Durant: 0-10 FG in the 2nd Half

FeatheryTouch · Post #61 » by **FeatheryTouch** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 8:54 am

Two bad games (against a great defense) and now a first ballot hall-of-famer is a garbage player.

Some of you guys are embarrassing yourselves with these hot takes.

I'm not a huge Durant guy either but have some perspective ffs.

Statlanta · Post #62 » by **Statlanta** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 9:40 am

FeatheryTouch wrote:Two bad games (against a great defense) and now a first ballot hall-of-famer is a garbage player.

Some of you guys are embarrassing yourselves with these hot takes.

I'm not a huge Durant guy either but have some perspective ffs.

We do have perspective.

Just on your team he's played with worse offensive lineups(even in playoff games given Curry's injury history) like with Livingston, Alfonzo McKinnie, Iguodala, Jordan Bell, Draymond and Looney.

This doesn't even take into account the spacing with Westbrook, Roberson, Adams and Kanter.

He's also played against better defensive rosters than this Celtics team(2018 Rockets, 2016 Warriors just to name a few) so when we see him choking worse than when he was guarded by Iguodala in 2016 we know what's up.

Statlanta · Post #63 » by **Statlanta** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 9:43 am

-Sammy- wrote:I'm not going to troll or bait NJ fans or KD fans, but as a devout KD non-fan, I'll admit to savoring his struggles.

I think it's just a matter of time before a KD defender says something to the effect that 'at least he's in the playoffs, unlike LeBron'...

Someone already beat you to it 2 posts above yours.

dlts20 · Post #64 » by **dlts20** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 9:59 am

People keep saying that this is the kind of D that Curry and Bron sees but I don't even believe that. He's really not getting doubled, let alone tripled. An extra defender may challenge at the end but most of this is just good one on one defense. It just shows you how flawed KD is. Even at 7ft, he can shoot over you but he has never truly developed the Jordan like post game, let alone a 7 footers post game

soxfan2003 · Post #65 » by **soxfan2003** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 11:46 am

Steph Curry deserves at least one of KD's Finals MVP. KD is an all-time great player and all time great 1 on 1 ISO/even fast break scorer. Comparing Kobe's stats vs KD is unfair to Kobe since Kobe entered the league in a different era where it was easier to play defense and the floor wasn't as spread. And Kobe came straight from high school and was thrown in the NBA playoffs his rookie year when he wasn't really ready for them.

But in the NBA Finals, KD with the Warriors instead of having 1.5/2 defenders thrown at him which is what a lot of superstar scorers routinely face, he had like a 1/2 of a defender put on him since Warrior opponents were understandable scared to death of 3 point shots from Curry and Klay. Even playing with Shaq, Kobe outside of very early in his career when he was just a teenager, never received such light attention on a consistent basis in the playoffs. Imagine Steph Curry in his prime in the NBA finals with just a 1/2 of a defender on him. He may put in 8-15 3's per game.

KD played great in his role and dominated in that role but in the context of the situation, it really wasn't that impressive of a performance for any legit NBA star. Calling him the best player in the world based upon those series was a joke.

Even with Rob Williams, I truly don't consider this Celtics team truly great defensively. I feel as though they would still be one really strong bench player away from being the sort of team that just suck the oxygen out of you.

This current series is not over but if Celtics don't lose anyone else to injury, Nets may need Ben Simmons to return healthy to win the series.

Stalwart · Post #66 » by **Stalwart** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 12:20 pm

KD seems to have almost no able to dribble past someone one on one. His one dribble move is a crossover. But even when he successfully crosses a defender his own legs and feet are so lanky that it takes him an extra second to actually get around the defender. But that time the defender has either fully or partially recovered and stops KD from cleanly blowing by him. Then when you throw a help defender at him while he's trying to make his move it stops him altogether.

KD is a much better scorer and player than this series is showing. I think we all know that. But this series is highlighting his relatively limited offensive repertoire compared to someone like Kobe or Lebron. Sure, KD is a killer if allowed to get to his spots. But if you take that away, pressure him, and get physical you can almost neutralize him altogether.

