Durant II - Durant to GSW

nbafan38 · Post #161 » by **nbafan38** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 1:52 am

JulesWinnfield wrote:Rings are obviously a big deal when it comes to legacy (I'd argue way too big a deal) but not all rings are created equally. I just don't see the path for Durant ever making the Warriors his team. When Lebron joined Wade he was better than Wade, younger than Wade, he was never going to surpass Wade in the hearts of Miami fans, but the path was clear for him to make that his squad from a basketball perspective. There was the tug and pull in year 1, but the transfer was inevitable. Durant is joining a better player than him, same age, who just led this team to 73 wins and was a minute away from back to back titles. Have fun with sidekick rings, it's not going to boost that legacy as much as he would hope

But beyond the whole 73 wins and near back to back stuff, it's the whole "can't beat em join em" aspect that's so unsavory. This team beat you. I thought Draymonds took Steven Adams balls, not durants....

The other thing is part of the reason GS beat OKC was that Durant did not play well enough. If he had played better in game 6 OKC would have been in the finals and we probably aren't having this conversation. It's like instead of wanting to improve and taking responsibilioty and avenge a bitter defeat, Durant is taking the easy way out.

JeepCSC · Post #162 » by **JeepCSC** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 1:52 am

Durant is operating at a different level than Lebron. His legacy isn't being compared to Jordan or Shaq, players who won as the man. He could want a title like Drexler or Barkley wanted a title, without ego, just desire. Fact is, he could have won a title this year and been seen as getting a sidekick ring. I don't think that will be a terribly important factor in this.

wco81 · Post #163 » by **wco81** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 1:55 am

He'd be leaving tens of millions on the table over the next 5-6 years if he left.

So there's nothing easy about leaving, if he's indeed leaving.

Nitroglycerin · Post #164 » by **Nitroglycerin** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 1:59 am

Stay in OKC KD

DoubleLintendre · Post #165 » by **DoubleLintendre** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:01 am

JeepCSC wrote:Durant is operating at a different level than Lebron. His legacy isn't being compared to Jordan or Shaq, players who won as the man. He could want a title like Drexler or Barkley wanted a title, without ego, just desire. Fact is, he could have won a title this year and been seen as getting a sidekick ring. I don't think that will be a terribly important factor in this.

I see this way as well.

Durant doesn't strike me as a legacy guy at all. He just wants to win and play for a championship.

Jedi32 · Post #166 » by **Jedi32** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:01 am

MotownMadness wrote:
Old Man Game wrote:Someone help me out, has there ever been a general consensus top 5 player lose to their biggest obstacle in the playoffs and then join them the next season to chase a ring?

It does seem pretty cowardly

Whether folks want to admit it or not the decision paved the way for things like this. Not saying Durant is leaving okc but of he does thank lebron and company for planting the seed.

Post #167 » by **Cactus Jack** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:02 am

Nitroglycerin wrote:Stay in OKC KD

RCM88x · Post #168 » by **RCM88x** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:02 am

Didn't Durant say his decision was only being based on Basketball? Why does everyone keep bringing money into this, I don't think that's really a big part of his decision.

Post #169 » by **bondom34** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:03 am

Cactus Jack wrote:
Nitroglycerin wrote:Stay in OKC KD

You are such a miserable troll.

Post #170 » by **Cactus Jack** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:04 am

bondom34 wrote:
Cactus Jack wrote:
Nitroglycerin wrote:Stay in OKC KD

You are such a miserable troll.

Your right, I am miserable. I hate waiting. :wink:

Ice Trae · Post #171 » by **Ice Trae** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:05 am

Multiple sources are telling me that Durant has decided to sign with the GSW

mtron929 · Post #172 » by **mtron929** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:05 am

I don't get it. Some of the greatest players to ever play the game (Barkley, Malone, Nash, Stockton, CP3) do not have a single ring. And some few of these guys (e.g. Barkley, Malone) are still rated top 20 players of all time by a lot of people. So what are our expectations of Durant? Do people think he is a level above Barkley and Malone? Of course not. So if that is the case, why does Durant need to make it difficult on himself and try to be a man in the title? The most difficult thing to do is for a player caliber of Durant (not as good as guys like Olajuwon or Kobe but better than guys like Pierce and Nash) to win a title as a lone alpha dog.

