Kevin Durant - Defensive Dynamo 16/17
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Kevin Durant. NBA Champion. NBA Most Valuable Player. NBA Finals MVP. 8x NBA All-Star. 2012 All-Star Game MVP. 5x All-NBA First Team. 4x Scoring Champion. 50-40-90 club member. 3 time USA Basketball Gold medalist (2010 World Championships, 2012 & 2016 Olympics). KD has myriad more accomplishments, but today is a celebration of his defense. The thing that can, and does get lost in the shuffle of the greatness of a team that went 16-1 is their ability to play both ends. Everyone can see three of the greatest shooters in the league today, maybe even ever, playing together. Everyone knows that the 2014 MVP is alongside the 2015 & 2016 MVP, but what they don’t seem to understand is that GSW led the league in opponent field goal percentage (43.5%), ahead of Utah, Memphis, and San Antonio (44.3) and that number improved further in the playoffs (42.9). Yes, the Cleveland series was about who could manufacture more buckets, but as Steve Kerr pointed out on Zach Lowe’s podcast, Cleveland’s offense was the best that he’s ever faced in the Finals, but that shouldn’t detract from what has otherwise been a masterclass in team defense by the Dubs. Durant is a 7 footer (let’s not argue about this, he definitely is a 7 footer) with a reported 7’5” wingspan. He’s long, he’s fast, and he’s very athletic. It’s a problem.
KD’s defensive prowess was really but on display during the Thunder-Spurs series last year. His length, intelligence, and instincts were all LOCKED in. That aggressiveness on both ends results in dismantling the best Spurs team (record-wise) in the history of their franchise, and pushed Oklahoma City to within ONE win from the NBA Finals. When he made the move to Golden State, suddenly the Warriors, winners of an NBA record 73 games, and one win away from repeating as NBA champions, became even more dangerous. The critics said that the lack of depth and rim protection would be their undoing, but rim protection was never a problem; those in the know understood that if KD played up to his potential on defense (as he did in the 2016 playoffs), the Warriors would be fine. Ron Adams, the Dubs’ defensive guru, has served as an assistant to George Karl, Scott Skiles, Scott Brooks, Tom Thibodeau, and Brad Stevens. It was in Steve Kerr and Adams’ hands that KD evolved further, and helped the Warriors reach ever greater heights, even after losing their defensive anchor in Andrew Bogut, and a Death lineup linchpin in Harrison Barnes. Durant seems to have learned and absorbed a lot of what makes Draymond Green, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, a nightmare for opposing offenses. The ability of that duo to guard literally every position on the floor at an elite level is just…unfair.
I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to say that with this team behind him, KD can continue to become a greater danger on the defensive end. His ability, coupled with the complex and often jaw dropping adjustments the Warriors make on the fly, more than compensate for the rare occasions when the Dubs do make a mistake. A blown rotation isn’t as detrimental when you have Draymond or KD at the rim, snuffing out anything that gets put up. It’s not smash mouth basketball like the East in the mid 2000’s, because the Warriors are always on the verge of an offensive onslaught, but if you really bother to watch the defensive end, the Warriors are a wonder.
One thing that I REALLY enjoyed from this video is the scrambling switch the Warriors seem to do a lot of, where a “small” (so a guard, sometimes even Klay) is being pushed into the paint by an opposing big due to a switch. The Warriors sniff these out by rotating KD or Draymond or Iguodala even and then having the guard take the player they were guarding. In this case (7:17), it’s LeBron trying to post up Steph Curry. By the time the Cavs have entered the ball into LeBron in the mid post, KD has shifted over to LeBron, and Steph has slid over to KD’s man, Richard Jefferson. It’s definitely something that is in the Warriors’ scheme. Zak Boisvert has an excellent video on this exact concept and you should definitely give it a watch ( • Emergency Post Switch ... ). If you’re interested, I also made a video on KD’s defense last year ( • Kevin Durant - Lockdown ).
*These clips are only from the regular season.
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Пікірлер: 109
Durant has improved his on-ball defense over time and since shot blocking was Golden State's biggest weakness his ability to rotate over and block a shot has improved tremendously. I mean people can hate him all they want for the move but he didn't just switch teams and take a backseat, he put in the work and led them to the championship.
@lPlanetarizado
6 жыл бұрын
true, you can call him a "judas", but he is a better player on warriors (defensive and offensive)
@jamalbearchief4284
5 жыл бұрын
He's been doing that for years. He DON'T get the appreciation that defenders get.
