Durant On Final Play: 'I Didn't Know What Else to Do'

[MrToad]

http://newsok.com/game-4-loss-a-painful-one-for-thunders-kevin-durant/article/3570888?custom_click=rss

On the biggest play of the series, the final play of regulation, Kevin Durant caught the ball at halfcourt, but when he looked toward the basket, he saw three Mavs coming at him.

So, he shot from at least 8 feet behind the three-point line.

“I didn't know what else to do,” he said, the frustration obvious in his voice. “I didn't want to run into their defense and get another turnover.”

I think this sums up the frustration with Brooks. People have been complaining about this team's lack of a halfcourt offense, and especially late game set-plays, all year long. We worried it would crop up at the worst possible time. Here we are.

We have a ton of individual talent. Putting them in an offensive framework that amplifies their talent will make life better for the stars and sets up Thabo, Perkins, and others whom aren't quite so gifted on the offensive end for some high-percentage shots. Great coaching is getting the most out of everyone, not just letting your stars do their thing.

The question is why Brooks hasn't been able to do that. These guys are young, but they've been playing in offensive schemes since they were 10 years old. No reason they can't do it successfully now.

[miltk]

harden and westy have to start together,,,it is inevitable. sefolosha can be michael cooper. only thing upsetting this idea is if okc likes harden's scoring off the bench.

westy doesn't yet understand how to massage the half court and it'll take time(mainly he always plays in 5th gear and playing pg requires patience). harden otoh is more polished. i think together, they can be a combo pg/sg duo with neither assuming any specific duties....a throwback to the old days when there was no such specifics as "pg" or "sg". when westy learns to square up on his jumpers, fuggetaboutit...okc will have the best guard duo in the L....it'll be scary.

[bbms]

Scott Brooks is the one who should tell him.

[HeartSouloma]

Scott Brooks is the one who should tell him.

And this is why he can't coach for crap, and we are going to stick with this fool for years to come.

[slick_watts]

http://nbaplaybook.com/2011/05/24/did-k ... inal-play/

Durant broke off the play, probably because it seemed slow developing and he might not have gotten the ball if he flared out and Westbrook would have had to take a contested shot.

It seemed like a weird play to run to close the game, something that would have trouble being executed with the amount of attention Dallas was giving Westbrook and Durant.

[Devilanche]

Everyone knows our last shot routine already. We should just givethabo the ball and give him an open 3 or let him cut to the basket.

Actually it might not be such a bad shot than having 2-3 defenders on you.

[Earl Sweatshirt]

http://nbaplaybook.com/2011/05/24/did-kevin-durant-blow-that-final-play/

Durant broke off the play, probably because it seemed slow developing and he might not have gotten the ball if he flared out and Westbrook would have had to take a contested shot.

It seemed like a weird play to run to close the game, something that would have trouble being executed with the amount of attention Dallas was giving Westbrook and Durant.

The ball would have never even gotten to Durant. Nowtizki was already cheating over, and Marion had been in passing lanes all game.

[jwilliamson23]

I think we need to just have better sets in general, KD isn't the type of scorer that we can just give him the ball and offense will work around that. (ie Dirk, Kobe, Lebron) he can't really create plays for other people unless he's doubled. At times we looked like the old Cavs, where we would just watch Lebron, I mean Kevin try and score. We could be efficent, running the 2004 Pistons type sets, KD= Hamilton with Serge playing the Wallace type roll on the Pick and Pops, if he can stay consistant with his jumper, 18fters and such. their offense managed to get Ben Wallace a Bucket every now and then, their that team wasn't as explosive offensively as we are, if we integrated some of those half court sets, we could be a lot more efficient, plus add our explosiveness and talent to our fast break game. I think it could work.

[BIG EDDIE]

I think we need to just have better sets in general, KD isn't the type of scorer that we can just give him the ball and offense will work around that. (ie Dirk, Kobe, Lebron) he can't really create plays for other people unless he's doubled. At times we looked like the old Cavs, where we would just watch Lebron, I mean Kevin try and score. We could be efficent, running the 2004 Pistons type sets, KD= Hamilton with Serge playing the Wallace type roll on the Pick and Pops, if he can stay consistant with his jumper, 18fters and such. their offense managed to get Ben Wallace a Bucket every now and then, their that team wasn't as explosive offensively as we are, if we integrated some of those half court sets, we could be a lot more efficient, plus add our explosiveness and talent to our fast break game. I think it could work.

Of course it COULD work, but you need a coach to implement that kind of offense.
You think Scott Brooks can/will do that? Hmmm, I don't think so.

[jwilliamson23]

BIG EDDIE: I completely agree with you, I don't think Brooks can do that at all. I like him, has good energy but I don't know how great of a Coach he is, and our failure to get good plays in these late game situations is exposing him. I want to say that it WILL work, but who am I to make that call. which is why i said it COULD.

[Earl Sweatshirt]

I think we need to just have better sets in general, KD isn't the type of scorer that we can just give him the ball and offense will work around that. (ie Dirk, Kobe, Lebron) he can't really create plays for other people unless he's doubled. At times we looked like the old Cavs, where we would just watch Lebron, I mean Kevin try and score. We could be efficent, running the 2004 Pistons type sets, KD= Hamilton with Serge playing the Wallace type roll on the Pick and Pops, if he can stay consistant with his jumper, 18fters and such. their offense managed to get Ben Wallace a Bucket every now and then, their that team wasn't as explosive offensively as we are, if we integrated some of those half court sets, we could be a lot more efficient, plus add our explosiveness and talent to our fast break game. I think it could work.

What?

[richboy]

Brooks doesn't utilize the talent on this team. Durant has the size to PF. Westbrook has the size to play some SG. Yet he is stuck with the same rotations and lineups. Didn't even put Cook in the game on the last possession of regulation.

Against this Dallas team our last 4 minute lineup should be Westbrook, Cook, Harden, Durant, Collison. Yet forever reason Brooks seems afraid to move guys from natural positions. He consistently finishes games with non scorers. Time in and time again wonders why the team can't finish games.

[jwilliamson23]

I think we need to just have better sets in general, KD isn't the type of scorer that we can just give him the ball and offense will work around that. (ie Dirk, Kobe, Lebron) he can't really create plays for other people unless he's doubled. At times we looked like the old Cavs, where we would just watch Lebron, I mean Kevin try and score. We could be efficent, running the 2004 Pistons type sets, KD= Hamilton with Serge playing the Wallace type roll on the Pick and Pops, if he can stay consistant with his jumper, 18fters and such. their offense managed to get Ben Wallace a Bucket every now and then, their that team wasn't as explosive offensively as we are, if we integrated some of those half court sets, we could be a lot more efficient, plus add our explosiveness and talent to our fast break game. I think it could work.

What?

Im confused by your question?