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

StepBackCrack · Post #741 » by **StepBackCrack** » Sun Jun 11, 2017 10:04 pm

Eddy_JukeZ wrote:Needs to show up huge in game 5.

Because I don't think Lebron will go down without a fight and it doesn't look like Kyrie will either.

Pivotal game.

Agreed.

Post #742 » by **Quotatious** » Sun Jun 11, 2017 10:20 pm

KD_Steph wrote:
Quotatious wrote:
PockyCandy wrote:I'm ready for the epic Durant vs LeBron duel that everyone has been waiting for since 2014. 50 point games by both guys, and clutch shots in the fourth quarter.

As great as that duel can be right now, I thought it was at its best in 2012 finals, when they had comparable supporting casts, and were both playing at the top of their game. It's hard to ignore the fact that Durant has a lot more help right now.

Durant was 23 back then. Whereas LeBron was 27 at the peak of his ability and have much more experience. Durant is much better player now. Much more experienced. Heat back then had more talent and much better coaching unlike OKC. Sop >>> Brooks. Playing Perkins so many minutes hurt them badly.

It's true Durant has more help now but he is playing better than ever and at LeBron's level in this finals so far. That matters a lot. He is living up to the expectations. Winning isn't enough for him. He has to play at his very best. Otherwise, he won't deserve much credit. Thanks to him they are 3-1 in this series so far.

Not to take anything away from Durant's performance right now (which is absolutely awesome), but it's hard to overstate how easy he has it, how favorable his team situation is, to perform the way he is right now. Much more so than in 2012, when he was the clear-cut alpha dog on his team, much like LeBron on his. It was before Westbrook entered his GOATbrook mode, he was just a very good star player, but not close to where Curry is right now, and the rest of that Thunder team was also much worse than the rest of current GSW (Green and Thompson >>> 2012 Ibaka/Harden, IMO - role players are also in favor of Golden State, mainly because of Iguodala).

Durant has put himself in a situation where it's hard for most of us to give him a lot of credit for winning the title, because nobody in NBA history had done anything close to joining a record-setting team that won 73 games, very nearly repeated as champions, and had the same core the next year. It's completely unprecedented. Basically KD has made the situation look like "championship or bust". That's why leading the Thunder to the finals and losing to the Heat in 2012 (but playing pretty well individually, outscoring LeBron on much higher shooting percentage), while beating a Spurs team that won 14 playoff games in a row, is every bit as impressive as winning the title this year, IMO.

JordansBulls · Post #743 » by **JordansBulls** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 2:39 am

I wonder do you play him the entire 2nd half now at this point?

Post #744 » by **Goudelock** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:34 am

KD has been amazing.

Senior · Post #745 » by **Senior** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:44 am

man, I can't wait to dismiss Durant's season until the end of time because of his teammates like we do with every other superstar

looking forward to many productive debates on this season

SideshowBob · Post #746 » by **SideshowBob** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:46 am

Congrats Kev!

JordansBulls · Post #747 » by **JordansBulls** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:46 am

One of the purest titles won since 2010.

TheGOATRises007 · Post #748 » by **TheGOATRises007** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:48 am

He stepped up big time.

Well deserved. Happy for him.

primopastalove2 · Post #749 » by **primopastalove2** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:49 am

IMO he is the 2nd greatest scorer ever.

WinisKing · Post #750 » by **WinisKing** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:49 am

Congratulations KD, probably the greatest scoring Finals series ever

Post #751 » by **Moonbeam** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:51 am

Great series for Durant. I know he gets a ton of hate for choosing to go to Golden State, and yes, it did take a lot of air out of the competitive balloon, so to speak, but still. What a player.

ceiling raiser · Post #752 » by **ceiling raiser** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:51 am

Congrats KD.

Who's the guy with the most pressure on him next to win his first (setting aside pressure to repeat by GSW, CLE)? CP3? Maybe Davis? EDIT: Maybe Harden? Would name Westbrook but I think he needs support before we get to that point.

I'm sure some shock jocks in the media will mention Melo lol

Bruh Man · Post #753 » by **Bruh Man** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:58 am

fpliii wrote:Congrats KD.

Who's the guy with the most pressure on him next to win his first (setting aside pressure to repeat by GSW, CLE)? CP3? Maybe Davis?

Too early for Davis and the CP3 ship has sailed. Harden or Westbrook maybe but it's not happening for them against this Warriors superteam.

RSCD3_ · Post #754 » by **RSCD3_** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:58 am

fpliii wrote:Congrats KD.

Who's the guy with the most pressure on him next to win his first (setting aside pressure to repeat by GSW, CLE)? CP3? Maybe Davis?

CP3 doesn't have that much pressure because the media and all that have passed him by.

