After losing to the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 Saturday night, the Thunder suddenly find themselves scrambling to bounce back. Once up 3-1, the Thunder are now tied 3-3 and will head to Oracle Arena to play the Warriors in what should be an unforgettable Game 7.
The struggles of one player in particular, Kevin Durant, greatly attributed to the Thunder’s late collapse in the fourth quarter last game, and much of Game 5. Durant, who started the series well, has made just 30 of his last 86 shots over the past three games (34.9%).
While Durant impressed many on the defensive end, particularly with his ability to guard all five positions, he apparently did not impress former NBA player Stephen Jackson. Jackson absolutely torched Durant and didn’t hold back:
Nor did it impress TNT’s Charles Barkley:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me9cf_YI6Qw
Or Kenny Smith.
Even Shaquille O’Neal sided with Barkley after Game 6 concluded Saturday night. The message was the same: Kevin Durant must be better.
If Durant won’t listen to four former NBA players, I’m not sure who he’d listen to.
Durant, who averaged 28.2 points and 8 rebounds per game with the Thunder this season, has been lethal for much of the Playoffs. The rather surprising torching of the 67-15 San Antonio Spurs in the second round happened in large part because of Durant’s stellar play, as did a 3-1 hot start to this series as well. Since Game 4, however, Durant has struggled.
“On the offensive end, you don’t have to worry about me because I’m a professional scorer”, Durant told reporters after practice Sunday (via Tim MacMahon of ESPN). “And I know how I’ve been doing this for so long. I’m not saying I’m going to have a great game every night or I’m going to shoot well every night, but I tend to figure things out on the offensive end”.
Hearing Durant remain calm in a time of state-wide panic for the Oklahoma City Thunder has to be somewhat comforting to fans. Kevin Durant will always be Kevin Durant, and he doesn’t seem worried at all about the looming Monday night win or go home battle in Oracle.
In Game 1, the Thunder stole a victory on the road against the Warriors 108-102. Durant had finished with 26 points on 10-30 shooting (33%). In other words, the Thunder can defeat the Warriors inside Oracle Arena even with him struggling from the field. Durant added 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block in the Game 1 victory. Perhaps this kind of effort would save Durant from a curse-filled Stephen Jackson rant — Or perhaps not. It’s slightly enjoyable either way.
