The Kevin Durant Thread

[starvinmarvin17]

Im not seeing the improved defense yet? He looked better last year

[starvinmarvin17]

Also the passing has improved but still too much turnovers on crucial
Moments especially when he passes on the move. The improvement is there... Though. Otoh his scoribg is leaps amd bounds better if that is even possible. His shooting is at goat level historically too

[Chalky White]

Im not seeing the improved defense yet? He looked better last year

Perhaps your eyes are betraying you, or you aren't properly analyzing his defense?

Having improved his team and post defense to compliment his already very good isolation defense has him playing great defense this season. This is evident when you watch him play if you're looking for the right things, but is also legitimized by his defensive numbers.

He's improved his overall defensive awareness and activity, is blocking jump shots and shots at the rim, disrupting passing lanes, showing the versatility to switch onto and defend the 2-5, his defensive lapses are becoming more and more scare, and he's a monster on the defensive glass. What's not to like?

[starvinmarvin17]

Im not seeing the improved defense yet? He looked better last year

Perhaps your eyes are betraying you, or you aren't properly analyzing his defense?

Having improved his team and post defense to compliment his already very good isolation defense has him playing great defense this season. This is evident when you watch him play if you're looking for the right things, but is also legitimized by his defensive numbers.

He's improved his overall defensive awareness and activity, is blocking jump shots and shots at the rim, disrupting passing lanes, showing the versatility to switch onto and defend the 2-5, his defensive lapses are becoming more and more scare, and he's a monster on the defensive glass. What's not to like?

What I did see is him playing good d on Kay Thompson but then getting abused by David lee I saw him try to front and get abused by the lob also. Then scotty brooks did what he always does and took him off lee. I'm sure he has improved but its not this astronomical thing I thought I was going to see. As this is a Durant thread it should be a game by game analysis of what he is doing well and what he is not.

[nikomCH]

If he keeps this up for the entire season and dominates in the PS we'll be looking at a top 10-12 peak of all time.

[Chalky White]

Im not seeing the improved defense yet? He looked better last year

Perhaps your eyes are betraying you, or you aren't properly analyzing his defense?

Having improved his team and post defense to compliment his already very good isolation defense has him playing great defense this season. This is evident when you watch him play if you're looking for the right things, but is also legitimized by his defensive numbers.

He's improved his overall defensive awareness and activity, is blocking jump shots and shots at the rim, disrupting passing lanes, showing the versatility to switch onto and defend the 2-5, his defensive lapses are becoming more and more scare, and he's a monster on the defensive glass. What's not to like?

What I did see is him playing good d on Kay Thompson but then getting abused by David lee I saw him try to front and get abused by the lob also. Then scotty brooks did what he always does and took him off lee. I'm sure he has improved but its not this astronomical thing I thought I was going to see. As this is a Durant thread it should be a game by game analysis of what he is doing well and what he is not.

David Lee went 1/4 against Durant in the post, and had his shot blocked twice. He switched from Lee back to the perimeter when Ibaka subbed back into the game, for obvious reasons.

[NaturalThunder]

David Lee went 1/4 against Durant in the post, and had his shot blocked twice. He switched from Lee back to the perimeter when Ibaka subbed back into the game, for obvious reasons.

Thank you. StarvinMarvin or someone else said the exact same thing (Lee dominated Durant in the post) and I was beginning to question whether they actually watched the game or not. I couldn't remember how often he defended Lee, but I do distinctly remember him blocking two Lee shots from the post.

[SideshowBob]

Durant - Martin - Westbrook lineup is putting up a 120.1 ORTG in 704.3 minutes. That's well ahead of the Durant - Harden - Westbrook lineup from last year, which was at 117.5 in 1167.0 minutes.

[Krodis]

Durant is up to .659 TS%. Insane. Almost at what Harden was at last year, which I considered insane at HIS volume.

[ardee]

Durant - Martin - Westbrook lineup is putting up a 120.1 ORTG in 704.3 minutes. That's well ahead of the Durant - Harden - Westbrook lineup from last year, which was at 117.5 in 1167.0 minutes.

I suppose a pure shooter is superior to another slasher in this setting. Ball moves better with Martin also.

[JordansBulls]

Thoughts on today's game? Seems like OKC don't play too hot in there new jersey's.

