NBA, Smack / Dec 30, 2011 / 1:44 am

Kevin Durant Rips the Heart out of the Mavs; Kobe Bryant Demoralizes the Knicks

By

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant (photo. Greg Morris)

As long as the door’s open a crack, Kevin Durant can – and will – sneak attack you and steal a game. Last night in Oklahoma City, KD did just that. A back-and-forth game between the Thunder and the Mavs came down to a final two minutes dominated by big shots. With the Mavs down one, Vince Carter drilled a three from the top of the key off a Dirk decoy play with just 1.4 seconds to go. After a timeout, the Thunder inbounded to Durant, and despite everyone in the gym knowing he was taking the shot, the Mavs inexplicably A) let KD catch the inbounds pass cleanly and B) gave him some daylight to get off a shot. Buckets. Thunder win … Seriously, you let anyone take that shot other than Durant, right? Even a Russell Westbrook clean look is preferable … By the way, have you seen Russ’ MJ-powered skates?? … How’s this for efficiency? KD got 30, going 10-15 from the floor … We know there’s no substitute for NBA games and practices for players to get in game shape, but dudes who showed up to camp completely out of shape? No excuse. On last night’s TNT broadcast, Mike Fratello said that on the Mavs’ off day on Wednesday, the team made Lamar Odom come in for two hours of conditioning work. Then he had to come back early before the team’s shootaround on gameday yesterday for more … Interesting observation from Steve Kerr last night: The Thunder use a bunch of the same exact plays for James Harden the Spurs have used for years for Manu Ginobili … Twitter was abuzz yesterday about how Deron Williams and Dwight Howard had dinner in Orlando on Wednesday night. You can imagine what was discussed, but once the Nets/Magic game started, Dwight was in seek-and-destroy mode. The Magic stomped the Nets, 94-78, and DH went for a 16-point, 24-board, 3-block, 3-steal, 3-assist night. It was the 49th 20-rebound game of Howard’s career … In the first two minutes of the game, Howard sent a Memo Okur shot out to halfcourt and nearly 10 rows up the stands … Basketball cannot be fun for Deron Williams right now. He’s the only real offensive weapon on a bad team and is facing constant double-teams and it shows. Last night he had 10 points, on 2-10 shooting. It’s amazing that he came up with seven assists with the players he has around him. D-will’s on an island and the only guy he has to help him is Marshon Brooks (17 points) … We’re getting close to permanent-vacation time for Tim Duncan. The Hall of Fame-lock got benched last night in Houston as his Spurs got blasted 105-85. Duncan was a miserable 1-8 from the floor and finished with four points … Kyle Lowry was a monster for Houston, just missing a triple-double with 16 points, nine boards and eight assists … Click for more: Kobe demoralizes the Knicks, Tyreke Evans and Derrick Rose battle in Sacramento

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  • K Dizzle

    @ Chi-rilla

    Seriously. Dude plays thru some of the most ridiculous injuries I’ve ever seen. I took physiology, human kinetics n anatomy in college and do athletic therapy now so whenever Kobe tears, or rips, or breaks, or fractures, or severs some shyt from where it’s supposed to be, I shake my head. We all talk hoops with our boys so my bbm, facebook, etc blows up with the “Your boy gonna be gone for a few weeks LMAO” and whereas it used to stress my ass out, now I just shrug n send back the “We’ll see”.
    That’s why I say something’s wrong with him cuz he playin with injuries that DO knock down the toughest individuals. Like average people miss work for a few days, average pro athletes miss a few weeks on th IR; this fool don’t even take a day off. He finds some way to tape it or wrap it up so that the 20 footer is still wet.
    A torn lunotriquetral ligament is no joke. Shyt stabilizes the bones in the wrist. The last thing you should be doin is snapping the wrist on jumpers and dribbling, not to mention the contact made just by playin ball. Yet, this fool is out there, hittin and-1 30 footers and gettin hit on the wrist, dunkin like it’s no thing and shootin fadeaways like he’s on playstation.
    I guess the great ones can just tunnel focus and ignore what should be ‘shoot-me-now’ pain levels. Larry Bird and Jerry West got tore-up fingers too.
    I’m just happy this psychologically messed in the brain assassin plays for my favorite squad…

