Kevin Durant To San Antonio Spurs? Say No Go

The Ball (Touches) Don’t Lie

Durant likes to shoot.

Once considered one of the deadliest shooters in the league, Durant had the dubious distinction of tying one of Michael Jordan‘s records in Game 2 against the Mavericks. It wasn’t a cause for celebration, as it was for most misses in a playoff game.

Only Westbrook jacks up more shots for the team.

As I stated earlier, Durant once reigned at the top of the shooting food chain–it’s part of why he was so highly sought in the 2007 draft–but those days are moving fast behind him.

This has caused Durant to rely on hero ball (which is another part and parcel of the OKC culture) and it’s not working for him. The Spurs don’t play hero ball; they don’t need to. This would be a mismatch of head-scratching proportions.

Durant likes to have the ball but, for the sake of team success, he needs to have the ball. He already has to share with Westbrook, the Triple-Double Machine. Westbrook touches the ball way more than Durant does (this is nothing new); while this may be normal for a point guard–and for one of the league’s best point guards–it doesn’t bode well for Durant if he’s not more involved.

For the Spurs, plays are now designed around Leonard, which means getting him the ball. Aldridge likes the ball too and the Spurs generally like all five players on the floor to feel some leather before a shot is made.

Durant would have even fewer touches than he may have planned (let’s not forget the Spurs’ guards, Parker and Ginobili, who are mainly responsible for ball facilitation.) Can he adapt, like Aldridge, who touched the ball more in Portland? I’m not sold.

Next: The Way Of The Spur