I trust Durant more against San Antonio than I do Lebron

[JohnMax]

I don't see Spurs defenders backing off of him by 5 feet.

[russwest0]

you don't think Boris Diaw will shut down Durant? :confusedshrug:

[Fudge]

As you should.

Every team should fear Durant more than anybody in the league.

[TheCorporation]

Well...lol

LeBron beat the Spurs even when Danny wtf Green set a NBA Finals record 3-point clinic...So...There's that. And KD last beat the Spurs with Harden, no Harden this time. He lost to them last year (albeit without Goatbrook).

[pastis]

unfortunately spurs are super stacked, deepest shit. will be very very hard for okc to beat them.

[J Shuttlesworth]

Popovich doesn't even have to plan for this series. All OKC does is play ISO ball. They're going to keep Leonard close on Durant because there's good enough help defense in the paint. Durant had trouble with CP3 on him. Leonard might give him more nightmares than Tony Allen. He has the wingspan to cover Durant's J, and they don't really have to worry about Durant driving and scoring in the paint, unless it's on the fast break.

[russwest0]

As Doc Rivers and basically every coach in the league has said "Durant is the toughest to gamplan against in the league"

[pastis]

As Doc Rivers and basically every coach in the league has said "Durant is the toughest to gamplan against in the league"

he didnt even mentioned lebron? good guy:applause:

[Trollsmasher]

that's because you don't need to commit to such a ridiculous game plan no defend Durant:confusedshrug:

all you need is one physical defender and Durant is done

[Keno]

no excuses.

[Ball So Harden]

By that logic, if Spurs beat OKC, they should definitely beat the Heat.

[Jacks3]

yeah, Durant actually has a consistent jumpshot. Spurs aren't going to give him WIDE OPEN jumpers like they did with LeBrick.

[Milbuck]

Lebron is just a more favorable player for them to guard. Lebron is the quintessential point-forward taken to another level. He can score with the best of them, but his game is more about making everyone on the court a threat. With San Antonio, they're all about team defense and helping each other out. Highly intelligent, communicative, well-organized defense that is balanced throughout. With his options running slim, they can force Lebron to do things he's not comfortable with. They'll pack the **** out of the paint and dare him to shoot. Force him to take the most inefficient shots. It's why he got assrammed in 2007, but got them last year. His jumper has traveled miles from where it was, and he now has a great post game. That being said, he's still far away from being good enough of a shooter to be in his normal comfort zone against San Antonio. They do everything possible, like Dallas did perfectly in 2011, to bother him. If Lebron does play San Antonio in the finals, it'll be another good indication of how far he's come as a player, whether he struggles or dominates.

Durant is another story because San Antonio can't really do much about him, at least not what they do with Lebron. He's a 6'11" guy with a 7'5" wingspan who can get a comfortable shot off whenever he wants to, and his game is not about elevating his teammates' play through his vision/playmaking. If Westbrook allows him, he's going to torch you individually. San Antonio can use their intelligent defense to lock up his teammates all they want, but it doesn't really matter because OKC's awful offensive structure calls for Durant (and Westbrook) iso ball anyways. So Durant's right there in his comfort zone. And unlike Lebron, Durant can pull up from anywhere he wants with comfort. His height, length, and shooting ability makes it incredibly tough. When they played them last time in the playoffs, Kawhi wasn't much of a factor. It'll be interesting to see how KD will do this time with a much improved, more intelligent Kawhi.

It's not about who's a better player, it's all about match ups. It'll really come down to who's hot, and how far Kawhi has come as a perimeter defender.

[navy]

It's not about who's a better player, it's all about match ups. It'll really come down to who's hot, and how far Kawhi has come as a perimeter defender.
Sike. Kawhi cant bother Durant. They should use their fastest player to front and deny Durant the pass and make sure to use their hands when he is coming off screens. Pray the refs dont call fouls. When he gets the ball make sure he is frustrated from the work he did to get the ball. He cant pass for shit so constantly double him as well.

