Kevin Durant scored a ton of points this season. He saw pretty much every conceivable defense, battled through the very real “rookie wall” that everybody deals with when they get to the League, and he ended on high note, which will probably be enough to earn him ROY honors. But you could argue that’s where the positives for KD’s rookie season end.
The downside to him shooting a ton … is that he took a ton of shots. A ton of bad shots. It’s not inconceivable that he formed some awful offensive habits this season that could be tough for him to break as he gets older, hindering his development.
He was running around with a team that had very little veteran leadership, getting blown out on the regular, probably playing out of position, adrift as the cornerstone of a lame-duck franchise. And now he might be losing his coach. From today’s Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Sonics general manager Sam Presti addressed the media at the team’s practice facility Thursday and did nothing to dispel rumors that head coach P.J. Carlesimo’s job may be in jeopardy.
Presti said he and Carlesimo would sit down and evaluate the roster and coaching staff, but the GM did not come close to saying Carlesimo will coach the Sonics next season.
While it was widely assumed Carlesimo had a long leash during the reclamation project, his status is uncertain.
When asked if the coaching staff — Carlesimo, Paul Westhead, Mark Bryant, Scott Brooks, Ralph Lewis and Brian Keefe — would return, Presti said: “Part of the process is going to be sitting down. P.J. and I are going to do that together and really peel the layers back on the season and look at how we can get better, and obviously coaches are a big part of that as we evaluate our team, evaluate our direction and the personnel we have in place.”
Presti was then directly asked whether Carlesimo is sure to return in 2008-09, and he responded: “Like I said, I think for us, the system we have in place and the process we have in place, the one I believe in is that we need to get away, come back, and look at our team, look at our staff, look at every little thing and build on where we are now.”
Maybe the best thing for Durant at this point is for the team to move to Oklahoma City, and for the team to hire a brand new staff to start the whole thing over from the ground up and pretend this past season never happened.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Prof. TX says:
It makes me wonder how good the stats would be on any of the top ten rookies, if they had all been allowed as much offensive freedom as Durant had. You can say that this is why we have per-40 or per-48 minutes stats, but that’s noe the same thing as your coach saying that you can just shoot all you want.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Austin Burton says:
What other rookies have Durant’s talent to be given such a green light? Don’t get it twisted and think Corey Brewer could have dropped 20 a game in the same system, nor would he be given the opportunity. Durant is a special player who has the ability to lead the League in scoring someday.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
JHov says:
The best thing for KD, Jeff Green and the Sonics is for Carlesimo to get fired! Not for his win-loss record but for bad player rotation and late game management! I can’t tell you how many games I watch on NBA TV where the Sonics held on within 3-5 points until the final 4 minutes and just ran bad plays or had the wrong combination of guys on the floor together! It really stunted the young guys growth
April 18th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Prof. TX says:
What position should he be playing next year? With the ability to hit threes he could be a tall outside SF (like Peja, but more skilled) but then he wouldn’t be in position for as many rebounds as he was in collge. Of course, that all depends on whether you think his frame can hold up to the banging of pro-level lane players.
Then again, he’s only two inches shorter than Olajuwon, who could certainly rebound in the paint despite being less than diesel-built.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Bobby B says:
Overall, KD did take a ton of bad shots during the course of the season. However, he shot 50% from the field over the last 2 months of the season so I think that bodes well for him next year. I hope that indicates he had better shot selection towards the end of the year, and that he didn’t develop awful offensive habits as you guys suggest.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Diego says:
Okay, I will give Durant the ROY award. (I am thinking a potential Alex English or Iceman Gervin. (Some skinny guys just can’t put on weight.))
But this year, take Durant away from the Sonics and Horford away from the Hawks, and which team do you think suffers more? (By the way, Durant was 24th leading league scorer; Horford was 13th leading league rebounder.) I am sure the Sonics could have found someone on their roster willing to take 17 shots/game and score 2 ppg. (I am sure Wally Z., for one, would have volunteered.) But the Hawks this year without Horford? Ouch!
Back to the Hawks (sorry for sidebar here–you can catch my allegiance), 3 reasons they can’t legitimately take out the Celtics (not in order): (i) poor Atlanta coaching; (ii) lack of confidence in Hawks and oodles of confidence in Celtics; and (iii) Garnett getting ridiculous numbers of calls by refs.
Bill Simmons’s incredible Celtics man-crush really pisses me off. I want to see Joe Johnson school Pierce. (Can I get an over/under on number of legitimate blocks by J. Smoove and Horford on Garnett in this series? I would bet at least 5 (even if series goes 4 games). Watch and you shall see.)
I think I might give my left nut to see the Hawks take this series.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Diego says:
That should be 20 ppg.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Daily boy says:
All he has to do is get in that weight room this summer, put on about 10-15lbs of bulk. Next season he could be the beast that he was at UT. This is the same thing they said about AI when he first got to Philly, look at him now a legend, Durant will be the same way. Mark my words.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
simpeter says:
Consider it this way. If every playoff team could add either Durrant or Horford to their rosters, ONLY for the playoffs, without considering future upside potential, marketing revenues, hype and what have you - which one would they grab? Not much parity there. I say that every single team would take Horford.
Or this way. Subtract Durrant’s “gaping hole” defense from his scoring average and you’ll recognize the leading scorer of a doormat team. Can’t say that about Horford on either count.
