Re: Can someone(s) talk to me about Durant's Defense?
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Originally Posted by SeaNet
Super excited that Seattle has the 2nd pick. My friend has already purchased his 10 game pack, and I'm following shortly behind. I know the man can score from anywhere. I know he can rebound, and I know he can block shots. But how is his defense overall? Can he move his feet well enough to defend the 3? Is his head in the game defensively? Or was he just making plays w/ his superior athleticism, length and talent? And the biggest question wrt/ his D, is about the desire? Does he have it? Does he just want to play on one side of the court? Or, is he going to be driven to make plays and make a big difference on defense?
I ask because the past 2 seasons, Seattle might have been the worst defensive team I have ever had the displeasure of watching. I am a diehard NBA fan, and I found them so bad defensively, that I don't think I watched a single complete game of theirs this season. Durant is just what this franchise needed regardless of what he does defensively, but I want to know whether he's going to be part of the solution on that side of the court, whether he's going to be another guy the Sonics have to find a way to cover for, or whether he's going to be somewhere in between.
I dont think durant has the foot work to defend the 3 well in the NBA. Texas spent a lot of time in the zone last year where durant would just stand around in the middle with his freakish arms (7'6" wingspan) spread out trying to get steals and deflections. He was also the tallest player and best rebounder on the court for us most of the time so he spent time cheating back toward the basket to grab rebounds. Watching him early in the season and late the in the season, it was obvious Durant made strides defensively.
Since we did spend a lot of time in the zone, there were times when durant did look lazy and lackadaisical on defense. He did look awkward trying to go out on the perimeter and guard quicker players sometimes. He seemed more comfortable defending inside against more physical players which wont really be an option in the NBA because big men are so much stronger than they are in college. He did show a lot of drive defensively though. Although he did look lackadaisical in the zone sometimes, I do believe he was always putting forth effort on that side of the ball, sometimes more than others which has to be expected when a player carries so much of the offensive load for the team. In his first couple seasons in the league, i expect to see great improvements in his defense.
The other 2 problems i have with durant's game is he doesnt keep the ball low and protect it will while dribbling and his off the ball movement was pretty much non-existant at Texas (which is kinda expected under Rick Barnes)
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I travelled the world and the seven seas
I AM WATCHING YOU THROUGH A CAMERA
Kevin Durant wowed NBA teams in his one college season at Texas. At last week's pre-draft camp? Not so much, according to a confidential draft camp report obtained by The Seattle Times.
According to the newspaper, the report said Durant was ranked 78th out of 80 NBA prospects who worked out at Orlando, while Ohio State center Greg Oden had an impressive workout.
These numbers are pretty much meaningless, watch them play and don't judge someone if he can lift 300 pounds or not. Those camps really make you forget how players look on the basketball court.
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Here are the top-rated athletes from the last four combines: Troy Bell, Nate Robinson, Joey Graham and David Noel. Has all that athletic ability helped any of them dominate the league?
"GOT…damn! And I know Rubio saw it at like 4 in the morning and started crying and told them hoes from Ibiza to get the **** outta his room. And he said it in Spanish, too, so he looked like an angry drug dealer in a Michael Mann film. GOOD! How’s that for the league’s image, Stern? You ****ing *******. His name is Brandon…he from Compton…he got rapper friends…and he’s your league’s next superstar. Cry!
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Knicks fans, can you imagine what Jennings is going to do to you? He’s gonna be slicing through that defense like V for Vendetta. Then, after the game, he’s gonna slice through security and find Donnie Walsh and stab him in the damn heart.
I guess Kobe feels like averaging 30 again. At this point, he’s like Keanu at the end of the first Matrix. He became who he was supposed to be and now he’s just gonna do whatever he wants.
he will get bigger, give him some time. Just look at it this way, if he was able to dominate the college level without even being able to bench 185, just imagine what he do in the nba once he puts more weight on. He will have a great career, no doubt about that.
You can always improve your strength, but sometimes game is just innate. You see a lot of players that need to work on their bodies come around, but how many of these athletic freaks really impact their game to get to their potential levels.
Draft him, get him in the weight room...simple as that.
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Tyrus Thomas * Glen "Big Baby" Davis * Anthony Randolph * Marcus Thornton
You can always improve your strength, but sometimes game is just innate. You see a lot of players that need to work on their bodies come around, but how many of these athletic freaks really impact their game to get to their potential levels.