All nba-defensive team worthy...he's earned it
@GoatGawd911
7 жыл бұрын
Good Man Sadly he barely got consideration
@Watermelon_Man
7 жыл бұрын
GanG GanG yeah since he was injured
KD has turned into a defensive beast. I can see him making the all-defensive team a couple of times in future. People need to stop disrespecting KD's defense, he's as complete a player as it gets right now.
@gustavodeguido5877
7 жыл бұрын
TheGreenay he is only a shot blocker, he is terrible defending 1v1 and the perimeter, he is lucky that the warriors system improved his defense, otherwise he would be worse
@gustavodeguido5877
7 жыл бұрын
TheGreenay I can name 10 better defenders than Durant this season
@gustavodeguido5877
7 жыл бұрын
I'll Eat Your As I Said: Durant is lucky that he has Green and iggy who guard multiple positions, and i didnt saw durant shutting down Kyrie, If you show me a stat or a highlight
@Miltonman100
7 жыл бұрын
I'll Eat Your Ass probably a good reason why Beverley Is always in foul trouble for us smh lol
@gustavodeguido5877
7 жыл бұрын
I'll Eat Your Ass watch this vídeo : m.facebook.com/groups/145928662120087?view=permalink&id=1444688645577409 I cant believe you actually compared kawhi defense to KD, LOL this is unaceptable, kawhi is a complete defender, he DOES harrasses his opponents on perimeter or 1v1, and he led the league in steals 2 years ago for a reason, if you me show me a Durant defensive skill other than blocks with tape, i'll be quiet
He stepped up his defense this year. Should be on one of the all defensive teams this year.
@johanndiaz8387
7 жыл бұрын
Fake Michael Jordan idk about first team but def deserving of 2nd
That's was the best Defensive block of Kevin Durant
KD is truly a warrior by nature..he is destined to be part of GSW..GOgogo KD GOD BLESS YOU BROTHER! dont mind the lowly minded haters they dont know basketball...
Klay Thompson off-ball movement
Them seasons with warriors he was special defensively
He earned his spot on 2nd team All Defense this year
How KD didn’t get all nba defense is mind blowing
I've been saying for a while, him and Leonard are the only two small forwards that play defense ALL the time. They don't pick and choose when to play defense. They play every possession the same.
@websterthomas2012
5 жыл бұрын
Mike 3xc1u5iv3 MKG as well
@Rvench
3 жыл бұрын
Kawhi is better at defense because of his strength and hands but kd is good because of his length and quickness
0:20 Is the best Chasedown Block
What I learned from that video. KD owned AD. Hot danm. 🔥
Nice content! Keep it up!
The Warriors help-defense is phenomenal! Truly impressive.
thank you
pure wingspan n timing bro
Why are most of the blocks on the suns? Does he have something against them?
@codedreams9416
6 жыл бұрын
I guess you can say he was wearing SPF35 Sunblock :)
GSW on transition 🔥
Going to miss kd in the Bay area
Can you do a Kevin Durant defense 17/18 video?
“It’s curry team” “curry more valuable” lol but kd was just as a lethal offensively and defensively was arguably their best
OKC fans probably saying "Why wasn't he this good on defense for us??"
@natedavis824
7 жыл бұрын
I mean it's pretty obvious. Most of these blocks are coming out of help-side as part of Kerr's defensive scheme. Scott Brooks is a shitty coach, so he never implemented anything near the defensive system Kerr has.
@Miltonman100
7 жыл бұрын
Nate Davis billy donovan did a decent job using durant as a Help defender last year. His defense improved last season and got even better in 2016-2017 imo
@natedavis824
7 жыл бұрын
That's a good point. Donovan was definitely a better defensive coach than Brooks.
@kwabenadonkor87
5 жыл бұрын
@@natedavis824 wtf lmao
Klay, iggy, green and kd. Its really tough to score
I remember this: 2:18. This wasn't a block by KD, it was a block by the rim. lol
0:18 KD making those two Suns bench players look like fucking fools. 😂
@keithhenrybetheajr5757
2 жыл бұрын
Devin Booker isnt a bench player
7:33 the carrier
20 seconds in every other team already gave up. How you even play against that shit, that block and that 3 my god
Please reupload the draymond video
@EvinGualberto
7 жыл бұрын
yagga xsandnos.wordpress.com/2017/06/28/evin-gualberto-nba-youtube-master-post/
KD's a below average on-ball defender. his problem is his first step, footwork and lateral quickness he cant lock people down as much as Klay, Iggy and Draymond does but he's an excellent help defender and rim protector because of his height, length and athleticism.
