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

[KD35Brah]

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[JordansBulls]

Wow!!

[Ryoga Hibiki]

My only problem with this is that I would expect the Warriors to still win even with Harrison Barnes in his place, with a healthy Curry.
He's doing fantastic, but I'm noy sure the added value is as much as the raw numbers would suggest.

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[Scizzup]

My only problem with this is that I would expect the Warriors to still win even with Harrison Barnes in his place, with a healthy Curry.
He's doing fantastic, but I'm noy sure the added value is as much as the raw numbers would suggest.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

are we pretending KD doesn't change the way the Cavs are defending GSW and Curry. You can't just focus on trying to get the ball out of Curry hands and having Dray and Barnes/Iggy shoot

[StepBackCrack]

Since his major injury in 2015, he has been underrated and kind of irrelevant when it comes to the big picture. I'm pretty sure he felt he was underappreciated by many after the injury. It was frustrating. He came 5th in MVP race in 2016 despite having a great RS. It's like people forgot his greatness. All of a sudden Kawhi, Russ and Curry are considered better players than him by many. Kevin felt like old news and ignored. Curry, Leonard, Westbrook and Harden were more relevant than him after his injury despite them not being greater players.

The only way for him to be relevant again and get the appreciation his talent truly deserves? Win it all playing at all-time great level. That's the only way. As much as he is hated now, at least he is getting some appreciation that he deserves by the media now and they can't ignore him now because he is winning at the same time and playing at all-time great level at the biggest stage. I'm so happy he made that decision because I know very well that he would end up pretty underrated if nothing changed. There was a chance that his career would have faded into irrelevancy if nothing changed but thankfully that's not the case now. Couldn't be more happier for him after all the bad luck with injuries.

[Prez]

Since his major injury in 2015, he has been underrated and kind of irrelevant when it comes to the big picture. I'm pretty sure he felt he was underappreciated by many after the injury. It was frustrating. He came 5th in MVP race in 2016 despite having a great RS. It's like people forgot his greatness. All of a sudden Kawhi, Russ and Curry are considered better players than him by many. Kevin felt like old news and ignored. Curry, Leonard, Westbrook and Harden were more relevant than him after his injury despite them not being greater players.

The only way for him to be relevant again and get the appreciation his talent truly deserves? Win it all playing at all-time great level. That's the only way. As much as he is hated now, at least he is getting some appreciation that he deserves by the media now and they can't ignore him now because he is winning at the same time and playing at all-time great level at the biggest stage. I'm so happy he made that decision because I know very well that he would end up pretty underrated if nothing changed. There was a chance that his career would have faded into irrelevancy if nothing changed but thankfully that's not the case now. Couldn't be more happier for him after all the bad luck with injuries.

Or maybe he was properly rated for not actually accomplishing anything in between his MVP and this season to clearly put him over the likes of Kawhi/Westbrook/Curry, and is now being slightly overrated by a one series sample size against a pretty terrible finals defense and performing on a team that could very realistically win it all without him and offers him a comical level of defensive pressure release that no other non-GSW superstar in the league benefits from.

[StepBackCrack]

Since his major injury in 2015, he has been underrated and kind of irrelevant when it comes to the big picture. I'm pretty sure he felt he was underappreciated by many after the injury. It was frustrating. He came 5th in MVP race in 2016 despite having a great RS. It's like people forgot his greatness. All of a sudden Kawhi, Russ and Curry are considered better players than him by many. Kevin felt like old news and ignored. Curry, Leonard, Westbrook and Harden were more relevant than him after his injury despite them not being greater players.

The only way for him to be relevant again and get the appreciation his talent truly deserves? Win it all playing at all-time great level. That's the only way. As much as he is hated now, at least he is getting some appreciation that he deserves by the media now and they can't ignore him now because he is winning at the same time and playing at all-time great level at the biggest stage. I'm so happy he made that decision because I know very well that he would end up pretty underrated if nothing changed. There was a chance that his career would have faded into irrelevancy if nothing changed but thankfully that's not the case now. Couldn't be more happier for him after all the bad luck with injuries.

Or maybe he was properly rated for not actually accomplishing anything in between his MVP and this season to clearly put him over the likes of Kawhi/Westbrook/Curry, and is now being slightly overrated by a one series sample size against a pretty terrible finals defense and performing on a team that could very realistically win it all without him and offers him a comical level of defensive pressure release that no other non-GSW superstar in the league benefits from.

