One of these guys is getting his shots up.Yesterday, we were talking in the office about how it’s probably not a great thing that Kevin Durant’s rookie year looks like it’s going to spent with him running around just gunning whenever he feels like it for a really bad team. 19 times this season already, he’s taken 20 or more shots in a game, and he’s shooting under 40% for the season. Those numbers, combined with a grim 9-35 Sonics record, can’t make for a happy locker room. And today, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer brings some signs of the team cracking to light:
Many NBA observers are beginning to question whether Durant’s game is developing or if his often shaky shot selection is creating bad habits that will be difficult to break in coming years.
Durant was 5-for-20 from the field in Sunday’s 103-101 loss to the Sacramento Kings, and he was the lone Sonic to take more than nine shots. Durant’s propensity for firing shots, the Sonics’ losing streak and his declining shooting percentage is beginning to wear on some Sonics veterans, who believe the shooting wealth should be shared.
The numbers show that Durant’s offensive game is stagnating as the season wears on. Although he is averaging 18.5 points during the losing streak, Durant is shooting 38 percent from the field and 19 percent from the 3-point line. He has hit more than one 3-pointer in a game just twice in the past 16 games and is 12-for-41 in the past two contests.Some NBA insiders are questioning whether Durant should be allowed to freely shoot and whether that is fostering his learning curve. Of those rookies of yesteryear that he is compared with — LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant — all shot at least 41.7 percent from the field and 29 percent from the 3-point line during their rookie year.
The story later goes on to say this:
He is averaging 22.3 points and shooting 46 percent from the field in victories and 18.6 and 38.2 in defeats. He has hit 16 3-pointers in those nine wins and 29 in the 34 losses. So Durant’s offensive success is essential to a Seattle victory, and some believe that’s too much pressure for a teenager.
“Yeah, I think so,” was Wally Szczerbiak’s response when asked if the shots could be better distributed. “I was just observing the stat sheet (Sunday) and no one got double-digit shots other than Kevin. And the coaching staff is asking a 19-year-old to do a lot. Let’s put it that way.
“In our wins, we seem to have miraculous efforts by Kevin and that seems to be the recipe for winning. And we’ve got to figure out a way to win ballgames in different ways when his shot is not falling.”
Wally was visibly frustrated the other night in Seattle’s loss to the Kings, most likely for various reasons. Knowing what we know of Wally, one of them was almost certainly that he wasn’t getting enough shots. And it definitely looked like Damien Wilkins broke off play coming out of a timeout, choosing to shoot a tough three from the corner (that he made) instead of swinging it to Durant at the top of the key.
Read the full story HERE.
January 29th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Myrie says:
Can’t blame the Seattle teammates for feeling the way they do. And you can’t blame Durant for taking advantage of the green light.
But….you can blame the Sonics for not attempting to re-sign Rashard Lewis and retaining Ray Allen. I’m sure they could have kept Lewis for less than the $118 mil the Magic coughed up.
So…the Sonics easily could have had Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and Kevin Durant this year. But no….management went in the silly opposite direction; I’m still shaking my head.
Durant just needs to know what is a good shot and what is not a good shot. He’ll learn. He needs to get to the rim more. Shoot more free throws and learn to score in a variety of ways; not just relying his jumper.
But the overall team sucks. Ask Wally how many wins he thinks they would have if there was no Durant and it was up to him to carry the offense?
January 29th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Scott says:
It surprises me that with the lack of offensive weapons they have, they don’t run more plays for Wally to take at least some of the burden off of Durant.
Last I checked Wally was one of the most efficient players in the game %’s wise. So why not go to him more, let Durant share the offense with Wally and the other guys. The Sonics aren’t going to win many either way, might as well develop Durant a little slower and with more discipline.
Though, I’ve never really thought that much of PJ as a coach. I mean, aside from being a great Assistant on the Spurs, what success has he really had in the last decade or so?
January 29th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Kobe-08_24 says:
PJ sucks as a coach. He’s just a lifer that’s always around the game, and will probably get more opportunities after getting fired from this gig.
Why are they playing Durant at the 2, rather than the 3?
January 29th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. says:
Durant is playing the 3, with Damien Wilkins playing the 2. But sometimes they’ll have Durant guard a two such as T-Mac.
January 29th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
GEE ...You done spilled that 40 on my keyboard h$% says:
Al “The Tyrant” Horford ….Rookie of the Year!
I know I know….that is crazy. I still like his play for the first year.
Durant should not be shooting at will. If you gonna lose anyway, then lose with passing the ball and sharing the rock and letting others shoot as well. They very well might be missing out on someone who can deliver better than they usually do, due to lack of better sharing on O.
January 29th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Celts Fan says:
Copied straight from a post on the hit list: He was put in a pretty rough situation. Kid should be a sophomore in college and is expected to be the best player on his team (a team that jetisoned 50ppg in scoring this offseason) If it wasn’t obvious Clay was trying to screw over Seattle, this wouldn’t make sense…
January 29th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Kobe-08_24 says:
@ T.M.P.B.W.O.T.P. - Thanks. I haven’t seen the Sonics yet this year. It would be a shame to mentally ruin this kid before he has a chance to get started. Things just seem undisciplined and chaotic there. Given that PJ is “in charge,” that isn’t a surprise.
January 29th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
doc says:
Wally should choke PJ
January 29th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
gdon says:
When your fg% begins with a 3, you’ve got to slow down even if you are the most talented player on your team. It’s just the Kevin Durant show right now and it ain’t pretty. The permanent green light will only stunt this kid’s growth. Let him develop and learn under normal conditions where a bad shot is a bad shot regardless of whether you’re the “future” of the franchise.
Man, the Sonics are almost as pathetic as the Heat…
January 29th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
gdon says:
And by the way, Wally’s got game. Cut durant’s fga/game to about 15, and Wally will get that number or more in ppg.
January 29th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
mrcanadian says:
Wow so many people giving wally world love, I think his relatives are the ones making these posts. Let kd shoot.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:01 am
2 Easy says:
Ok heres the deal, the Sonics are puttin waaay too much pressure on Durant’s nimble shoulders. Im not makin fun, Im quite lanky myself but to give him 22 shots and to run virtually no plays for anyone else is ridiculous. Hes a rookie, hes gonna hit the wall if he hasnt already and he cant be asked to carry this team nite in nite out so quick. I agree, as much as i like where they are now, Rashard and Shuttlesworth should still be in Seattle but wats done is done. That being said I understand Wally’s nice but Wally’s decision makin isnt that much better than Durants. Wally’s taken many an ill advised jumper and Ive seen PJ chew him out in a way that ud have to cover ur kids eye’s for instead of their ears. I say spread the floor, Damien’s streaky and so is Wally so try and take advantage of that and then throw it in the post but thats basketball basics so i dont kno
January 30th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
B says:
Wally sucks. Yeah he can shoot but he’s atrocious on D and clearly creates some chemistry issues amongst teammates everywhere he goes. Dude couldn’t get along with KG (the ultimate team player) in Minny. Someone needs to slap some sense into Wally and let him know this ain’t Miami, OH anymore!