For only the second time in his career, and 156 playoff games, Kevin Durant did not score in the first quarter in Game 1 of the series against the Clippers. More annoying than his 0/4 to start, it is above all the fact that he was so little served in the “money-time” with a knife that marked this first match.
“I think they did a good job when I had the ball, they took me two and I had to let go of the leather”he explained. “But most of the time I was in the corner, waiting for the ball and giving space to my teammates. I think we had some good chances in the fourth quarter, we didn’t manage to materialize enough of them, but we have to take our hats off to the Clippers”.
Even if Kevin Durant had won his eight games played with the Suns, this Game 1 highlighted the lack of automation with his teammates. Inevitably, having arrived during the season and after a sprain which deprived him of ten precious games, the former Nets still seeks his place in the systems of Monty Williams.
And this lack of collective experience is particularly illustrated in “money-time”.
Contacts that change in the playoffs
At -3 (111-108) with 17.7 seconds remaining, the Suns set up a system after a time-out to give the ball to Kevin Durant. Monty Williams’ system is complex but overall poorly executed. Indeed, between the poorly coordinated races of Landry Shamet and Devin Booker, screens that are too soft, movements that are not sharp enough on one side, and the good communication of the Clippers on the other, helped (it must also be admitted) by the laissez-faire of the referees who authorize the multiple clashes on the movements of the Phoenix players, Chris Paul must call a second time-out to be able to put the ball back into play…
Monty Williams therefore sets up a second system, still to seek Kevin Durant. But again, the Suns are unable to create space with Nicolas Batum who remains attached (literally) to Deandre Ayton, clearly not incisive enough in his movements, while Kawhi Leonard and Eric Gordon communicate well.
Chris Paul then serves Devin Booker, while Kevin Durant tells him to play one-on-one. What followed was a big defense from Russell Westbrook, and a final victory for the Clippers.
As Bob Myers, the GM of the Warriors, explained, the playoffs are “a different sport” compared to regular season basketball. The contacts are no longer the same, the whistles either, and the Suns will have to adapt to better use Kevin Durant in the decisive moments, in order to regain control of the series.
| Kevin Durant | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2007-08 | SEA | 80 | 35 | 43.0 | 28.8 | 87.3 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 20.3 |
| 2008-09 | OKAY | 74 | 39 | 47.6 | 42.2 | 86.3 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 25.3 |
| 2009-10 | OKAY | 82 | 40 | 47.6 | 36.5 | 90.0 | 1.3 | 6.3 | 7.6 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 30.2 |
| 2010-11 | OKAY | 78 | 39 | 46.2 | 35.0 | 88.0 | 0.7 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 27.7 |
| 2011-12 | OKAY | 66 | 39 | 49.6 | 38.7 | 86.0 | 0.6 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 28.0 |
| 2012-13 | OKAY | 81 | 39 | 51.0 | 41.6 | 90.5 | 0.6 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 28.2 |
| 2013-14 ★ | OKAY | 81 | 39 | 50.3 | 39.1 | 87.3 | 0.7 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 32.0 |
| 2014-15 | OKAY | 27 | 34 | 51.0 | 40.3 | 85.4 | 0.6 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 25.4 |
| 2015-16 | OKAY | 72 | 36 | 50.5 | 38.8 | 89.8 | 0.6 | 7.6 | 8.2 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 28.2 |
| 2016-17 | GOS | 62 | 33 | 53.7 | 37.5 | 87.5 | 0.6 | 7.7 | 8.3 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 25.1 |
| 2017-18 | GOS | 68 | 34 | 51.6 | 41.9 | 88.9 | 0.5 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 26.4 |
| 2018-19 | GOS | 78 | 35 | 52.1 | 35.3 | 88.5 | 0.4 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 26.0 |
| 2020-21 | BRK | 35 | 33 | 53.7 | 45.0 | 88.2 | 0.4 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 5.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 26.9 |
| 2021-22 | BRK | 55 | 37 | 51.8 | 38.3 | 91.0 | 0.5 | 6.9 | 7.4 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 29.9 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 47 | 36 | 56.0 | 40.4 | 91.9 | 0.4 | 6.3 | 6.7 | 5.0 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 29.1 |
| 2022-23 * | BRK | 39 | 36 | 55.9 | 37.6 | 93.4 | 0.4 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 29.7 |
| 2022-23 * | PHX | 8 | 34 | 57.0 | 53.7 | 83.3 | 0.4 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 26.0 |
| Total | 986 | 37 | 49.9 | 38.5 | 88.6 | 0.7 | 6.4 | 7.1 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 27.3 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
