Simmons on Durant (again)

Thought this was interesting timing since we've been talking Durant a lot. Good points in the article (bearing in mind that Simmons was a huge pro-Durant guy in The Great Debate, as was I). He talks about how the commentariat spent a lot of time thinking about Durant early in 07-08, concluded he was overrated, and stopped thinking about him in time for him to take a pretty major step forward this season under their new coach. And now as a result, he's authentically one of the more underrated players in the league.

Topical and timely since it's been sounding to me like the folks talking about Durant around here haven't seen him too much since they canned PJ. He's really transformed his game -- last year and the first couple of months of this season, I wasn't feeling too confident about my prediction that he'd end up challenging LBJ for best player alive. Over the last two months, he's made me a believer again.

Here's a bonus link from Dave McMenamin of NBA.com talking about Durant's improving defense now that he's playing at SF and occasionally PF instead of SG. A bit premature, I think, but I'm seeing improvements there too.

about 3 years ago howlingfantods 22 comments 0 recs |

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"I wasn't feeling too confident about my prediction that he'd end up challenging LBJ for best player alive."

Really?
is this a joke? because I lol

by bustabucket on Jan 27, 2009 10:42 AM PST reply actions

Maybe this clears, once and for all, KP's quote before the draft.

“One will be a scoring champion, the other will be a champion.” Like there was ever a question who he was talking about!

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Jan 27, 2009 10:48 AM PST reply actions

durant is an all star you already know :)

Blazers Edge.com

by Ben Golliver on Jan 27, 2009 11:05 AM PST reply actions

Greg is an all star you already have :)

by Norsktroll on Jan 27, 2009 11:21 AM PST up reply actions

I think until Durant plays on a good team....

with a supporting cast and he still puts up these numbers then we can start comparisons, but LBJ? Thats a joke.

by blazerchamp on Jan 27, 2009 11:07 AM PST reply actions

It's a prediction, not a current comparison.

Considering all the comparisons that drift around here of Oden with the greatest cs of all time despite his current production, I would think that readers around here would be able to distinguish between the two things.

by howlingfantods on Jan 27, 2009 11:34 AM PST up reply actions

either way, Lebron was way better in his rookie season that Durant was in his, Lebron was better in his sophmore season that Durant is right now.

Lebron is so far ahead of Durant that to even project a possibility of equality is a joke.

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i like ike

by Zaron5551 on Jan 27, 2009 11:42 AM PST up reply actions

The stats for their second seasons

here. Not really the giant gap you seem to think it is. LBJ was much more of a playmaker, but KD edges him in offensive efficiency. Keep in mind that KD for his first month was not anywhere near those numbers and realize these numbers are rising through the year.

I also project KD to have more dramatic growth as a player than LBJ. LBJ was more physically mature than KD, who had a late growth spurt his junior and senior years in high school.

by howlingfantods on Jan 27, 2009 11:59 AM PST up reply actions

If KD ever develops anything closely resembling LeBron's body, a lot of people would like to learn more about that drug and training

He has a better shot though, which is one of the shortcomings of LeBron. His mid- and long-range game just isn’t that stellar. He even contacted Dirk Nowitzki’s personal shooting coach to improve his outside shot.

by Norsktroll on Jan 27, 2009 1:04 PM PST up reply actions

Hah, yeah, I don't expect KD to ever have LBJ's physique.

maybe more like LMA, who has a pretty similar frame actually. Very similar draft measurements except LMA had 2 years, 20 pounds and an inch on KD.

by howlingfantods on Jan 27, 2009 1:27 PM PST up reply actions

LeBron

wins.

Durant? Not so much.

Look at how many wins LBJ added to his team in his first two seasons. Durant? Not so much.

Why? Durant rebounds and scores. LeBron rebounds, scores, and passes the ball, making his teammates better.

LBJ is an unstoppable scorer. Durant is becoming one, and certainly will be one. The only way he ever begins to compare is if he learns to make his teammates better and generate points for them.

Defense is no comparison, either, but Durant has the capability to become a superb defender.

It is possible Durant will someday deserve to be in the LBJ conversation, just like it is possible Oden will get into the Bill Russell conversation, and possible Bayless could get into the Tony Parker conversation. These guys all have phenomenal physical tools, and some skills to go with them. I’m not sure I’d bet on any of them.

