The Western Conference is extremely competitive, featuring the defending-champion Golden State Warriors as well as the Spurs, Rockets, Clippers and Grizzlies. If he doesn’t help the team win a ring, as a consolation prize, Durant may leave in free agency.
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Denver Nuggets (30-52 last season): New coach Mike Malone is faced with a massive rebuild with a roster full of role players, rookies and no stars after troubled point guard Ty Lawson was traded to Houston for little return. Will he be like Reggie Jackson and get jealous when he’s not getting his shots? Durant checked in at the four along with Westbrook, Steven Adams, Anthony Morrow and Steve Novak. Durant finished with 29 points on 11 of 15 shooting in 29 minutes and Russ got a triple-double (because of course) in 35 minutes.
Kevin Durant is a near 7-footer with a history of foot problems.
Power forward Serge Ibaka rounds out the Oklahoma City super threesome.
Like Westbrook and Durant, he is theoretically in the prime of his career at 26 years of age.
Personally, I like their chances. With that group, the offense started with pick-and-rolls with Westbrook and Adams. This is something that should terrify Thunder fans, and also anyone who loves the game of basketball and watching all-time great talents. “The results, I mean come on, we held this team to 33 percent [shooting]and they’re a high scoring team”.
Westbrook is backed by D.J. Augustin, a veteran point-guard who is one of the more effective bench guards in the league.
While most pundits expect that Durant will remain with the Thunder, there is speculation around the league that Durant could potentially bolt and join the Los Angles Lakers, or even go play for the Washington Wizards, in his hometown. The Thunder are not only spacing the floor better, but they seem to be quicker with their decision-making in the halfcourt.
That being the case, Kyle Singler may see minutes and the former Piston will look to make an impact. This preseason, he averaged 18 points in five games and shot 59 percent from the field, including 57 percent from 3-point range.
Their defence will likely be zone-based, as Westbrook is a good gambling defender who plays the passing lanes well and Durant is serviceable at that end of the floor but neither are elite.
On Wednesday, ESPN outlined the main takeaways from the Thunder’s preseason, and one of them was about the team’s new offensive playbook.
Donovan enters the NBA after coaching the University of Florida for 19 seasons, winning back-to-back national championships and 71.5 per cent of his games.
As it faces off against the Denver Nuggets, Head Coach Billy Donovan’s club will try to utilize the lessons learned in its loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night in order to move in the right direction as a unit. Designing an offense was not one of them.
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They are among the league-leaders in both rebounding and blocked shots and look unlikely to regress in those areas. No longer do Durant and Westbrook need to play and rest together. Upon Ibaka receiving the ball at the top of the key, Durant sets a screen on Rudy Gobert.