So I just do not get why such Durant would receive such a backlash if he were to go to the Warriors. What if he wants to be part of a dynasty (e.g. 4 titles) and be one of the best players on that team while playing team ball? What is wrong with this picture here? Isn't this just some stupid bull like an alpha has to have his own team and if he goes to another team that has an alpha, he is a beta. Isn't this like an argument that people stopped having in high school?

Post #173 » by **bondom34** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:05 am

Cactus Jack wrote:
bondom34 wrote:
Cactus Jack wrote:

You are such a miserable troll.

Your right, I am miserable.

You are, and the act is old.

nbafan38 · Post #174 » by **nbafan38** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:06 am

Jedi32 wrote:
MotownMadness wrote:
Old Man Game wrote:Someone help me out, has there ever been a general consensus top 5 player lose to their biggest obstacle in the playoffs and then join them the next season to chase a ring?

It does seem pretty cowardly

Whether folks want to admit it or not the decision paved the way for things like this. Not saying Durant is leaving okc but of he does thank lebron and company for planting the seed.

The lebron super team wasn't even thaty bad, 2 rings in 4 years, but this would just be unprecedented to have a team thisgood. They'd probably actually win less than 73 in the regular season but they'd be unbeatable in the playoffs barring injuries or Lebron recruiting another all star to Cleveland.

Jedi32 · Post #175 » by **Jedi32** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:10 am

Benedict_Boozer wrote:
nbafan38 wrote:
I'm kind of surprised after what Lebron went through another player is going to go this route especially a lowkey guy like Durant who would face a lot of backlash and media frenzy on the warriors. For a player who's gotten fairly little criticsm throughout his career, every move on GS would be scrutinized.

The thing is, right now Durant really isn't even scrutinized because no one cares. He might be thinking to himself at least now he would be in the limelight and if he succeeded would be known as a cog on one of the greatest teams of all time.

Put another way right now he is an afterthought in the Lebron era long term. If he goes to GS and racks up rings at least he could get out of that shadow.

This assumes he is the alpha. If he is beta to Curry then this move is a big mistake any way you slice it legacy wise.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Nah a player of Durant's caliber is never an afterthought. I can see him wanting to rack up rings and come back to okc later like lebron did.

Post #176 » by **Cactus Jack** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:10 am

bondom34 wrote:
Cactus Jack wrote:
bondom34 wrote:You are such a miserable troll.

Your right, I am miserable.

You are, and the act is old.

I'm out. Later.

Nitroglycerin · Post #177 » by **Nitroglycerin** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:10 am

Its not about legacy. It is just that people know the threat of what can happen. Its one thing to create a big 3 of KG-Pierce-Allen or Lebron-Wade-Bosh.
But a 73-9 team adding a superstar like KD? Its over. And nobody in their right mind besides Oaklanders wants that to happen. And if it does happen, everyone will be hatin on KD for a while

RingsDontLie · Post #178 » by **RingsDontLie** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:10 am

If it's about money, he goes to OKC. If it's about basketball, he goes to golden state. End of story.

baldur · Post #179 » by **baldur** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:11 am

RCM88x wrote:Didn't Durant say his decision was only being based on Basketball? Why does everyone keep bringing money into this, I don't think that's really a big part of his decision.

it could be but i dont understand the logic why he couldnt make a promise that he would stay in okc for a long term , when horford asked him that.

JeepCSC · Post #180 » by **JeepCSC** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:12 am

The Lebron super team probably had more top-end talent (Wade and Lebron were arguably the two best players in 2010), but the Warriors would be deeper. Imagine the 72-win Bulls adding Ewing. Would be just kind of silly.