Draft him, get him in the weight room...simple as that.
Exactly. And even then he wouldn't need to gain much weight, just have him get stronger to deal with the physicality of the NBA, and to avoid injury 15 lbs of muscle along with strengthening what he has already.
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"GOT…damn! And I know Rubio saw it at like 4 in the morning and started crying and told them hoes from Ibiza to get the **** outta his room. And he said it in Spanish, too, so he looked like an angry drug dealer in a Michael Mann film. GOOD! How’s that for the league’s image, Stern? You ****ing *******. His name is Brandon…he from Compton…he got rapper friends…and he’s your league’s next superstar. Cry!
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Knicks fans, can you imagine what Jennings is going to do to you? He’s gonna be slicing through that defense like V for Vendetta. Then, after the game, he’s gonna slice through security and find Donnie Walsh and stab him in the damn heart.
I guess Kobe feels like averaging 30 again. At this point, he’s like Keanu at the end of the first Matrix. He became who he was supposed to be and now he’s just gonna do whatever he wants.
Dont see him packing on much weight, Prince never did, Rashard Lewis added a little upper body but his legs are still like toothpicks.
Most important would be the muscle insertions at joints, rather than pure muscle.
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Quote:
"GOT…damn! And I know Rubio saw it at like 4 in the morning and started crying and told them hoes from Ibiza to get the **** outta his room. And he said it in Spanish, too, so he looked like an angry drug dealer in a Michael Mann film. GOOD! How’s that for the league’s image, Stern? You ****ing *******. His name is Brandon…he from Compton…he got rapper friends…and he’s your league’s next superstar. Cry!
Quote:
Knicks fans, can you imagine what Jennings is going to do to you? He’s gonna be slicing through that defense like V for Vendetta. Then, after the game, he’s gonna slice through security and find Donnie Walsh and stab him in the damn heart.
I guess Kobe feels like averaging 30 again. At this point, he’s like Keanu at the end of the first Matrix. He became who he was supposed to be and now he’s just gonna do whatever he wants.
Sort of off topic but i'm not completely convinced that Seattle wont trade that pick, i think what would probably scare them is if Portland were to take Durant they would jump all over Oden but if they can get assurance that Portland will in fact take Oden i think a trade is entirely possible. Whether totally accurate of not i think they feel they have the same player in Rashard and if the right package came along they would make the move. I know a trade for a Dwight Howard of a Chris Bosh might be far fetched but stranger things have happened. Me i'd take a Gerald Wallace and an Adam Morrison plus the 8th for that pick but i know the masses will probably crucify me for that, so what.
Me i'd take a Gerald Wallace and an Adam Morrison plus the 8th for that pick but i know the masses will probably crucify me for that, so what.
Only a Zags fan would do that
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Players I don't like: Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Marcus Camby, Andre Miller, Emeka Okafor, Chris Paul, Nate Robinson, Derrick Rose and David West
Favorite Players: Kenyon Martin, Brook Lopez, J.R. Smith, Deron Williams, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Thaddeus Young, Danny Granger, Jason Maxiell and Nicolas Batum
Sort of off topic but i'm not completely convinced that Seattle wont trade that pick, i think what would probably scare them is if Portland were to take Durant they would jump all over Oden but if they can get assurance that Portland will in fact take Oden i think a trade is entirely possible. Whether totally accurate of not i think they feel they have the same player in Rashard and if the right package came along they would make the move. I know a trade for a Dwight Howard of a Chris Bosh might be far fetched but stranger things have happened. Me i'd take a Gerald Wallace and an Adam Morrison plus the 8th for that pick but i know the masses will probably crucify me for that, so what.
If you do that trade, you might as well head on down the Key and help them pack up for the move to OK City. No way the Sonics pass on Durant. Its not an option at all (unless Lebron or DWade was coming back, of course). The #2 pick (and that means Durant) got people talking about the Sonics again in Seattle, which is pretty much a minor miracle. Its the last, best chance to keep the team in Seattle. It is politically infeasible to trade the pick, even if it were the best thing for the franchise.
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Sign and Trade for Vince? Any takers... anyone at all...?
Kevin Durant
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