No, he wasn't probably rated. He was underrated. He didn't make 1st team all NBA in 2016 when he should have. He was better than Kawhi and he showed that in the playoffs when he outplayed him. And he isn't being overrated in these finals. He has been the best player clearly playing elite on both ends of the floor. This is his peak and has been a huge difference maker in this series. If you can't see that, then I can't help you.

[StepBackCrack]

He is clearly the 2nd most talented player in the world and there is no shame in that considering that LBJ is actually a top 2 talent of all-times if not the best talent ever. If Durant keep this up and win FMVP, he will be considered top 2 at worst by most which is where he should be considering his talent. It will be fully deserved considering the all-time great level he is showing on the court.

[Scizzup]

Since his major injury in 2015, he has been underrated and kind of irrelevant when it comes to the big picture. I'm pretty sure he felt he was underappreciated by many after the injury. It was frustrating. He came 5th in MVP race in 2016 despite having a great RS. It's like people forgot his greatness. All of a sudden Kawhi, Russ and Curry are considered better players than him by many. Kevin felt like old news and ignored. Curry, Leonard, Westbrook and Harden were more relevant than him after his injury despite them not being greater players.

The only way for him to be relevant again and get the appreciation his talent truly deserves? Win it all playing at all-time great level. That's the only way. As much as he is hated now, at least he is getting some appreciation that he deserves by the media now and they can't ignore him now because he is winning at the same time and playing at all-time great level at the biggest stage. I'm so happy he made that decision because I know very well that he would end up pretty underrated if nothing changed. There was a chance that his career would have faded into irrelevancy if nothing changed but thankfully that's not the case now. Couldn't be more happier for him after all the bad luck with injuries.

Or maybe he was properly rated for not actually accomplishing anything in between his MVP and this season to clearly put him over the likes of Kawhi/Westbrook/Curry, and is now being slightly overrated by a one series sample size against a pretty terrible finals defense and performing on a team that could very realistically win it all without him and offers him a comical level of defensive pressure release that no other non-GSW superstar in the league benefits from.

Curry was clearly better in 15/16 but not sure Kawhi/Russ had a case over him in 16 RS. #4 on RAPM behind Dray/Bron/Curry but his playoffs tanked his overall year. had a surprising awful series vs Dallas even though he was great vs Spurs. Was okay with Kawhi getting 1st team due to record though.

[StepBackCrack]

Yes, Steph was clearly better in 16. There is no doubt about that. Don't agree with Kawhi being over him, however.

[ardee]

Good player but horrible person

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[Scizzup]

Good player but horrible person

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lol why? from all I have seen/heard he seems to be a stand up guy off the court. Or is this just regarding the move?

[ardee]

Good player but horrible person

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lol why? from all I have seen/heard he is actually a nice person. Or is this just regarding the move?

The move, his treatment of his former teammates and organization, and how he suddenly is acting like Mr Tough Guy in the Finals, as if he's doing it all in the face of adversity, when really he's got the cushiest job in basketball

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[Scizzup]

Good player but horrible person

Sent from my SM-J700F using RealGM mobile app

lol why? from all I have seen/heard he is actually a nice person. Or is this just regarding the move?

The move, his treatment of his former teammates and organization, and how he suddenly is acting like Mr Tough Guy in the Finals, as if he's doing it all in the face of adversity, when really he's got the cushiest job in basketball

Sent from my SM-J700F using RealGM mobile app

did he say anything about them recently? Serge/Perkins/Caron Butler still seem to be close to him and if you believe Perkins him and westbrook have talked since. I think he is in a tough spot to show any emotion during games rn due to the recency of the move lol

he has always been a underrated trash talker.

[Prez]

No, he wasn't probably rated. He was underrated. He didn't make 1st team all NBA in 2016 when he should have. He was better than Kawhi and he showed than in the playoffs when he outplayed him. And he isn't being overrated in these finals. He has been the best player clearly playing elite on both ends of the floor. This is his peak and has been a huge difference maker in this series. If you can't see that, then I can't help you.

Do you also think Kyrie > Steph last year? One series doesn't definitively prove player X > player Y. And even if we assume it does, you can't then ignore that Westbrook arguably outplayed him for their last two playoff runs together, and arguably same for Curry in the WCF along with being the B2B MVP.