[Milbuck]

Sike. Kawhi cant bother Durant. They should use their fastest player to front and deny Durant the pass and make sure to use their hands when he is coming off screens. Pray the refs dont call fouls. When he gets the ball make sure he is frustrated from the work he did to get the ball. He cant pass for shit so constantly double him as well.
I don't know about the bolded, but agreed with the rest for the most part. It's a lot easier said than done. Ball denial is definitely something they need to try hard for, but if they base their entire defensive plan on it, they're in for a rough series. There's only so much you can do to deny someone like him the ball. Tony Allen is one of the best defenders of this generation...he's also a strong 6'4" with a low center of gravity. If we're being honest with ourselves and leave the trolling outside, CP3 giving KD problems was an anomaly. Then we get to the Spurs...they have no small/fast guy who is anywhere remotely close to the defender Tony Allen is, so it's gonna be all Kawhi. I don't think we can judge his defense on Durant until after this series.

[navy]

I don't know about the bolded, but agreed with the rest for the most part. It's a lot easier said than done. Ball denial is definitely something they need to try hard for, but if they base their entire defensive plan on it, they're in for a rough series. There's only so much you can do to deny someone like him the ball. Tony Allen is one of the best defenders of this generation...he's also a strong 6'4" with a low center of gravity. If we're being honest with ourselves and leave the trolling outside, CP3 giving KD problems was an anomaly. Then we get to the Spurs...they have no small/fast guy who is anywhere remotely close to the defender Tony Allen is, so it's gonna be all Kawhi. I don't think we can judge his defense on Durant until after this series.

It wasnt an anomaly though. CP3 literally did the exact same thing Tony Allen did. Kawhi is just to big for the refs to let it go so it has to be a smaller player. Unless they let them play, doubtful.

I think Danny Green would do a better job then Kawhi like he does on Curry and Lillard, but he's probably gonna have to guard Westbrook.

[SpaceJammeR]

that's funny because durant doesn't trust himself. he needed westbrick, reggie jackson and the refs to get him this far. hows that for mvp.

[rmt]

This season, it's been Reggie Jackson who's been torching the Spurs. KD has just been sitting back and relaxing. Seems like the role players - Jackson, Fisher, Ibaka (if you call him a role player) light up when they play the Spurs.

Excellent shooting teams have always been a matchup problem for the Spurs. Same with Dirk/Terry of the 00s. Spurs defense has always been no layups and protect the 3pt line - force contested 2s. Unfortunately, when it comes to 2s - KD and Westbrooke are excellent jump shooters.

And yes, it's true - KD is a worse matchup for SAS than Lebron - nothing to do with who is the better player - just the style of game - KD can shoot from anywhere on the court.

[Milbuck]

that's funny because durant doesn't trust himself. he needed westbrick, reggie jackson and the refs to get him this far. hows that for mvp.
As much as he's being criticized and ripped apart for being carried...

He is putting up 31/10/4/1/1 on 45/35/83 shooting, and on just under 10FTA per game, which isn't that absurd. He's not doing that bad. He could be playing significantly better, but with the way people are tearing him apart here you'd think he collapsed completely..

[VengefulAngel]

As much as he's being criticized and ripped apart for being carried...

He is putting up 31/10/4/1/1 on 45/35/83 shooting, and on just under 10FTA per game, which isn't that absurd. He's not doing that bad. He could be playing significantly better, but with the way people are tearing him apart here you'd think he collapsed completely..

Its not the fact that he isn't playing well, it's the fact that he hasn't been consistent, and the same problems still exist. There was this notion that he has become a far superior player in the RS however this hasn't materialised. He still struggles to establish deep post position, his turnovers are detrimental to the team and often are 'bad' turnovers (i.e lead to fast breaks) and seems to disappear for large parts of the game. Which was attributed to his game prior to this year.

This can be partially explained by the fact that his coach fails to demonstrate any semblance of an offensive system. But he has to be judged to a higher standard now given the fact that he won the MVP award.

[Mr. Jabbar]

no1 should trust lebron, ask dan gilbert

[PyrrhusX]

**** Durant. How are the Spurs gonna guard their killer a.k.a Reggie Jackson?

[knicksman]

its easier to guard players like lebron/robertson coz they want the ball in their hands instead of playing off the ball. Thats why these guys cant win so they have to form superteams

[dubeta]

Durant stans make threads like this and say durant can have
an easier time vs. these elite teams than bran, but when the
time comes to say "Championship or Bust" then suddenly you
guys go MIA faster than after a Durant choke job

What's the problem? You guys don't really trust durant do u?
He's on an all time choking spree right now