Durant traded to Houston for Green, Brooks, #10 pick, and multiple 2nd rounders

Meanwhile Booker is in Phoenix laughing.

 

I wish he would be aggressive, he’s way too nonchalant on the floor. He’s been like that his whole career. It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. His lack of aggressiveness is more noticeable now that he’s older. It’s easier to notice he doesn’t drive to the rim at all now, he rarely shoots threes. His game now is 98% pull up contested middies. I don’t like it

 

No bro, Durant is driving ten times per game (same as Anthony Edwards). Amen Thompson drives 12 times per game to lead the team, barely better than 36 yr old KD.

Durant is averaging 7+ FTA too. That's one of his highest since 2013-2014. This means he's driving a lot. But when you drive into the paint and 4 big men with huge wingspan are between you and the rim, and you're the best midrange shooter of all time, the right shot is a middy (where he makes 50%). A double-contested layup does not give you 50% even if you're Michael Jordan.

It's not a Durant issue, just like it wasn't an Amen or Jalen or Cam or Tatum issue. It's a systemic problem. Everyone we've ever asked to shoulder high volume drives has disappointed under Udoka. So now you have to look into it.

Udoka crowds the path to the basket - literally & without exaggeration - more than any coach in the NBA. That's the cost of having excessive bigs and rebounders on the floor. There's no reason we would not find it harder to drive than all other teams.

It's not a coincidence that he's struggled when we've started Adams. Amen has too if he's not in the dunker spot. It's just the cost of the system but we're winning a lot and the offensive rating is excellent so I doubt we tinker right now.

 

I miss DB. Say what you want about him but he's a true winner.

Grizzlies got worse once he left. PHX looking a lot better with him on the floor.
Sad we had to give him up to get KD.

 

KD needs to play better. It’s that simple. Having watched every game so far, KD just needs to play better. He’s shooting his lowest efficiency from the field and long range in many many years. He’s got to be better.

 

I've always said it, Jalen was the throw in to match salaries. The true star of the trade was DB. For us, getting out of Jalen's contract was worth giving up DB, whether KD panned out or not.