Kobe can be bothered by strong defense and/or have bad shooting nights he can never really be stopped from getting to a spot or getting an open look. At least not for extended periods of time. He can go to the post game if need to. He can also pass well enough to make teams pay for swarming him too much. And of course Lebron's playmaking, physicality, and ability to get the rim makes it extremely hard to neutralize from a physical standpoint. Lebron can be neutralized mentally but not physically.

Onus · Post #67 » by **Onus** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 12:30 pm

soxfan2003 wrote:Steph Curry deserves at least one of KD's Finals MVP. KD is an all-time great player and all time great 1 on 1 ISO/even fast break scorer. Comparing Kobe's stats vs KD is unfair to Kobe since Kobe entered the league in a different era where it was easier to play defense and the floor wasn't as spread. And Kobe came straight from high school and was thrown in the NBA playoffs his rookie year when he wasn't really ready for them.

But in the NBA Finals, KD with the Warriors instead of having 1.5/2 defenders thrown at him which is what a lot of superstar scorers routinely face, he had like a 1/2 of a defender put on him since Warrior opponents were understandable scared to death of 3 point shots from Curry and Klay. Even playing with Shaq, Kobe outside of very early in his career when he was just a teenager, never received such light attention on a consistent basis in the playoffs. Imagine Steph Curry in his prime in the NBA finals with just a 1/2 of a defender on him. He may put in 8-15 3's per game.

KD played great in his role and dominated in that role but in the context of the situation, it really wasn't that impressive of a performance for any legit NBA star. Calling him the best player in the world based upon those series was a joke.

Even with Rob Williams, I truly don't consider this Celtics team truly great defensively. I feel as though they would still be one really strong bench player away from being the sort of team that just suck the oxygen out of you.

This current series is not over but if Celtics don't lose anyone else to injury, Nets may need Ben Simmons to return healthy to win the series.

Curry was the one constantly getting double teamed in the playoffs and finals while Kd was getting singled covered. Crazy that people watched that and came away that Kd was the better player. They were on the same team and coaches told you who they were afraid of first and foremost.

ConstableChaos · Post #68 » by **ConstableChaos** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 12:31 pm

Father Time won his first round v KD

mademan · Post #69 » by **mademan** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 12:34 pm

C's defense has been tremendous, no doubt, but i said this at the end of the season as well; Durant came back from the injury with zero burst or explosion. He used to be able to keep guys off balance with a decently quick first step or burst through a crossover, but man, he looks slow as chit. His incredible skillset covered up for it, but when the shots stop going in, you really see the lack of athleticism.

Papa Time is really undefeated.

RoyceDa59 · Post #70 » by **RoyceDa59** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 12:48 pm

To be fair, Durant is 35 now. Boston is a terrible match up for him.

But career wise, Durant has been an excellent post season scorer/player/closer. Statistically, anecdotally and overall eye test would prove this true. How is this even up for debate?

BrianFitz · Post #71 » by **BrianFitz** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:01 pm

DroseReturnChi wrote:
noreaster23 wrote:Glad to see there's no recency bias in the making of this thread! KD's an all time great. Where you have him on your pantheon is debatable.

The current team he's playing with is garbage. KD can't do everything! Celtics are the #1 defense in the league, no wonder they are focusing all their attention on Durant, given who's on the rest of the team....

His teammates are either way past their primes getting wayyyyy too many minutes (Mills, Dragic, Drummond) or incredibly young and still learning (Edwards, Claxton). Bruce Brown is arguably the 3rd most important player on their team, and though I love his energy, he's not anywhere near good enough to be the 3rd best player on a contender. Seth Curry is a nice 5th starter or 1st man off the bench, so I guess that's ok.

Also, what KD is doing, at 33, coming off a major injury, is heroic! Though I'm a Celtics fan and rooting for the Nets to bow out in 4, next year with a healthy Simmons, and maybe 1 other solid offseason acquisition, I think the Nets will be strong contenders. As currently constructed, it's sad.

wow dude i never thought 33 was retirement age. care to look up what lebron and mj did at 33?
33 is actually some of the peaks if your an all time great. if your already falling off in early 30s ur cooked and done.
KD only shoots he doesnt have insane usage like doncic nor does he defends like MJ. his lazy ass work ethic met his demise after relying on shooting.

