i hope he stays w/ GS. players with foot problems and past surgeries typically end up with shortened careers.
It's both weird and good when they are actually losing. A weirdly bad year for them? And they still win it.
It'll be amazing if Durant can't "fit in" anymore and goes to LA with LeBron. The NBA can't written a better narrative.
“Last year was a pretty smooth ride, and we were clicking. We had a pretty healthy run,” Kerr said. “I think this year, it’s just been harder overall, just because of the cumulative wear and tear of the journey. Kevin has still been great. It’s been a little different vibe, but that’s OK. Every trip is a little different. We’re right where we want to be, and we’re all very confident that we’re going to get better from here.”
I agree Tmac wasn’t a leader or franchise player. That’s very similar to Durant. Durant has a little more edge, but like Tmac he can’t handle the responsibility of running a team. That time Tmac predicted his team would lose a series was a failure of leadership, which is different from being hard to get along with. If you watch Tmac on NBAtv now, it’s obvious that on a personal level other players like him.
I would think it's nothing, but it was VERY weird for Kerr to need to ask him to trust his teammates during a game, this late in a season. Using an MJ story even felt like a desperate kind of psychology to me.
Let's look at his defensive rating, as it's a measure, in many ways, of dedication and buy-in. Last year, he totally bought in: 101 This year, less so: 107 (worse than his career average of 105 pts against per 100 possessions). (But to be fair, in last year's and this year's playoffs, his defensive rating is essentially the same as career avg.) https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duranke01.html
Not strange vibes, but close... http://bbs.clutchfans.net/index.php?threads/sending-the-warriors-negative-vibes.288895/
What better way for KD to stick it to Warriors than by joining the Rockets next season and beating the Warriors. In case you didn't notice, Durant always had good things to say about the Rockets this season and didn't get into it with any of the Rockets players in the WCF. Unless I missed it. It could also improve his image. Because now he isn't staying on or joining the "best" team and could prove to the "best" team that they needed him. Durant is the type of closer the Rockets need, and the Rockets will appreciate him a whole lot more.
James Harden is not in talking terms with Durant anymore, Durant yelling at Paul, Chris Paul elbow to Durant tailbone.
I also believe Durant didn't appreciate the fact Kerr took him to the side on national TV to tell him a story about how Michael Jordan started winning after he started trusting teammates. Kerr put him on blast knowing he was mic'd up.
When Durant was a Free Agent, Kevin basically ignored Harden and the Rockets and didn't even give Harden a chance. Harden was hanging out with him during the offseason, in a shocking twist he chose the Warriors. Harden did say it shocked him. Also when Harden was hanging out with Westbrook during All Star break instead of Durant. Harden in this playoffs not even a single word to Durant.
We were close. I know Curry said that during game 7 there was a point where they doubted themselves and started to fingerpoint. You could see Draymond early in the game having a pretty active conversation with Durant. They were close to exploding then the refs helped them out 3rd quarter and the rest is history. I think that had we won there was a chance that KD leaves for the Lakers or something. I think one thing that would annoy KD is if he didn't win the finals MVP this year. It would be great if Lebron won it, hopefully if not Lebron Curry wins it. I don't think Durant is really all about that "Just want my team to win" mentality that Curry has. He DOES care what people say and if he's not winning FMVPs people will say he's being carried to championships
Durant's thin-skinned-ness and poser vibe are probably his biggest flaws as a person, and I think those things are some of the bigger reasons why he doesn't seem to be all that well-liked around the league in recent years.
KD has look somewhat out of sorts this post season. Last year he was "locked in" and on a mission to prove his joining the Warriors was the right move. Nothing less than a championship would suffice. They got it. This post season, he looks to be slightly coasting. And kind of doing whatever he wants. Doesn't quite seem to have the same drive as last year. Just doesnt look quite as locked in. He looks conflicted. He is still bothered about being the villain. He looks like he is willing to take a back seat to Curry from an emotional load point of view, but at the same time doesn't like the criticism that comes from that. He doesn't look comfortable in his own skin, but yet TRIES REALLY HARD to say he is comfortable. Warriors run their offense and then there is KD in the "break glass in case of emergency" ISO machine. Which they have used.
