Easy Money Slim Reaper - The Official Kevin Durant Thread

[Prokorov]

There's minimal flexibility with this roster, and it should be largely similar next year. You need to at least give it a low expectations dry run. I think the dream scenario is getting into the 6/7 spot, and having all of the size in the 1/4/5 (Milwuakee/Toronto/Philly). I'd have some confidence matching up with Boston & Miami if we have a healthy KD & Kyrie.

Yeah, this is what I'm thinking. If it's possible to safely see how Durant integrates with the roster, I see no reason not to get that useful data.

If Durant is given the go-ahead by medical professionals, and he feels comfortable doing it, there's no legit reason for further rest and rehabilitation. He will already have completed all that. Yes, he could injure himself again of course, but that's true of any player at any time. No point in psyching yourself out over something like that. No point in needlessly building up rust, either.

I also think that KD (like Irving) has the potential to set an example and help teach younger players about the finer points of the game. That's probably a whole lot easier when you're actually playing. This has been a frustrating season, sure, but there's still some opportunities to test some things out, learn from what's not working, and get a jump on next season. KD coming back early could assist with all that.

Not to mention, there's probably a solid chance that next season presents unexpected problems and frustrations as well. Might as well make the best of whatever we have, when we can.

Does it make sense to you have KD come back and play in a playoff series against the Raptors, Celtics, or Heat?

So you want your star player recovering from an Achilles injury whose been out a whole year to get maybe 10-15 games with his new teammates and then go straight into playing in the playoffs facing the best defensive teams in the league so that you can “collect some data”?

i dont think it makes sense to play hm... but opponent is irrelevant to that. no D can slow durant

[MrDollarBills]

I always expected KD to play this season and still do. A normal recovery time table was March. As long as Kyrie is healthy, and we're a 7 seed or better, we should see a minutes restricted KD.

I would rather let that Achilles heal as much as possible

That's not how it works...

I know, but do we want to really play him now? This season is a wash, we are not even remotely prepared to compete against the Bucks. I'd rather put Durant out there with a roster that is ready to win now. Marks has some work to do in the summer.

[gigantes]

There's minimal flexibility with this roster, and it should be largely similar next year. You need to at least give it a low expectations dry run. I think the dream scenario is getting into the 6/7 spot, and having all of the size in the 1/4/5 (Milwuakee/Toronto/Philly). I'd have some confidence matching up with Boston & Miami if we have a healthy KD & Kyrie.

Yeah, this is what I'm thinking. If it's possible to safely see how Durant integrates with the roster, I see no reason not to get that useful data.

If Durant is given the go-ahead by medical professionals, and he feels comfortable doing it, there's no legit reason for further rest and rehabilitation. He will already have completed all that. Yes, he could injure himself again of course, but that's true of any player at any time. No point in psyching yourself out over something like that. No point in needlessly building up rust, either.

I also think that KD (like Irving) has the potential to set an example and help teach younger players about the finer points of the game. That's probably a whole lot easier when you're actually playing. This has been a frustrating season, sure, but there's still some opportunities to test some things out, learn from what's not working, and get a jump on next season. KD coming back early could assist with all that.

Not to mention, there's probably a solid chance that next season presents unexpected problems and frustrations as well. Might as well make the best of whatever we have, when we can.

Does it make sense to you have KD come back and play in a playoff series against the Raptors, Celtics, or Heat?

So you want your star player recovering from an Achilles injury whose been out a whole year to get maybe 10-15 games with his new teammates and then go straight into playing in the playoffs facing the best defensive teams in the league so that you can “collect some data”?

Yes, absolutely, for the multiple reasons I mentioned.

Some PT is better than no PT. If he's ready, he's ready. You're rarely going to have a perfect scenario, so why not?

Next season, something's probably going to be broken as well. Want to call that one a wash and wait for the season after that? When does this thinking end...?

we invested 120 million in KD. he had to miss most of one year. this is probably the best chance we will have to win a title in the next 10-20 years.. I think you go a billion percent cautious and hold him out to next year even if he is 110% ready before the playoffs.

if he got hurt again, his career could be over or he could become a role player. dobt mess around when you for the first time in franchise history have a top 2 player

He could already be a role player, or reduced player, due to post-injury effects and age, and we simply don't know it yet. The penny has to drop at some point.

