Kevin Durant says he saw Austin Reaves “ to dance “. In the third quarter of the Suns' trip to Los Angeles, “KD” observed his teammate Bradley Beal engage in a tango with the Lakers player: a series of “in an out” dribbles with his left hand before punishing at mid-distance, with the foul.
“ I've done it in the past. With five 'in and out', you'll bite at least once “, smiles the back of Phoenix, which woke up his entire bench. “ Brad is one of the best players in the world, so having the opportunity to see him up close […], it's always nice. I enjoy seeing my teammates 'cook' like that. We're going to need more (this kind of actions) because it ignites the bench, the public even outside », Claims Kevin Durant.
This night, the spectators at the Crypto Arena, failing to see their favorite team respond, got their money's worth with the former Wizards player. While Devin Booker signed a fiery first period, Bradley Beal took control of the match in the third quarter.
Durant's selflessness
“ He was able to do whatever he wanted. He showed off all his gear tonight “, judges Kevin Durant, listing the entire range of shots used: the “catch-and-shoot” or the shot off the dribble, at mid or long distance… And these “pick-and-roll” situations where the The back is the screen setter, before being served in the “pocket”, at the heart of the racket. “KD” found him in these situations at least twice.
In another context, Beal missed the 3-point target, but Grayson Allen volleyed the offensive rebound towards Durant. The latter, without hesitation, passed the ball back to Beal who converted his second attempt. An action symbolizing the altruism of “KD” who fell behind (18 points at 7/12 on shots) from his two star teammates.
Frank Vogel says he has “not no doubt (On the question), they are all three very altruistic. Particularly when help comes quickly and the double takes come. They are not trying to force, but they will be aggressive, try to score, put pressure on the defense as well, to generate two-man catches. As we saw with Book in the first half and Brad in the second “, analysis Frank Vogel.
Finally some 3-point shooting!
The latter is also delighted by one of the statistical columns of his rear: his volume of 3-point shots. “ He took 10 3-pointers, he made 8 (laugh) ! That's a good percentage! I now know that he is capable of taking 10 3-point shots. I'm going to ask him to stick to it, I already told him », Reports the technician, according to whom his major recruit of the summer is “ more and more comfortable » in the Suns game.
“ This is something the staff preaches throughout the year. Over the last five years of my career, I've tried to make sure I shoot at least eight to ten 3-pointers », Adds Bradley Beal, whose volume in Phoenix has nevertheless decreased drastically compared to his years in Washington: a little less than four attempts per game compared to double three years earlier. His team only occupies 26th place in the ranking of the most greedy teams behind the arc (31.6 attempts).
Last night, based on his big 3-point success, the guard, who said he had been working with his personal trainer lately, scored a season record: 37 points (14/21 on shots) , 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
“ It's clearly encouraging to hear K or Book tell me to attack, to continue, to encourage me to find a killer mentality “, he appreciates, where Kevin Durant is formal: “ When he is unpredictable in his offense, it makes things easier for everyone. »
| Bradley Beal | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | W.A.S. | 56 | 31 | 41.0 | 38.6 | 78.6 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 13.9 |
| 2013-14 | W.A.S. | 73 | 35 | 41.9 | 40.2 | 78.8 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 17.1 |
| 2014-15 | W.A.S. | 63 | 34 | 42.7 | 40.9 | 78.3 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 15.3 |
| 2015-16 | W.A.S. | 55 | 31 | 44.9 | 38.7 | 76.7 | 0.8 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 17.4 |
| 2016-17 | W.A.S. | 77 | 35 | 48.2 | 40.4 | 82.5 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 23.1 |
| 2017-18 | W.A.S. | 82 | 36 | 46.0 | 37.5 | 79.1 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 22.7 |
| 2018-19 | W.A.S. | 82 | 37 | 47.5 | 35.1 | 80.8 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 25.6 |
| 2019-20 | W.A.S. | 57 | 36 | 45.5 | 35.3 | 84.2 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 30.5 |
| 2020-21 | W.A.S. | 60 | 36 | 48.5 | 34.9 | 88.9 | 1.2 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 31.3 |
| 2021-22 | W.A.S. | 40 | 36 | 45.1 | 30.0 | 83.3 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 6.6 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 23.2 |
| 2022-23 | W.A.S. | 50 | 34 | 50.6 | 36.5 | 84.2 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 23.2 |
| 2023-24 | PHX | 13 | 31 | 48.0 | 30.2 | 78.3 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 16.4 |
| Total | 708 | 35 | 46.0 | 37.1 | 82.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 22.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
