Durant Evolving During Western Finals?
It’s forever a delicate balance for the great scorers. After all these years, (Kobe) Bryant still gets ripped for being selfish and LeBron James gets ripped for not being selfish enough. (Kevin) Durant and (Russell) Westbrook, too, are learning to pick their spots at Brooks’ urging.
“Coach (Scott) Brooks is in a tough situation where it’s hard for him to impose his will on young, talented guys,” (Kendrick) Perkins said. “At this time in their careers, it’s kind of hard for them to sacrifice when they’re trying to reach so many individual goals.”
That’s why Saturday was such a watershed moment for these young Thunder. Westbrook was content to impact the game with his defense. Durant patiently set up his teammates. In the biggest game of their careers, they sacrificed.
For Durant, this is all part of his evolution, and that’s what worries the Spurs, what worries every other team in the league. They’ve been in a race with the Thunder, everyone trying to chase down one more championship before Durant’s game expands, before his basketball IQ matches his talent. Now they have reason to ask: Are they already too late?
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