And the claim that he 'should've been' 1st team all NBA over Kawhi isn't close to certain. Kawhi had a great case for being better than Durant in the RS, at worst it's a close call. And Kawhi was better than KD this year and was busting his ass in game 1 before he got hurt.

And again, yes he is being a bit overrated when there are people legitimately questioning or even flat out declaring he's as good or has surpassed LeBron because of this series. Or when we're seemingly trying to paint this series as some kind of 'this is how good he really is, he's finally showing it fully!' type of scenario. He's been incredible these past two games. It's still not going to just erase what's happened the past 3 years and give him some clear-cut edge over those guys who have earned the right to be in that conversation.

[StepBackCrack]

No, he wasn't probably rated. He was underrated. He didn't make 1st team all NBA in 2016 when he should have. He was better than Kawhi and he showed than in the playoffs when he outplayed him. And he isn't being overrated in these finals. He has been the best player clearly playing elite on both ends of the floor. This is his peak and has been a huge difference maker in this series. If you can't see that, then I can't help you.

Do you also think Kyrie > Steph last year? One series doesn't definitively prove player X > player Y. And even if we assume it does, you can't then ignore that Westbrook arguably outplayed him for their last two playoff runs together, and arguably same for Curry in the WCF along with being the B2B MVP.

And the claim that he 'should've been' 1st team all NBA over Kawhi isn't close to certain. Kawhi had a great case for being better than Durant in the RS, at worst it's a close call. And Kawhi was better than KD this year and was busting his ass in game 1 before he got hurt.

And again, yes he is being a bit overrated when there are quite a few people legitimately questioning or even flat out declaring he's surpassed LeBron because of this series. Or when we're seemingly trying to paint this series as some kind of 'this is how good he really is, he's finally showing it fully!' type of scenario. He's been incredible these past two games. It's still not going to just erase what's happened the past 3 years give him some clear-cut edge over those guys who have earned the right to be in that conversation.

Comparing 2 MVP-level players (Kawhi and KD) vs Comparing All-Star (Kyrie) with an MVP-level player (Steph). 2 totally different things. Plus Kawhi wasn't better than KD this year. Before his injury this season, Durant was having a peak year apart from his 3pt%. He is a clearly a better all-around player than Kawhi and Westbrook as well.

He isn't considered the best yet. 90% if not more still consider LBJ the best. "He is the best" is just a reflection of his all-time great level in this finals so far and he deserves credit for that performance. That's all.

[StepBackCrack]

Nothing wrong with calling him 2nd best though. This season is his peak season not 2014. His defense is better than ever.

[Prez]

Comparing 2 MVP-level players (Kawhi and KD vs Comparing All star (Kyrie) with an MVP player (Steph). 2 totally different things.

That difference only further goes against your argument. The fact that a mere regular all-star like Kyrie could destroy the back to back MVP should tell you how unreliable it is to use one series matchup to compare players.

Plus Kawhi wasn't better than KD this year. Before his injury this season, Durant was having a peak year apart from his 3pt%. He is a clearly a better all-around player than Kawhi and Westbrook as well.

Yeah he was. This is recency bias at its finest. Raw production, impact metrics, nothing over the full season points to Durant being 'clearly' better than those guys.

[StepBackCrack]

Comparing 2 MVP-level players (Kawhi and KD vs Comparing All star (Kyrie) with an MVP player (Steph). 2 totally different things.

That difference only further goes against your argument. The fact that a mere regular all-star like Kyrie could destroy the back to back MVP should tell you how unreliable it is to use one series matchup to compare players.

Plus Kawhi wasn't better than KD this year. Before his injury this season, Durant was having a peak year apart from his 3pt%. He is a clearly a better all-around player than Kawhi and Westbrook as well.

Yeah he was. This is recency bias at its finest. Raw production, impact metrics, nothing over the full season points to Durant being 'clearly' better than those guys.

He is FAR better defender than Westbrook, has higher BB IQ and way more efficient than him offensively. He is much better playmaker than Kawhi, better offensively in general and a better rim protector. But yeah, "Nothing" points to him being better than those guys. As if his level in the finals is just a fluke and not a reflection of his talent and how much he improved this seaosn.

[StepBackCrack]

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Durant won the biggest "2nd best player in the NBA" poll this season despite being extremely hated yet apparently me thinking he is better than Kawhi and Russ is just a recency bias. Ok.