Harden? Kawhi? Russell doesn't have a good enough team. A lot of the secondary guys like George and others don't have them either.

Davis and cousins have a lot of pressure to make the playoffs.

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eminence · Post #755 » by **eminence** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:59 am

fpliii wrote:Congrats KD.

Who's the guy with the most pressure on him next to win his first (setting aside pressure to repeat by GSW, CLE)? CP3? Maybe Davis?

I think CP3 has kind of been left behind in these expectations by most unfortunately.

ceiling raiser · Post #756 » by **ceiling raiser** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:59 am

Bruh Man wrote:
fpliii wrote:Congrats KD.

Who's the guy with the most pressure on him next to win his first (setting aside pressure to repeat by GSW, CLE)? CP3? Maybe Davis?

Too early for Davis and the CP3 ship has sailed. Harden or Westbrook maybe but it's not happening for them against this Warriors superteam.

Well if Chris Paul goes to the Spurs I could see it. Then it would be about his first, and Kawhi winning without Timmy.

I edited in Harden and Westbrook. I don't think Russ can be expected to win until he gets help. Harden maybe, yeah.

Alphabet · Post #757 » by **Alphabet** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:00 am

as much as i disagree with his decision to join the Warriors, this is what he came here for, and he got it.

KD took the easy road, but he asserted himself as the leader, and made some big shots in the end. not even sure warriors could have won this year if it was harrison barnes instead of durant. KD made some big contested shots whenever CLE got close and was aggressive when the rest of the warriors were not.

would like to know his averages this series and playoffs

Post #758 » by **Clyde Frazier** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:00 am

Quotatious wrote:
KD_Steph wrote:
Quotatious wrote:As great as that duel can be right now, I thought it was at its best in 2012 finals, when they had comparable supporting casts, and were both playing at the top of their game. It's hard to ignore the fact that Durant has a lot more help right now.

Durant was 23 back then. Whereas LeBron was 27 at the peak of his ability and have much more experience. Durant is much better player now. Much more experienced. Heat back then had more talent and much better coaching unlike OKC. Sop >>> Brooks. Playing Perkins so many minutes hurt them badly.

It's true Durant has more help now but he is playing better than ever and at LeBron's level in this finals so far. That matters a lot. He is living up to the expectations. Winning isn't enough for him. He has to play at his very best. Otherwise, he won't deserve much credit. Thanks to him they are 3-1 in this series so far.

Not to take anything away from Durant's performance right now (which is absolutely awesome), but it's hard to overstate how easy he has it, how favorable his team situation is, to perform the way he is right now. Much more so than in 2012, when he was the clear-cut alpha dog on his team, much like LeBron on his. It was before Westbrook entered his GOATbrook mode, he was just a very good star player, but not close to where Curry is right now, and the rest of that Thunder team was also much worse than the rest of current GSW (Green and Thompson >>> 2012 Ibaka/Harden, IMO - role players are also in favor of Golden State, mainly because of Iguodala).

Durant has put himself in a situation where it's hard for most of us to give him a lot of credit for winning the title, because nobody in NBA history had done anything close to joining a record-setting team that won 73 games, very nearly repeated as champions, and had the same core the next year. It's completely unprecedented. Basically KD has made the situation look like "championship or bust". That's why leading the Thunder to the finals and losing to the Heat in 2012 (but playing pretty well individually, outscoring LeBron on much higher shooting percentage), while beating a Spurs team that won 14 playoff games in a row, is every bit as impressive as winning the title this year, IMO.

I do feel like a lot of people can't come to the middle on this. In other words, he had an amazing finals, but it was helped by playing with incredible teammates. Both can be true, and that's ok. Let's at least acknowledge it, though.

Post #759 » by **PaulieWal** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:03 am

eminence wrote:
fpliii wrote:Congrats KD.

Who's the guy with the most pressure on him next to win his first (setting aside pressure to repeat by GSW, CLE)? CP3? Maybe Davis?

I think CP3 has kind of been left behind in these expectations by most unfortunately.

Don't think there's anything unfortunate about that but I don't wanna derail this thread.

Post #760 » by **Prez** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:04 am

I don't think anyone really gives a **** about Harden. Sounds harsh, but really, does anyone really care? He's just not that caliber of player where we should be expecting him to lead a team to a title.

Westbrook doesn't have anywhere close to the help necessary so putting expectations on him would be silly.

It's weird to say a 2x champion and 2x MVP has pressure on him, but Curry getting zero finals MVP votes in 3 straight finals is going to get people talking. *I disagree with it*, but people are going to really start picking him apart if this is how his story plays out, him underperforming in the finals and then some other dude coming to his kingdom and taking it over.