@GarbageMan144
6 жыл бұрын
Vinsmoke Sanji Yea it's hard for him to move his feet like klay and iggy cause of him being legitimately 7 feet. If he worked on his later quickness and footwork on defending perimeter players he would honestly improve as an overall defensive player Lowkey
@vinsmokesanji2778
6 жыл бұрын
darealEffJayVee KD will improve, he got smart defenders around him. He even improved his post defense, He made Love eat the ball at the post in finals. Need to work on his perimeter defense especially when theres so much talent at the 3 position.
@GarbageMan144
6 жыл бұрын
Vinsmoke Sanji Yea man
i was told he didn't play defense tho.
@kwabenadonkor87
5 жыл бұрын
Good thing u didn't listen
lol he is too long...he got a lot of shotblocks
this is only showing blocks and any 6'11 player can do that when they're sitting right in the paint and a smaller point guard is driving to the lane. KD's defense is overrated, show me great one-on-one perimeter defense, off the ball defense and help defense and not just shot blocking. He not all defensive team worthy when there are guys like draymond and kawhi who will guard you 94 feet
@michelleharding9646
3 жыл бұрын
Woe u don't watch games
@ronniejackson6929
2 жыл бұрын
I got the link right here bud kzread.info/dash/bejne/fZqtrtqqqdnRkbQ.html
Always gets cooked by lebron tho
@doa3231
3 жыл бұрын
KD avg 30 playing against LeBron and he dont push he weight around to get them 30 points LeBron has no skill. Wasnt going to let this comment slide😂
"I think I'll challenge this 6' 11" super athlete with a 7' 4" wing span..."
@adamwilson2002
7 жыл бұрын
Wandering Wade I'm pretty sure he's 7ft
@wanderingwade8877
6 жыл бұрын
Yeah, your right. But likes to say he's 6' 11"
@georgegarcia4214
6 жыл бұрын
Wandering Wade he says that so people don't label him a center.
He dont need people to say he can defend all five positions, he actually does it
Ridiculous to say he's not better than Kawhi he been the best player in the world outside of Lebron last 5-6 years
@johanndiaz8387
7 жыл бұрын
His defense was the reason his snake ass was up 3-1 AGAISNT the warriors smh
@qshiesty8381
7 жыл бұрын
Keyser Soze He is better not than Kawhi, Kawhi has 10x the defense
@chefcurry3044
7 жыл бұрын
Quentin McDonald Kawhi is not 10X better defensively, lmao. Durant has more length and is a better shot blocker, and he alters more shots.
@qshiesty8381
7 жыл бұрын
Chef Curry What? Kawhi holds people like Lebron and PG to 15 points and he has more steals than fouls in his whole career. He also gets more steals and forces more turnovers and is just a better all around defender
@bobblaise1561
7 жыл бұрын
don't forget that before zaza decided to injure kawhi spurs had a 25 point lead and Kevin only had 14 points on there home court
Great highlights!
Great video! Keep it up
2:20 oohhh shiii
@kwabenadonkor87
5 жыл бұрын
He killed that man smh
I love your work.. subscribed
@EvinGualberto
7 жыл бұрын
Raphael Romulo much appreciated!
Kevin Durant the type of nigga to go fishing with only his arms.
As much as I hate his move to GSW, the dude is unreal, and so under appreciated on defence. Definitely the 2nd best player in the world.
@jamalbearchief4284
5 жыл бұрын
Second best? You can't put LeBron first because he doesn't play defense.
@MrIncredibleGuy
5 жыл бұрын
Jamal BearChief Durant ain’t on the same level as LeBron, not even close.
Classic
thanks for the upload but DRAYMOND?
@EvinGualberto
7 жыл бұрын
SOON.
@madwired1188
7 жыл бұрын
Yeah man he was a king last season should be the best one yet!!
@cortezportillo2752
7 жыл бұрын
yeeessssss. Thank you for your work!
@alvinalmonor3140
7 жыл бұрын
Can we also get a Klay Thompson video
Can you re-upload Kawhi's videos?
Can you put Kevin Durant's offense in warriors?
KD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Leb
At 00:47 i kept laghing when draymond fell😂😂😂😂 he was fouled tho.
RE UPLOAD THE DRAYMOND VIDEO
@EvinGualberto
7 жыл бұрын
Brad2Penske xsandnos.wordpress.com/2017/06/28/evin-gualberto-nba-youtube-master-post/
better than kawhi in defence