The Kevin Durant Thread (2016 - 17 Pt. 1)

[Clyde Frazier]

Does anyone have rough timestamps for the topics They discussed?

Will give this a listen but don't have time atm and want to skip to the best parts

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Warriors forward Kevin Durant to discuss his favorite thing about his new team (6:00), LeBron-Barkley beef (12:00), James Harden's leap (19:00), Durant's rivalry with LeBron (29:00), and what Thunder teammate he misses the most (38:00). Then, Roc Nation Sports agent Rich Kleiman joins to talk the 2012 Finals (54:00), "Waiters Island" (61:00), and his most comparable player (68:00).

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-bill-simmons-podcast

Great app for listening to podcasts on the go, btw.

[StepBackCrack]

Quite satisfying game by him tonight. Couldn't ask for more really. That deep 3 over Westbrook gave me life. I missed him attempting shots from that distance.

[Wall34]

I hope KD continues to go off against OKC...they a real disrespectful bunch.

never take your foot off their neck KD.

[StepBackCrack]

I hope KD continues to go off against OKC...they a real disrespectful bunch.
never take your foot off their neck KD.

Yup. He did so much good to that state but all that does not mean **** at all now. So ungrateful. They were disgraceful tonight but that made his performance tonight more satisfying for me. Honestly, it's hard to believe such level of bitterness and hate exist because of a man seeking his own happiness like any normal human being but that's how ugly this sport can get I guess.

[Prez]

Yeah, **** that. There's literally nothing wrong with booing and ripping on a player from a competitive standpoint for bailing on a championship contender to join the team he just choked against. It's basketball. No one is calling for his head literally or treating him like a convicted felon. It's basketball and fans have every right to root against him. I'd get why a KD fan is upset about it, but it is what it is.

[3Diamantidis]

Such a great feeling for a sonics fan tonight. Go KD.

[kayess]

Don't conflate people sports-hating on Durant for leaving for a stacked team and people being legit-hating him for not being on their team.

It's two wildly different things, and while I agree with you in spirit that there are way too many (sad) people in the latter, it's not like it's black and white - fans could totally be thinking "hey man, we really appreciate what you've done for the city and for our team, but you're on GS now, so we're going to good naturedly boo you!" Even Ronaldo got mercilessly booed the second he touched the ball, on his first match back at Old Trafford since leaving ManU - right after he got a standing O during player intros, of course.

KD is absolutely blameless here - many of us would do the same in his situation, and frankly, the "hardest road" **** is a little misunderstood - it is indeed difficult to place nearly unrealistic expectations on you and your team, and then try to surpass them - he can keep saying what people feel don't matter, it's my life, etc. (sometimes even without the media soliciting it, or the question not demanding him going into it), but it is a little amusing.

[StepBackCrack]

Every person who is elite at his job is a competitive person. If he wasn't competitive person, he wouldn't be a hard worker in the first place. He wouldn't be the player that he is if he wasn't competitive. A person who maximizes his potential by working hard his whole career is always competitive. Before the NBA, his life wasn't easy at all. He earned everything he has achieved through his great work ethic. In the end, he earned the right to choose where to play as a free agent and he doesn't owe anyone anything. He is allowed to seek what makes himself happy like any normal human being. Hating/bashing on him for that is hypocritical. He had many good reasons to go where he wanted. And for the record, I was against what Cavs fans did to LeBron when he went to Miami. It's not ok at all imo. You don't have to agree with me on that tho. It's just my opinion.

[StepBackCrack]

Read on Twitter

[Prez]

Every person who is elite at his job is a competitive person. If he wasn't competitive person, he wouldn't be a hard worker in the first place. He wouldn't be the player that he is if he wasn't competitive. A person who maximizes his potential by working hard his whole career is always competitive. Before the NBA, his life wasn't easy at all. He earned everything he has achieved through his great work ethic. In the end, he earned the right to choose where to play as a free agent and he doesn't owe anyone anything. He is allowed to seek what makes himself happy like any normal human being. Hating/bashing on him for that is hypocritical. He had many good reasons to go where he wanted. And for the record, I was against what Cavs fans did to LeBron when he went to Miami. It's not ok at all imo. You don't have to agree with me on that tho. It's just my opinion.

There is just no way you can twist him joining the team that beat his ass not being a weak move from a competitive standpoint. You just can't. Of course no one is saying he's an entirely non-competitive dude in a vacuum. But judging him on the standards of other elite players and greats? Yeah, it's weak as ****.

Literally no one is saying he doesn't have the right to do what he wants, that he doesn't have the right to make the best life decision for him. But at the same time everyone else doesn't have to respect his decision. Basketball fans are going to evaluate this from a basketball perspective, and from a basketball perspective it was extremely weak. Straight up.

[StepBackCrack]

Read on Twitter

[GSP]

That 3pter in Westbrooks face from where Steph pulled up in Okc last season was cold as hell specially with Draymond encouraging it and intiiating the play. That was a splash ball did not even sniff rim. I thought Okc was gonna come back and maybe even scare/clutch it out with how much better theyve been in the clutch than Warriors but that 3 ended all the momentum they had. Game was over

[Nitro1118]

I was happy with how things turned out. They boo'd him a fair amount but it didn't feel over the top. Absolutely nothing compared to LeBron's first game in Cleveland after joining the Heat.

[Wall34]

I have no problem with the fans booing please by all means boo the guy...I was talking the disrespect from his former teammates i mean sheesh lol.

KD should continue to embrace it and try to always beat them.

[StepBackCrack]

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/11/kevin-durant-takes-okcs-best-shot-still-comes-out-on-top/

[spearsy23]

I have no problem with the fans booing please by all means boo the guy...I was talking the disrespect from his former teammates i mean sheesh lol.

KD should continue to embrace it and try to always beat them.

cupcake and his camp have done all the talking, none of the thunder players have said a thing.

[spearsy23]

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/11/kevin-durant-takes-okcs-best-shot-still-comes-out-on-top/

Breaking news: player with best teammates in league gets help from said teammates.

[StepBackCrack]

D was good.

Read on Twitter

[DoubleO8]

Just watches the game. Felt like I wasted space on my dvr though. Didn't think the game would be close just wanted to see the atmosphere in the arena. I don't know why I thought it would be comparable to LeBrons return lol. That deep 3 was nice not exactly team ball but I was hoping to see him go 1 on 1 a little more. KD is a special player he came out and played warriors basketball made 12 fgs but, it's almost like you don't even notice. At least for me personally.

[Prokorov]

i just cant envision a scenario were durant ever comes off good again. i mean he came in played great hit a deep three in okcs face but till comes off terrible. even if he wins multiple titles he will always be the guy who tucked his tail and joined a 70 plus win warriors team.