Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 2 vs. Spurs

1. Durant still a sleeping giant

Look at Kevin Durant’s numbers, and you would think he’s playing out of his mind. From his 28.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game to his absurd 65.7 true shooting percentage, he has indeed been the best player in the series so far.

Yet if you watch him, you see missed opportunity.

Durant has yet to take a tough shot in this series. That is not hyperbole. Every look he has gotten has been clean, in rhythm and from an area of the court he is comfortable shooting from. That is not to say he’s been wide open (though he has been at times), but rather that no San Antonio defender has had the size (Danny Green, Kyle Anderson, Dejounte Murray) or the lateral mobility (Aldridge, also Anderson) to bother him. He shoots from too high, squares up too fast and has the always-looming threat of a ferocious dribble drive.

The Spurs can double, but he’s 6’10” and one of the best cross-court passers in the league. Given that the Warriors also have the aforementioned Thompson off ball, this approach has not worked either.

Next: Power ranking all 16 teams in the 2018 NBA Playoffs

Even if the Spurs feed off their crowd, force the Warriors into more turnovers and start hitting their 3s, Durant can make none of it matter.