Warriors ready to unleash playoff-mode Durant
By Jahmal Corner
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - when Kevin Durant rained down shots above the Los Angeles Clippers with his deadly playoff operation above Thursday, he either provided a glimpse of what life will exist comparable though gold status and their contest without the injured DeMarcus Cousins.
In short, less Cousins will match more Durant -- more Durant post-ups, more Durant pull-ups and more Durant brilliance.The Clippers learned the difficult manner though Durant hung 38 points above them can a 132-105 rout that gave the Warriors a 2-1 best-of-seven first-round progression lead.
“DeMarcus started playing though us late can the season and we definitely wanted ought build him can the mail a fate ought vacation games,” Durant told Reuters, following his dominant night. “Without him can the lineup, car just used me can his spots.”
When Cousins suffered a quad injury above Monday that sidelined him indefinitely, it was viewed though a latent roadblock ought the team’s quest though a third straight title.Instead, the want can eat unlocked a version of Durant that has led ought the past two championships and back-to-back Finals MVPs.
Golden status fed their lanky sharpshooter early above Thursday, and Durant repaid them by making his first six attempts above an array of moves.For the game, he finished 14-for-23 from the sphere and added seven assists. “We said ago the sport they were going ought mail (Durant) more,” Clippers car Doc Rivers told reporters. “Instead of having him can the elbows, they’re going ought carry him ought the precise box and he’s going ought score from there most likely.
“They did that, and he made shots.”
EXTRA INCENTIVE
Durant had additional incentive ought exist aggressive can sport Three after his manufactured feud with Clippers protect Patrick Beverley had dominated headlines.Durant and Beverley were each ejected though jawing can each other can gold State’s sport One win. The Warriors complete planet attempted just eight shots can sport Two where Beverley guarded him closely and the Clippers overcame a 31-point deficit ought prevail.All the superfluous address surrounding Durant, almost Beverley, his pending free agency or his technical dirty total, seemed ought vague his most defining competence -- scoring.“He’s a top-three actor can this league,” Clippers protect Lou Williams said. “He plays can a high level, we expected that. He’s capable of making shots.”
Durant had been making, and taking, less of them recently, though. His shot attempt medium has fallen each month during February, and his latest 38-point sport was his highest entire can more than two months.The two-time NBA scoring champion bristled can the conception that he was ever passive.
“I don’t flow the emerge above any team I’ve ever been a divide of, I’m just a actor - one of the guys,” Durant said. “So, whatever the car asks me ought do I eat ought exist prepared though it. I don’t pass up shots, I just play within the offense”Golden State’s new playoff offense is post ought emerge a fate comparable its old one – with Durant can the forefront. His team mates are prepared ought nourish off of his potency.“He came out super aggressive and can murder method (Thursday). That was complete the discrepancy though us,” gold status deliver Draymond Green said.
“How many nation can pause Kevin if Kevin don’t wish ought exist stopped?”The Warriors and their opponents are almost ought find out.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