  • beiber newz

    FnF

    every GM probably went into their job with the same thinking as you are explaining now. you make 100% sense. i can’t argue with your points…but put yourself in the driver seat. every gm wants to make all the perfect moves. but you have to take what comes with the territory. being a GM involves taking chances, it involves gambling. it involves thinking with your brain as much as it does with your heart.

    i don’t think the celtics knew what they were getting when they kept rajon rondo out of the KG trade involving the timberwolves. but they ended up keeping a future all star.

    while every GM wants so badly to put together an all star team, there will always be a hit and miss. no one want to have jordan’s label of a bust GM. but sadly, no GM is psychic.

    harmless question Fnf: do you honestly, HONESTLY think you could take over, let’s say the bucks, and with the knowledge you have now, put together a team that can compete for a championship if given a 5 year deadline?

    it’s much easier for owners to blame faults on coaches. why does david khan still have a job?

  • http://deleted dagwaller

    http://dimemag.com/2011/05/dirk-is-a-boss/

    post 29

    I knew that I said Harden would be the next Ginobili! Lol ya’ll don’t want to know how long it took me to find that.

    @ Big I – your hand is your friend, homey, just sayin! lol

  • beiber newz

    :D @ big island’s comment of: “I have about 3 seconds from the time I realize I need to take a dump until it is in my pants.”

    very visual, very funny

  • Big Island

    KDizzle – I always wondered about stuff like that. When I blew out my left ACL, I had the doctor tell me the quickest he has ever seen anyone ever come back from one was 4 months and he was a 20 year old pro hockey player. I was like “I can do that”. No. It’s been 7 years and it still ain’t right. They cleaned everything out while they were in there and it feels better than my right knee though. I blew the right ACL 3 years ago in March and decided I was done, passed on surgery for that one. I fell a lot for about a month when it would pop out, but it’s pretty good now. My right thumb pops out and won’t open all of the way and my left middle finger can cross over my ring or pointer finger at the middle knuckle. I have a decent pain threshold, but trust me when I say I was not playing through some of that crap. Kobe is out there dropping buckets with dangling puffy hands and knees probably worse than mine ever were. Dirk with a tooth in his elbow. Nash with his back. Rondo when his elbow snapped. All it shows me is what a candyass I am.

    Speaking of guys tougher than I am, Lesnar fights Overeem tonight. I might be using my hand like dag suggested. All homo.

  • First & Foremost

    Confidence is 1/2 the battle so I will make a definitive statement and proclaim, I’d be able to build a team that could contend 5 years down the road.

    My Road to Success would be along the lines of:
    Start by cleaning house for draft picks and cap space. The key is not to swing for the fence EVERY year. Look at the Blazers. They don’t have to get the biggest named FA. My first draft pick will be a PF. In the offseason I’d pick up a few vet PFs as well. Their job is to show the kid the ropes. The coach will be an extension of me. They will run my system, not the other way around. With me and him/her on the same page, the players know I have my coach’s back. No BS-ing around in hopes they get fired. My draft/FA process will be similar to Khan but I want an army of big men. Years 1&2 will be drafting bigs. Year 3 I’ll survey the landscape and either draft a PG or a wing scorer. Hopefully the wing scorer comes through the draft and then I’ll step to the plate and point to deep left with my pitch to get a better than average PG. Then we wait.

  • First & Foremost

    Now that my rose colored glasses are off. Most GMs are handcuffed by none other than the almighty dollar. I’m not sure about Portlands finances but they go through GMs like Derrick Rose goes through skittles. NY signed Chandler because he was a nice shiny toy. Not brand new, not completely intact, but just because he shined. NY can market him to their fans as, “he is one of our missing pieces, not we just need a PG.” This year’s crop of PGs wasn’t great but the question is can Amare play with Chandler. You pay Amare more so Tyson is the odd man out. Would NY had been better off going for Nene/Gasol II? They grabbed Chandler because he has become a bigger name.

  • beiber newz

    fnf…havent done any research, just off the top of my mind…sounds like your formula MAY be similar to the bobcats/raptors who also took a PF/C type player in a draft. i know the bobcats rounded out some of their roster moves taking bigs (sean may, gerald wllace) and took a pg (felton) down the line , not entirely sure about the rap’s moves.

    but hey you make it sound easy, maybe they SHOULD hire you.

