NBA scouts were disturbed when they worked out Kevin Durant at Texas. He couldn't bench press! He lacked muscle and was disinclined to bulk up. He's 6'10" and weighed only 212 pounds.
He looked like he could be broken in two; would get pushed around. Today he weighs only 240. Needless to say, that did not turn out to be a problem for Kevin in the pros. Until last night.
Boston head coach Ime Udoka made Durant run a gauntlet--when he didn't have the ball. It was Udoka's strategy to deny Kevin the ball in the first place because once he gets it...Udoka had greenies fronting Kevin, doubling him, switching on him, not switching, at all times punishing him physically. The strategy got Kevin to the line 20 times (more than all of his teammates combined), and KD did make 18 of those freebies, but those were all but 9 of Kevin's 27 points. They forced him into 4/17 shooting. It was brilliant and Boston's green meanies wore Brooklyn out in the second half.
911, What is your emergency
Caller: A man is being mugged!
Kyrie only has eyes for KD. Brooklyn was exposed as a two-man team that has to run the ball through Durant. Kyrie to get the ball to Kevin, or create his own shot off Kevin's picks. If you deny Kevin the ability to even get in the right place for the pass you have broken the Brooklyn engine.
Out of passing ideas Kyrie tries playing quarterback handing the ball off to the runner.
Look at Kyrie's eyes. He only looks for Kevin.
The great offensive duo smooshed together into one.