Durrant’s surely gonna become a marquee player, but give the ROY to the guy who deserves it this year.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Celts Fan says:
Put Durant on a playoff team, and he’s not jacking up 15 shots a game and is more efficient. Any playoff team that has ANY semblance of a low post game would take Durant. You can find guys that can grab 10 boards a game. Use Durant as a 3rd option (where he’d be on most playoff teams) instead of the ONLY option (where he was with the Sonics) and it’s not even close! By the way, I give Durant ROY, but it’s pretty close. Horford did a hell of a job climbing back into it and helping the Hawks break that playoff draught. Just think Durant’s too talented not to be a supremely special player…
Perfectly put Austin (post 2)
April 18th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Diego says:
Fact is, you can find more guys that can make 20 points/game than 10 rebounds/game. And there are several playoff teams (Cavs, Wiz, even Pistons, with no real semblance of a low post game). Who would Magic take? They’ve got plenty of long, tall shooters, but no one to back up D. Howard.
In the long run, Durant no doubt will have a more impressive career, but this year, Horford is a more valuable Chip.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
K Dizzle says:
Durant’s future is spelled R-a-s-h-a-r-d L-e-w-i-s…
April 18th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Boris says:
KD definitely deserves the Title (ROY)!
http://www.squidoo.com/KevinDurantDunk
April 18th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
QQ says:
Dude’s got talent, and this is his FIRST season; cmon guys, give the kid some time. Young players always have that ‘I’ll shoot, you watch’ complex, but KD would surely mature and develop IN TIME. And hopefully when that time comes, he won’t have guys named Donyell Marshall and Francisco Elson around him anymore.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
daquest?on says:
this article is true…if this keeps up he is going to be a loser all of his life because basketball is mental also and if u keep losing that mentality is going to stay with u in the long run and the shooting habits are gonna b hard to let go…this season hurt durant..i just hope he doesnt become a loser that jacks up shots..like ricky buckets
April 18th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
daquest?on says:
or like t mac.. great player but a loser
April 19th, 2008 at 4:50 am
Suciniac says:
Could we see another co-winner.Or, they will relent against the hype and give it to Durant.When Lebron won it, he missed the playoffs and had very similar numbers to Melo who went to the playoffs but that didn’t count for anything.So, I don’t see Horford getting it.
April 19th, 2008 at 5:11 am
nbaroundtable says:
Sam Presti needs to take all of the blame for the bad rotations and mismatched roster.
He didn’t put a single shooting guard worth his salt down there. He kicked out Ray Allen, who’s veteran presence, leadership, and scoring ability would have been a great help next to the rookie Durant. He drafted two small forwards in the lottery because the idea worked so well for Atlanta these last few years. But most of his he left young comparably talented players all over his roster, players that are no better than their backup (Earl Watson/Ridnour Petro/Swift Collison/Wilcox).
It’s Presti’s fault the rotations were bad. It’s Presti’s fault the offense had no firepower. It’s Presti’s fault that the defense was crap, heck if you don’t acquire defensive players you’re not going to be any good.
I’m not saying he should be fired, it’s early days and it’s a work in progress. Well since the Ray Allen trade he’s nothing that should get him fired. Just don’t make PJ Carlesimo a scapegoat. None of the problems were created by him. It was Presti.
PJ did a credible job turning that disgracefully light offense into something respectable. He did a great job developing Durant throughout the season (you don’t think PJ is part of the reason Durant improved his shot selection?). And he did a good job on the defensive end as he always has. Give him more time.
April 19th, 2008 at 7:35 am
doc says:
The skinny man is rOY.
April 19th, 2008 at 8:27 am
ERIC says:
FACT: Durant’s shooting % was better than LeBron’s rookie year (43%-41%)
FACT: Durant was the only rookie that had defenses focusing on stopping him
FACT: Iverson, of the crappy 76ers won ROY(23ppg, 6apg) over the instrumental and playoff-bound Marbury in 1996-1997 (16ppg, 8apg).
My opinion is that the ROOKIE OF THE YEAR is for the first-year player who performs the best and shows the most potential for future stardom. This is NOT MOST VALUABLE ROOKIE.
April 19th, 2008 at 10:40 am
QQ says:
Right on point Eric.
April 19th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
YOUNGFED says:
Stuckey=ROY
Nuff Said
April 19th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Tim says:
Rodney Stuckey is the Rookie of the Year…you’ll find that out during the playoffs…. yes i know this wont happen…but I could only imagine if he played a full year as a starter…woah.
April 20th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Dave says:
Seriously, how many times does Carlesimo have to get fired before there’s a league-wide realization that he’s not a head coach. Make him an assistant and he does fine; elevate him to the top stop and he’s just not capable.
I don’t know what it was presented as a bad thing that PJ is going to get fired. Its probably one of the best things that could happen to KD. Maybe the next coach will actually be able to develop him properly.
April 20th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Celts Fan says:
you guys bashing Durant understand that this team was intentionally made bad to keep the fans from turning out too much to make it that much easier for these slimebags to move to OKC, right?
April 21st, 2008 at 10:11 am
Dame says:
Reggie evans does the exact same thing(s) as Al Horford. Atlanta takes a lot of terrible shots so he gets the boards and puts them back this is not rocket sciencve. Not to mention the playoff bound Hawks are in the playoffs with a losing record IN THE EAST(JV). Horfords strong and a solid defender but he is doing all he can do. Not too mention that although they have no type of guidance (Woodson doesnt count)they have players- JJ(wasn’t he an all star- oh yeah), Bibby, Marv Williams, J Smith.
Am not knocking Horford but lets keep it real its nice hes found his niche in the league but so has Carl landry
Am just saying tho