Even if next season or two are our best chance in the next 10-20yrs (which I don't really believe, anyway), it still doesn't mean it's a great chance. The league is full of beastly, highly-tuned teams just destroying lesser teams. The chances of a healthy KD & Durant, plus the oddball collection of parts that we have rising to that level is only speculative. The chances of both rising to that level and then being a decisive level above the others seems pretty remote at the moment.

We went from young, hard-working, overachieving, egalitarian team built on good fundamentals to a team that everyone's all anxious about playing levels and levels above that, in the space of only a season or two. We're not even as good as last season's team, arguably. If you can't enjoy the process, what's the point?

EDIT: KD could wind up playing for Team USA as well, so there's another opportunity for existential angst.

[ProspectPark]

Yeah, this is what I'm thinking. If it's possible to safely see how Durant integrates with the roster, I see no reason not to get that useful data.

If Durant is given the go-ahead by medical professionals, and he feels comfortable doing it, there's no legit reason for further rest and rehabilitation. He will already have completed all that. Yes, he could injure himself again of course, but that's true of any player at any time. No point in psyching yourself out over something like that. No point in needlessly building up rust, either.

I also think that KD (like Irving) has the potential to set an example and help teach younger players about the finer points of the game. That's probably a whole lot easier when you're actually playing. This has been a frustrating season, sure, but there's still some opportunities to test some things out, learn from what's not working, and get a jump on next season. KD coming back early could assist with all that.

Not to mention, there's probably a solid chance that next season presents unexpected problems and frustrations as well. Might as well make the best of whatever we have, when we can.

Does it make sense to you have KD come back and play in a playoff series against the Raptors, Celtics, or Heat?

So you want your star player recovering from an Achilles injury whose been out a whole year to get maybe 10-15 games with his new teammates and then go straight into playing in the playoffs facing the best defensive teams in the league so that you can “collect some data”?

Yes, absolutely, for the multiple reasons I mentioned.

Some PT is better than no PT. If he's ready, he's ready. You're rarely going to have a perfect scenario, so why not?

Next season, something's probably going to be broken as well. Want to call that one a wash and wait for the season after that? When does this thinking end...?

we invested 120 million in KD. he had to miss most of one year. this is probably the best chance we will have to win a title in the next 10-20 years.. I think you go a billion percent cautious and hold him out to next year even if he is 110% ready before the playoffs.

if he got hurt again, his career could be over or he could become a role player. dobt mess around when you for the first time in franchise history have a top 2 player

He could already be a role player, or reduced player, due to post-injury effects and age, and we simply don't know it yet. The penny has to drop at some point.

Even if next season or two are our best chance in the next 10-20yrs (which I don't really believe, anyway), it still doesn't mean it's a great chance. The league is full of beastly, highly-tuned teams just destroying lesser teams. The chances of a healthy KD & Durant, plus the oddball collection of parts that we have rising to that level is only speculative. The chances of both rising to that level and then being a decisive level above the others seems pretty remote at the moment.

We went from young, hard-working, overachieving, egalitarian team built on good fundamentals to a team that everyone's all anxious about playing levels and levels above that, in the space of only a season or two. We're not even as good as last season's team, arguably. If you can't enjoy the process, what's the point?

EDIT: KD could wind up playing for Team USA as well, so there's another opportunity for existential angst.

So on a team that’s already struggling with consistency, you want to drastically shake up the roster and rotations right before the playoffs just so you can collect some data?

[gigantes]

So on a team that’s already struggling with consistency, you want to drastically shake up the roster and rotations right before the playoffs just so you can collect some data?

What's the aim of this season, anyway?

Does this look like a team that can even make it out of the first round?

Who says "drastically shake up the roster and rotations," anyway? Isn't it an option to work in Durant in limited situations?

[MrDollarBills]

Yeah, this is what I'm thinking. If it's possible to safely see how Durant integrates with the roster, I see no reason not to get that useful data.