  • beiber newz

    ^bobcats: okafor
    raps: bargnani

    i don’t think their moves were similar to the one you diagrammed however….but still, both franchises remain to make any championship caliber runs .

  • http://www.zwani.com/graphics/funny_pictures/images/88funny-pictures128.jpg JAY

    @ beib: I’m only going to respond to one of your comments then move on, because I feel like rehashing everything is pointless. i chose this comment because I feel like you think I’m jumping on you because it’s the trendy thing to do on Dime lately. Honestly that’s not the case from my perspective.

    “if someone you guys are more comfortable liking said that, you would understand the words used.”
    Not exactly man. I give you the benefit of the doubt. You know that. We’ve joked around often, agreed often, and civilly disagreed other times. But, even you have to admit, for the last few weeks or so you’ve been a bit out of hand. For whatever reason, whether it’s because you were provoked by somebody, or a bad day, or whatever… you’ve been confrontational like a son-of-a-bitch. And that’s not so bad because it’s an internet discussion board, but sooner or later (especially because you post so often) that routine runs thin. Dude’s get tired of it. I know I did, so i stopped reading your posts. All I’m saying is, keep it cool man. No need to bug out on people. Call my comments “crazy”, or I’ll even tolerate, “what the fuck are you talking about!!”… if you call my comments, ‘dumb’ IMO, that’s crossing the line from a discussion, to immature name calling whether it’s direct at someone personally or their comments. It ain’t cool.
    That said, there are some times when something might escalate(or descend) to that level, like with you and control, but shit I didn’t chomp your head off. Be easy. That’s all I’m saying. Maybe smoke a joint if u need help levelling out. Nothing wrong with a little bud.
    *puff puff pass*

    …moving on

  • http://www.zwani.com/graphics/funny_pictures/images/88funny-pictures128.jpg JAY

    …or you can play the BRUCE card and not give a fuck at all. Tell us all to fuck off and just be totally ignant dude. No offense BRUCE.

  • First & Foremost

    But how many coaches have the Raptors and Bobcats been through? That is where teams make their mistakes. They bring in a new coach to coach players that don’t fit his system and then because of contracts the new coach is handcuffed to being forced to use pieces that don’t fit. His draft picks aren’t ready to lead either. The coach loses his job, current players want to leave, and the next coach has the same problem the previous coach did. He has a bunch of 2-3 year players that were molded to run one system yet the franchise brough it a vastly different coach. You can’t swap D’antoni and Rivers and expect them to have their same results because the pieces don’t fit.

    Successful franchise have few front office changes. Leadership flows from the top down. Andray Blatche isn’t afraid to speak out because he knows 1 of 2 things will happen. Either he gets traded or the coach gets fired, both are fine by him. If the Owner/Gm/Coach move in unison, you’ll never hear a word from the players unless they’re grossly mistreated. Example, Indiana. Of all the Spurs that have come and gone, only Tony Parker expressed his frustration. They paid him off and he has STFU.

    Why do you think so many football coaches refuse to play for various owners? As a coach, you want GM responsibilities and as a GM you want a coach that plays a style you’ve drafted for. Either way, you want your Coach and GM to be on the same page. That way the players have no one to complain to, they can only focus on doing their job.

    Toronto has a problem of retaining players. The Bobcats have a problem of retaining coaches. Neither will make championship runs.

  • beiber newz

    the comment u responded to was actually an extension of the actually comment that should have been the focus.

  • beiber newz

    ^that was directed to JAY

  • JBaller

    I’ve been waiting for the knicks to have a team I can root for for so long, but it’s still so hard. I like the front court, but with no backcourt to speak of, no leadership, no on-ball defense, no playmakers except isolationists and a coach who rode his former mvp point guard to prominance they still suck! Waiving Chauncey to pick up Chandler now seems to have been a mistake. CB was just what ny needed, a playmaking leader pg. They looked like shit out there last night, like they have no idea what to do, no game plan whatsoever and no one who would be willing to execute a plan if there was one.

    I’m just gonna have to root for Denver, since I live in the CO, Rockies now. Got some tix for DEN vs BOS in March foe Christmas.
    GO NUGGETS!

  • King

    The knicks will continue to be average until dantoni is fired. he sucks

  • EN FUEGO

    Fuck you, beiber. You still trying to use me as an excuse for your psycho fucktardness?