Did either of them do it after an injury like KD had? I'll patiently wait for your incoherent answer.

twyzted · Post #72 » by **twyzted** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:12 pm

Rent free baby 8-)

Still mad since KD sonned LeBron back to back in the finals.

KembaWalker · Post #73 » by **KembaWalker** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:16 pm

Kinda dumb to just handwave away every criticism with "Achilles tear!!" He already showed last year what he can do after that injury. If he was coming back from it this year and we hadn't already seen much better play for him then maybe you can give him that excuse.

He can play better and he needs to play better.

Reminds me of the "he's 37!!" chants that the LeBron stans fall back on whenever anyone criticizes his play. It's the top professional league in the world. Criticism is fair, these guys aren't charity cases

PistolPeteJR · Post #74 » by **PistolPeteJR** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:17 pm

PT416 wrote:He's a monster and he's been a monster. He's been so terrible this series though. If he snaps out of it I can see BKN winning the next 4. I wouldn't bet on it though, I think Boston is disrupting him more than him being in a slump.

Tatum is doing to him what Kawhi used to do to Lebron.

Yeah. Kawhi really put the clamps on LeBron in 2013 when the Heat won led by LeBron or in 2014 where LeBron had one of his best postseasons in his career.

primecougar · Post #75 » by **primecougar** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:29 pm

PistolPeteJR wrote:
PT416 wrote:He's a monster and he's been a monster. He's been so terrible this series though. If he snaps out of it I can see BKN winning the next 4. I wouldn't bet on it though, I think Boston is disrupting him more than him being in a slump.

Tatum is doing to him what Kawhi used to do to Lebron.

Yeah. Kawhi really put the clamps on LeBron in 2013 when the Heat won led by LeBron or in 2014 where LeBron had one of his best postseasons in his career.

the year the spurs won, kawahi clamped lebron. there's videos on YouTube showing that lbj scored some 60-70% of his points once the spurs were 15 or more. getting garbage points once the game is over isn't impressive

jfs1000d · Post #76 » by **jfs1000d** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:30 pm

Celtics defense is legit. They are physical. Long and athletic.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tor_Raps · Post #77 » by **Tor_Raps** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:35 pm

I'm guessing we will bump this thread in a few days lol.

lambchop · Post #78 » by **lambchop** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:44 pm

RoyceDa59 wrote:To be fair, Durant is 35 now. Boston is a terrible match up for him.

But career wise, Durant has been an excellent post season scorer/player/closer. Statistically, anecdotally and overall eye test would prove this true. How is this even up for debate?

He's 33 and turns 34 and in September. No need to act like being 33 is clearly the end of the road, especially for someone who never relied on superior leaping ability or blinding speed. Last post season was actually one of his best ones. He was an excellent performer with the warriors as well, but sometimes it's just painful to see him get stripped on his crossovers and pullups jumpers and when he tries to make reads for simple passes they simply don't get there. Gives me 2016 flashbacks.

I hope he bounces back next game.

Wolfgang630 · Post #79 » by **Wolfgang630** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:50 pm

Tor_Raps wrote:I'm guessing we will bump this thread in a few days lol.

It’ll get bumped if he has a bad game or it’ll get bumped if he continues his bad play lol

mademan · Post #80 » by **mademan** » Thu Apr 21, 2022 2:05 pm

primecougar wrote:
PistolPeteJR wrote:
PT416 wrote:He's a monster and he's been a monster. He's been so terrible this series though. If he snaps out of it I can see BKN winning the next 4. I wouldn't bet on it though, I think Boston is disrupting him more than him being in a slump.

Tatum is doing to him what Kawhi used to do to Lebron.

Yeah. Kawhi really put the clamps on LeBron in 2013 when the Heat won led by LeBron or in 2014 where LeBron had one of his best postseasons in his career.

the year the spurs won, kawahi clamped lebron. there's videos on YouTube showing that lbj scored some 60-70% of his points once the spurs were 15 or more. getting garbage points once the game is over isn't impressive

ya'll act like a 10 point lead in the 2nd half is garbage time, lmao.