[starvinmarvin17]

I see the same mediocre d as before. Jumpin on shot fakes. Overhelping on metta leading to open threes did the same in the finals when d'ing up battier, miller and chalmers and lebron abused this aspect of his d. Ive noticed he plays bad d when he is frustated otoh he plays above average when he is doing well tbh. Worst issue even though hia playmaking has improved he is nowhere near the ball park of even kobe. To much forced passes that lead to tunrovers in the fourth when he should be shooting those. Again as i stated earliar his scoring kida offsets his lack luster playmaking but some nights its not enough. Also needs to be more
Decisive on when to pass and when to shoot. Tonight he did nothing on the glass after a good rebounding night the other day. Sometimes he seems to offset bad shooting nights with multiple trips to the line. (deserved or not you be the judge) thats my two cents will continue to analyze his good and bad games as the season progresses. Byw both westbrick and wade made damn sure neither lbj or durant move up in the mvp rankings tonight

[SideshowBob]

Game against Grizzlies tonight, #2 defense in the league.

Here's how he's fared against top 5 defenses this season so far (CHI, MEM, IND, SAS, LAC). Average DRTG faced of 100.5 (-4.9).

Code: Select all

G  MP    PTS    TRB    AST    STL    BLK    TOV   TS%    eFG%   GmSc   ORTG
7  41.4  27.7   7.9    4.4    2.1    1.1    4.7  .614   .534    21.4   111

Per36

Code: Select all

G  MP    PTS    TRB    AST    STL    BLK    TOV   TS%    eFG%   GmSc   ORTG
7  36.0  24.1   6.8    3.8    1.9    1.0    4.1  .614   .534    18.6   111

If we reduce it to -5.0 defenses only (IND, MEM, SAS)

Code: Select all

G  MP    PTS    TRB    AST    STL    BLK    TOV   TS%    eFG%   GmSc   ORTG
4  40.9  25.8   9.5    4.5    1.5    1.3    4.3  .575   .493    19.8   107

Per36

Code: Select all

G  MP    PTS    TRB    AST    STL    BLK    TOV   TS%    eFG%   GmSc   ORTG
4  36.0  22.7   8.4    4.0    1.3    1.1    3.7  .575   .493    17.4   107

[JordansBulls]

I expect a big game tonight considering they already lost at home this year to Memphis.

[NaturalThunder]

He had, what, 27-7-6 on 10/16 shooting on Thursday night? I know it's not the same since he wasn't being defended by Gay, though. Allen, as great of a defender as he is, doesn't give Durant much trouble given the 6-7 inch height difference. Gay at least has the length and and size to bother KD a little more.

[fallacy]

This probably deserves to be posted in his own thread



In terms of PPP, he is the only player that is in the top 20 in every single aspect of offense from every single angle. He literally has no weakness on offense.

Total PPP: 1.13 - 9th
Isolation: .98 - 13th
Handling P&R: .89 - 20th
Post-up: 1.08 - 2nd
Screen P&R: 1.25 - 8th
Spot-up: 1.36 - 8th
Off screen: 1.06 - 16th
Cut: 1.66 - 1st
Transition: 1.47 - 5th
All others: .71 - 11th

[SideshowBob]

Big 3 Lineup breakdown

Durant + Westbrook (No Martin)

ORTG: 108.7 (+3.4)
DRTG: 101.2 (-4.1)
Net: +7.5 in 843.3 minutes

Durant + Martin (No Westbrook)

ORTG: 116.1 (+10.8)
DRTG: 103.6 (-1.7)
Net: +12.5 in 264.9 minutes

Westbrook + Martin (No Durant)

ORTG: 105.7 (+0.4)
DRTG: 101.2 (-4.1)
Net: +4.5 in 125.9 minutes

Durant + Martin + Westbrook

ORTG: 120.8 (+15.5)
DRTG: 106.1 (+0.8)
Net: +14.7 in 761.8 minutes

[PCProductions]

Big 3 Lineup breakdown

Durant + Westbrook (No Martin)

ORTG: 108.7 (+3.4)
DRTG: 101.2 (-4.1)
Net: +7.5 in 843.3 minutes

Durant + Martin (No Westbrook)

ORTG: 116.1 (+10.8)
DRTG: 103.6 (-1.7)
Net: +12.5 in 264.9 minutes

Westbrook + Martin (No Durant)



ORTG: 105.7 (+0.4)
DRTG: 101.2 (-4.1)
Net: +4.5 in 125.9 minutes

Durant + Martin + Westbrook

ORTG: 120.8 (+15.5)
DRTG: 106.1 (+0.8)
Net: +14.7 in 761.8 minutes

This data is very perplexing from a defensive standpoint.

[GSP]

How come they have most of their minutes with Perkins or Ibaka then with Thabo if Martin is not it. 2 of those 3 are very bad offensively and one is below average but theyre all strong defensively and Perkins currently has the worst offensive Rapm for any player with significant minutes at -3.5.

[Blkbrd671]

Ridiculous player, he also doesn't get enough credit for the amount of ppl he dunks on. There's a video of him taking battier from the the 3 point line all the way to the rim and dunking on him.