    I’m gonna call your 5000 bucks cash if you see any of my posts admitting about faking.

    There’s only one faker here and its you, beaver, you dumbass poser.

  • EN FUEGO

    Let’s see if you can prove shit, boy.

    And we’re doing it as technical and as detailed as fuck – just like the way you want it.

    HAHAHAHA

  • beiber newz

    “Either way, you want your Coach and GM to be on the same page.”

    THAT IS integral…very integral actually.
    i haven’t heard of one bobcats fan. maybe because that franchise seems all over the place. i have no clue what direction they are going in term of the type of nucleus they want to put on the floor. what product are they aiming for?

    are they a defensive unit? are they a run a gun squad? are they a slow it down, grind it out team? i don’t know. maybe it is because of the coaching situation you mention. GMs can’t just thrust players here and there and expect the franchise to prosper. i see your point, doc rivers and his GM have been on the same page for years. and although the celts get made fun of for bringing in old vets, they still have a cohesiveness that allows them to compete and that only instills good chemistry.

    with that said, saying it is easy….actually putting it on the floor is the hard part. most GMs have ego’s. most coaches hate interference from up top. but seeing as how you’re headstrong on finding a coach that will be happily subordinate, those problems can be avoided.

    but that doesn’t guarantee success. sometimes players just slack. sometimes they don’t live up to their contract. there have been a number of players who look good to everyone and then flop 1 or 2 years down the line. then those GMs are handcuffed for years. most gm’s pray for luck just as much as they pay for scout’s analyzed studies on player’s true effectiveness i.e. landry fields. had anyone known he’d be a reliable guard, no one can argue that he wouldn’t have been a first round selection.

    basically, my point is, for as much and as good as you sound, and as perfect as your plan seems, sometimes you have to roll the dice. i think the spurs have been the smartest drafters for years. they always get sneaky gems in the draft. that is why i’m pretty sure kawhi leonard will be a stud. it’s not my opinion, i just have a lot of trust in the minds on the spurs staff. really, who was their last bust in the draft? i think they even drafted scola, they should have kept him…..

  • EN FUEGO

    ^^^^^Long, boring and pointless as usual.

    Always analyzing the obvious with stupid, dumb as fuck opinions.

  • EN FUEGO

    What a poser. Posting opinions as if we don’t read shit about the NBA.

  • beiber newz

    hi en fuego, i hope you are having a wonderful day so far.

    to address your comment, i wasn’t sure whether or not you admitted to being the imposter, which is why i posed my comment as a question and not a statement. let me explain why i wanted to inquire as to whether or not you had admitted to it.

    when i was asking about who faked my comment, i told you that you sounded defensive, and although you did say that it was a “nice setup” (i wasn’t sure what you meant by that), as i continued reading your comment you said that “you stooped to my level” and said that you had kicked my ass “for old time’s sake” ….. ? i wasn’t sure if you had admitted that you faked my comment to “kick my ass” as you claimed and for old time’s sake – as if you have been faking comments for a while. i wasn’t sure at all.

    that is the only reason i posed the question. it wasn’t an accusation, but i can see how anyone can take it as so. i understand that.

    no offense…why do you constantly use: HAHAHAHAHA ?
    u say it after everything…even when it isn’t “ahahaha” worthy.

  • EN FUEGO

    Posting as if he’s the only one who knows hoops. Annoying know-it-all asshole.

    And he’s posting and trying to be nice today. But still trying to explain and weasel his way out. What a phony.

  • EN FUEGO

    And now you suddenly back off, say you ain’t sure and go safe again. Typical. Everything is HAHAHA worthy when its about your pretentious bullshit. And I can tell it annoys the psycho out you, so…

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA you piece of shit

  • First & Foremost

    So apparently the best way to beat the Spurs is to play extra hard for 36 minutes and then watch Popovich hand you the game.

    So if there are any superstars out there that have taken flak for not being clutch when it matters because they have had a career of blowout wins under the their belt, THIS IS YOUR SEASON.

  • http://Dimemag.com Panchitoooo

    Lol@beiber agreeing with everyone today and en fuego still shitting on him. looking foward to more hate in 2012!

