has noticeably filled out this offseason, so it will be interesting to see if it becomes a larger part of his game.