Held at 23 points at 9/24 on shots during the first raise in Boston, Kevin Durant was keen to bounce back for Game 2 on Wednesday night. But his way of the cross continues against the Celtics, with a new poor performance, with 27 points but at 4/17 on shots and 6 stray bullets…
Recognized by all for his incredible offensive talent coupled with his size, Kevin Durant is considered one of the best forwards in the world, and so to speak, in the history of the League. But, last night, KD finished the second half of Game 2 at 0/10 and 4 loose balls, the worst half of his career in terms of skill (regular season and playoffs combined).
“We want to put players in opposition to him at all times, to take up space and not let him get comfortable. We try to make him rush a little by putting different defenders on his back. That’s what it’s going to take to try to limit a top scorer like him.” affirmed Ime Udoka on NBC Sports. “We want to try to tire him out and it takes effort from everyone to change on the screens, know the game plan well and get him to shoot 2-pointers on difficult and contested shots. »
Well equipped with elite defenders, with Marcus Smart who has just been voted best defender of the year of course, but also with Jaylen Brown, Al Horford and now Jayson Tatum, the Celtics take turns at the bedside of Kevin Durant for the jostle it, destabilize it and push it to its ultimate entrenchments. And it works !
“Two or three guys run into me wherever I go. And that’s normal in the playoffs. I see several guys around me every time I get the ball when I set up [offensivement]. »
“It’s up to me to find the solutions”
Intransigent on the Durant case, Boston’s defense willingly left space for other players, including Bruce Brown (23 points) and Goran Dragic (18 points) took advantage but Brooklyn could not keep up the pace over the length. And in the “money time”, KD was still muzzled, missing his five shot attempts in the last quarter.
“He’s not comfortable” confirme Steve Nash. “He doesn’t seem to have really managed to find his rhythm. »
Conversely, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were comfortable in a searing final quarter, amassing 17 of their team’s 29 points over the period, while keeping the pressure on the Nets’ All-Star winger. Only salvation for KD last night? His 18/20 on the repair line which allowed him to save appearances in numbers.
But the former Thunder and Warriors knows it well: he will have to change gear quickly if he does not want to miss another opportunity to lift the coveted trophy.
“They do a very good job of preventing me from scoring and limiting my shots. I have two or three players who challenge my attempts and there is always someone who is in the key when I go for a dribble. And they send double takes from time to time too. They do a good defensive job. It’s up to me to find the solutions. »
| Kevin Durant | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2007-08 | SEA | 80 | 35 | 43.0 | 28.8 | 87.3 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 20.3 |
| 2008-09 | OKC | 74 | 39 | 47.6 | 42.2 | 86.3 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 25.3 |
| 2009-10 | OKC | 82 | 40 | 47.6 | 36.5 | 90.0 | 1.3 | 6.3 | 7.6 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 30.2 |
| 2010-11 | OKC | 78 | 39 | 46.2 | 35.0 | 88.0 | 0.7 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 27.7 |
| 2011-12 | OKC | 66 | 39 | 49.6 | 38.7 | 86.0 | 0.6 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 28.0 |
| 2012-13 | OKC | 81 | 39 | 51.0 | 41.6 | 90.5 | 0.6 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 28.2 |
| 2013-14 ★ | OKC | 81 | 39 | 50.3 | 39.1 | 87.3 | 0.7 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 32.0 |
| 2014-15 | OKC | 27 | 34 | 51.0 | 40.3 | 85.4 | 0.6 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 25.4 |
| 2015-16 | OKC | 72 | 36 | 50.5 | 38.8 | 89.8 | 0.6 | 7.6 | 8.2 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 28.2 |
| 2016-17 | GOS | 62 | 33 | 53.7 | 37.5 | 87.5 | 0.6 | 7.7 | 8.3 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 25.1 |
| 2017-18 | GOS | 68 | 34 | 51.6 | 41.9 | 88.9 | 0.5 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 26.4 |
| 2018-19 | GOS | 78 | 35 | 52.1 | 35.3 | 88.5 | 0.4 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 26.0 |
| 2020-21 | BRK | 35 | 33 | 53.7 | 45.0 | 88.2 | 0.4 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 5.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 26.9 |
| 2021-22 | BRK | 55 | 37 | 51.8 | 38.3 | 91.0 | 0.5 | 6.9 | 7.4 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 29.9 |
| Total | 939 | 37 | 49.6 | 38.4 | 88.4 | 0.7 | 6.4 | 7.1 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 27.2 | |