  • beiber newz

    :D
    EN FUEGO, you truly make me smile. *hand on bible*

  • beiber newz

    i have nothing to disagree with. it’s funny that people just think i go out my way to disagree. lol
    like if i defend my original comment i am a “disagreer ”

    funny…

    no one here has said anything truly disagreeable for me.

    man. funny how you get a label after ONE WEEK! and all because of my melo mvp talk. smh lol one week of me defending melo and i have the label of a disagreer, how long have i been commenting on this site, and one week will define me. silly.

    this is actually the first thing i am truly disagreeing with today, and it’s me defending the fact that i am not a disagreer, how ironic is that?

  • http://Dimemag.com Panchitoooo

    Dam idk whos hated more on this site beibernewz or Lebron lol

  • beiber newz

    lol….? people luv drama. they’ll create it out of no hwere. just to stir up hate. clear example

  • That’s What’s Up

    someone is still crushed after the Mavs swept a fading team out of the playoffs last year.
    move on.
    the lakers have a chance to fuck the whole thing up again this year.

  • EN FUEGO

    Not one week. Not Melo. You had it coming.

    Your douchebaggery did you in.
    Panchitoooo called it. HAHA

    It was inevitable. The only thing uncertain is who control hates more, you or Rondo?

  • beiber newz

    did me in? lol were we in battle? :D

  • beiber newz

    CLIPPERS VS THE BULLS TONITE WILL BE A FANTASTIC GAME

  • RobL

    Lakers putting Metta in charge of the 2nd team was exactly what we needed especially now that Drew is on he’s way back into the lineup most likely gives MWP37 a bit more confidence knowing the coaches see him as an on floor leader & realistically that’s exactly where we need him never know might be 6th man @ the end of the year.

  • http://Dimemag.com Panchitoooo

    after reviewing the last couPle laker games in my head i still think kobe needs to improve on lots of things. Now that hes freestyling his attacks hes turning the ball over on silly moves/plays and that needs to end soon. Not only that but i feel he could come off the high pick and roll a little harder and really look to score within 2 dribbles. Kobe doesnt elevate as well as he used to and that 3rd dribble IMO gets him too low in the key where he cant finish consistently over younger and taller defenders. I know that the mid range 18 footer is his bread and butter but scoring like that is not as effiecient as other options on the court. He should stick to shooting 3s and taking it to the hole either off the dribble or post ups. The trust and passing will eventually follow and soon after the MVP trophy….

  • RobL

    MAVS vs OKC, Mavs should have never let that slip obviously they were going to KD35 but to pretty much hand OKC the win after VC hit the go ahead 3 because of poor defense & clear passing lanes I would say the 10/11 champs would be disappointed & might even be experiencing a championship hangover well see oh & KD35 is PLAYING like an MVP >_<
    Knicks went & recruited offensive weapons got 1 player who plays good defence ( when he has a decent PG ) & probably hoped they would land CP3 but Chandler can't do it all alone & Stat use to be a monster on the boards before the injuries It feels to me NY think they can go out & outscore there opponents everynight but that ain't going to happen with the opponents knocking down shots with ease and then making NY work even harder by locking down hard on defense & making NY earn there buckets…

  • beiber newz

    @robl….you mention kd playing like an mvp..you’re not allowed to use that terminology apparently.

    @ panchitooo…you mentioned a lot of hypotheticals when talking about kobe/mvp. you’re not allowed to use that syntax apparently.

    not tryna stir anything…but i guess no one here likes when people talk like that. i got heat for it, just giving you two a heads up…i found myself in a war zone when i did.

  • beiber newz

    the way dwight is rebounding the ball and the way kobe looks rejuvenated, i think it’s safe to say if those two played together the rest of the league should cry… like, go into mourning.

  • beiber newz

    i need to see some highlights..rubio is cooking miami, 12 assists ! there has to been a handful of sexy dimes. he has arrived.

  • EN FUEGO

    HAHAHAHAHA

    Now that is comedy gold! Beaver still trying to weasel his out with “technicalities” about the MVP. Just own it, man. This is just too pathetic.

  • First & Foremost

    @Dime – There isn’t a healthier team that refuses to win a game like Detroit.

  • beiber newz

    more “hahaha” from en fuego. man, you really do over use “hahaha”

    anyway…rose and 250 million will be in the same sentence very soon…………..

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