When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.

by jscot on Jan 28, 2009 5:35 AM PST up reply actions

I think KD will be good. Very very good. Probably better than Oden, but Oden's position is more important.

As far as surpassing LBJ, I just dont see it. The man is a mutant, a freak of nature, a perfect storm of genetics, talent, and desire that we really just haven’t seen before. The thing about LBJ is that you can see several times a game that the opposing players are truly in awe of what he can do. They simply never see someone that big, that strong and tall coming down the lane at them so fast. He is like a freight train when he gets going and I think for over half of defenders in the NBA, everything in their body says " get out of the way of that thing ".

by dario argento on Jan 27, 2009 11:46 AM PST reply actions

all true, but I don't base my assessments solely on physique

I mean, Bird and Magic are #2 and #3 on my list of GOAT, and neither of them were physically intimidating. Craig Smith is maybe the most physically intimidating guy in the league, but that doesn’t exactly help him be great shakes as a ballplayer.

I question LBJs desire to be honest. Genetics and talent, oh lordy is that guy talented. His bbiq, vision, passing, finishing ability is amazing, but honestly? I think he cares more about being a global brand than he cares about winning titles. MJ was emotionally devastated when he used to get bounced in the playoffs. LBJ is kind of disappointed.

by howlingfantods on Jan 27, 2009 12:05 PM PST up reply actions

I'm not trying to base them based solely on physique either.

Simply saying that he has the PERFECT nba body, already is MVP caliber, is still very young, and going to get better. LBJ breaks down defenses and is a nightmare anywhere on the court on offense and defense. He drastically effects the game just by being out there. I suppose it’s possible for KD to get to that stature, but it will not come as naturally to him as LBJ because of that ridiculous frame ( he is 260 lbs with 5% body fat and crazy fast ). Time will tell.

by dario argento on Jan 27, 2009 12:28 PM PST up reply actions

Unless Oklahoma beats Portland ...

… due to Durant singlehandedly destroying us, I really don’t care that much.

I don’t think he is underrated. I think he plays on a (currently) lousy team in a small market and therefore doesn’t get the spotlight. Therefore he may be under exposed, but not underrated.

hakkaa päälle !

by timg56 on Jan 27, 2009 12:46 PM PST reply actions

Breaking my self imposed absence to briefly comment here

LeBron James had a PER of nearly 26 in his 2nd year, and he was right out of HS. Kevin Durant played a year of college ball and currently has a PER just shy of 20 in his 2nd year. Durant is having a brilliant 2nd season, and it on pace to be an incredible player. I do think he’s underrated, just because he’s in a small market— similar to the way Roy is underrated by the casual fan but not by the knowledgeable fan. Durant’s a great offensive player already, but he’s way, way, behind schedule if he’s going to become a LeBron James type player right now— and that’s not even considering the D.

Oden’s PER, incidentally is now over 17, and this is for a guy who was expected to be primarily a defensive player. I’ve been highly encouraged by Oden’s play the last couple weeks. It looks right now like Durant will be the better player (I think Portland would have taken Durant if they knew he would have microfracture), but I don’t think the margin is as big as you do, howlingfantods. We would expect Durant to have a higher PER than Oden, but if next year at this time Oden has narrowed the PER gap at all, and is showing signs of being a dominant defender, I will feel good about the pick.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jan 27, 2009 12:48 PM PST reply actions

Not even talking about oden for the purposes of this thread, my man.

The PER comparison with LBJ is definitely significant; 25 is near mvp, 20 is just solid allstar.

But take a look at the month to month splits for KD this year. I think he’s likely to close the gap with LBJs PER pretty significantly by the end of year. 23/4/2 in Nov, 25/8/3 in Dec, 27/9/4 in Jan. And that’s with his overall shooting percentages improving every month too. He’s almost literally a different player under Scott Brooks than under Carlesimo. He’s gone from being a very effective scorer who gives you nothing else to an almost unstoppable scorer who boards, assists (some) and defends.

Folks are talking a lot about the Wolves winning all of a sudden, but it’s worth noting that the Thunder are a .500 club over the past dozen games.

by howlingfantods on Jan 27, 2009 1:15 PM PST up reply actions