Just read a piece by Anthony Slater over at newsok in relation to Kevin Durant lauding David West for playing for the Spurs for a ‘paltry’ $1.4 million this season instead of pocketing $11 million for another season in Indiana.
Yeah, I agree, cool. I’ve always admired Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli myself. The way they’ve taken less money to help the team with salary cap issues. The way Ginobli, unlike both James Harden and Reggie Jackson embraced the Sixth Man role to help his team win rings. I’m a throwback guy, I’ve always loved it. I love Popovich.
But here would be my questions to Kevin Durant, if David West had signed to play in Oklahoma City this season would you and Russell ever have let him touch the ball?
Would David West get more than the one shot Steven Adams got in Game 3 after his playoff career breakout game in Game 2?
Would David West have gotten more than the six shots the completely offensively capable Enes Kanter got in Game 3?
Would David West actually be allowed to touch the ball in late game situations?
My point is this, please give me a break, Kevin Durant.
Sam Presti has put together a nice stable of bigs in Serge Ibaka, Enes Kanter, and Steven Adams. All three, unlike Kendrick P:erkins, can catch and shoot. Adams has become a very nice pick and roll player. Kanter can either pick and roll or pick and pop. Ibaka is pretty effective on pick and pop. Yet, they never see the ball enough.
I know it’s Mothers Day, I shouldn’t use this type of language, but give me a f–king break. If it’s not about money, or ego, touches—then why isn’t former yacht party pioneer James Harden here doing the Manu Ginobli thing? Why isn’t self proclaimed minimalist Reggie Jackson here doing the Ginobli thing as well?
You know why. I know why. Because in our current culture both money and ego trump most everything else most of the time. If James Harden had stayed in OKC and embraced the Ginobli template we’re not even talking David West.
Please, spare me. I’m fairly certain Sam Presti was completely on board with Harden being Manu.
Granted, OKC has issues with their backup point guard position and they’re in need of a two way shooting guard with more consistency than Dion Waiters. But what really needs to happen is that both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook need to trust their teammates.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook need to be finishing games in the last six minutes versus turning the ball over.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook need to be doing the little things like Kawhi Leonard which don’t get you triple doubles, scoring titles, or 40–50-90s. Little things which might not get you the top dollar endorsements, but gets your team a ring. Little things. Hard working things. Blue collar lunchpail things. Claw, scratch, and bleed things.
Durant and Westbrook need to be making plays in the last six minutes of close games because anyone who’s watched the Thunder knows the entire system of the Thunder has been set in stone with these two players getting the majority of touches.
So while my old Vince Lombardi, Red Auerbach, or even Gregg Popovich heart is warmed by Kevin Durant saying money isn’t everything. I’m somewhat calling bullshit on this and saying you and Russell Westbrook need to start making plays in the last six minutes of games.
And while the David West story does warm my heart, I ask again, would he have ever touched the ball in Oklahoma City when it mattered?
As you say!