Expected among the favorites last season before failing to rise to the occasion, mainly due to injuries, Kevin Durant's Suns are having an ideal start this time, quite simply the best in the history of the franchise with a seventh victory. Wednesday in eight games.
Against the Heat, the suspense was total, as often since the resumption with the Arizona franchise. But as a symbol, the team so crumbly in 2023/24 has transformed into a machine for killing meetings, with a “KD” in very good form.
Indefensible like Dirk Nowitzki
The winger was again decisive in the final minutes against Miami. Kevin Durant scored three baskets in the last three minutes while the two teams were back to back. His last shot 16 seconds from the end definitively sealed the victory for his team, in a gesture that has become almost a signature this season for him.
“ Once he has his action in isolation, a bit like Dirk Nowitzki, at the level of the throwing line or at the head of the racket, it is complicated to make a two-handed take on him because there are all other threats around on the ground » analyzed Devin Booker after the meeting. “ This is the right place to use it. He can start on both sides of the basket and he has room to create. »
This night, he didn't even need a dribble, just a pivot foot to refocus, before unleashing his shot, taking advantage of his size advantage over Haywood Highsmith who had nevertheless defended the shot well. “ Kevin Durant is a motherfucker to deal with » smiled Devin Booker. “ He's comfortable, it's a training workshop for him, it's what he works on and what he's done his whole life. This is why he has the reputation he has and this is why we are all fans of him. »
Thanks to his providential man, Phoenix has a sixth victory in as many games in what the NBA describes as a clutch, namely a maximum gap of five points with five minutes remaining.
Fourth best scorer in the fourth quarter this season (8.4 points), Kevin Durant is a little further away – on the outskirts of the Top 10 – in the clutch, but above all with diabolical efficiency: 66.7%. Above all, he is the author of more than half of the baskets scored by the Suns (52.6%) in these decisive moments. “ He always finds ways to score, it's like the ultimate key » admires Jusuf Nurkic.
Leader in the West
As against Miami last night, he had already scored three baskets in the last five minutes of the success against the Lakers. Then four against Philadelphia on Monday, including the winning layup with 24 seconds remaining.
Against the Clippers in the opening, Kevin Durant sent the match into overtime with a huge shot, off balance and despite two defenders. The contrast is striking with last season, where “KD” was at the bottom of the Top 40 best scorers in the decisive moments with a percentage very far from its standards (35.7%) but above all a record of 18 victories for 21 defeats .
If Devin Booker believes he does not want “ compare to last year“, the “spacing” put in place by new coach Mike Budenholzer, and the squad reworked during the off-season are undoubtedly not unrelated to this renewed form in close matches. “ Devin is an asshole to deal with too » replied Kevin Durant to his teammate. “He frees up so much space for me that opponents don't want to leave him open or help on him, or Bradley Beal or Tyus Jones. They are assholes to deal with too. »
This is the recipe for a team that is now the leader in the West, tied with the Thunder and the Warriors.