If Durant is given the go-ahead by medical professionals, and he feels comfortable doing it, there's no legit reason for further rest and rehabilitation. He will already have completed all that. Yes, he could injure himself again of course, but that's true of any player at any time. No point in psyching yourself out over something like that. No point in needlessly building up rust, either.

I also think that KD (like Irving) has the potential to set an example and help teach younger players about the finer points of the game. That's probably a whole lot easier when you're actually playing. This has been a frustrating season, sure, but there's still some opportunities to test some things out, learn from what's not working, and get a jump on next season. KD coming back early could assist with all that.

Not to mention, there's probably a solid chance that next season presents unexpected problems and frustrations as well. Might as well make the best of whatever we have, when we can.

Does it make sense to you have KD come back and play in a playoff series against the Raptors, Celtics, or Heat?

So you want your star player recovering from an Achilles injury whose been out a whole year to get maybe 10-15 games with his new teammates and then go straight into playing in the playoffs facing the best defensive teams in the league so that you can “collect some data”?

Yes, absolutely, for the multiple reasons I mentioned.

Some PT is better than no PT. If he's ready, he's ready. You're rarely going to have a perfect scenario, so why not?

Next season, something's probably going to be broken as well. Want to call that one a wash and wait for the season after that? When does this thinking end...?

we invested 120 million in KD. he had to miss most of one year. this is probably the best chance we will have to win a title in the next 10-20 years.. I think you go a billion percent cautious and hold him out to next year even if he is 110% ready before the playoffs.

if he got hurt again, his career could be over or he could become a role player. dobt mess around when you for the first time in franchise history have a top 2 player

He could already be a role player, or reduced player, due to post-injury effects and age, and we simply don't know it yet. The penny has to drop at some point.

Even if next season or two are our best chance in the next 10-20yrs (which I don't really believe, anyway), it still doesn't mean it's a great chance. The league is full of beastly, highly-tuned teams just destroying lesser teams. The chances of a healthy KD & Durant, plus the oddball collection of parts that we have rising to that level is only speculative. The chances of both rising to that level and then being a decisive level above the others seems pretty remote at the moment.

We went from young, hard-working, overachieving, egalitarian team built on good fundamentals to a team that everyone's all anxious about playing levels and levels above that, in the space of only a season or two. We're not even as good as last season's team, arguably. If you can't enjoy the process, what's the point?

EDIT: KD could wind up playing for Team USA as well, so there's another opportunity for existential angst.

I will be livid if either Irving or Durant play for team usa this summer. Absolutely not.

[GTR11]

Read on Twitter

?s=20
On the bright side he's doing some work.

[MrDollarBills]

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ahem

[Prokorov]

I can not wait for the KD era

[ProspectPark]

Read on Twitter

[ProspectPark]

Watch on YouTube

[MrDollarBills]

Read on Twitter

That's not important.

the name of the interviewer, is what we need to know.

[3pt_chucker]

Read on Twitter

That's not important.

the name of the interviewer, is what we need to know.

Ahhhh, a man of exquisite taste. Taylor Rooks is her name.

[Stone]

Whoa, ...she is amazing. There clearly is chemistry or a connection between them. Good on you KD. Don't get friend zoned!!!

[MrDollarBills]

Read on Twitter

That's not important.

the name of the interviewer, is what we need to know.

Ahhhh, a man of exquisite taste. Taylor Rooks is her name.

lord have mercy.

[ProspectPark]

Watch on YouTube

[NyCeEvO]

Read on Twitter

That's not important.

the name of the interviewer, is what we need to know.

There was a twinkle in his eye.

[Paradise]

Read on Twitter

[MrDollarBills]

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That first step looks crisp. Nic better get used to that punishment.

[Rich Rane]

Read on Twitter

That first step looks crisp. Nic better get used to that punishment.

Just saw this. It's tough to look for the pull up, the first step and drive then pull up, or the blow by. Kinda rough defensive assignment for anyone, especially with a lot of room for Durant to work with in a 4-on-4, especially for a rookie.

While it's nice to see Durant progressing very well after that injury, it's also encouraging that Nic is getting tested hard.