Because it’s a day that ends in “y” and neither has anything better to do, apparently, former teammates Kevin Durant and Draymond Green had a Twitter discussion about their NBA Finals runs in 2017 and 2018. Green was a guest on “The Colin Cowherd Podcast” and made the point that Stephen Curry was double-teamed more than Durant in the Finals. The clip made its way around Twitter and Durant disagreed with the take and eventually Green saw it.
“You have to learn to listen to full takes,” Green tweeted. “And not snippets before you get baited into tweeting champ.”
You have to learn to listen to full takes and not snippets before you get baited into tweeting Champ. https://t.co/2dU2MleteJ
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) May 31, 2022
“Oh I seen it my brethren,” Durant tweeted. “I appreciate the compliments but I disagree with what u said about double teams that’s all. I love the show.”
Oh I seen it my brethren, I appreciate the compliments but I disagree with what u said about double teams that’s all. I love the show https://t.co/6M18Ez1Vpr
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) May 31, 2022
Why does any of this matter?
Durant’s free agency decision to sign with the Golden State Warriors and everything that happened subsequently during his tenure with the Warriors is still fodder for #NBATwitter debates and the talking head shows.
The reason Stephen Curry doesn't have a Finals MVP?@Money23Green defends the Warriors superstar pic.twitter.com/W2EsA2lz7X
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) May 31, 2022
Was Durant the best player on two title teams? Was he only getting open looks because of Curry’s gravity? Who got double-teamed more? Honestly it’s an exhausting and reductive conversation that takes away from the nuances and beauty of the game.
The Warriors motion offense is predicated on every player being a live threat with or without the ball. What made that version of the Warriors offense hard to beat was they had two of the greatest offensive players ever in Curry and Durant and maybe the second-best shooter ever (at worst top five) in Klay Thompson. It was devastating.
Trapping or doubling Curry with size made sense because you might cause a turnover, as he was often a primary ballhandler. Trying to do the same on Durant, who wasn’t the primary ball handler, in the mid post wouldn’t be as effective. He could see it coming and as a 7-footer pass out of it over the top.
The truth is both players were excellent and vital to the team’s championships in 2017 and 2018. Contrary to popular opinion, the 2016 Warriors that won 73 games were not the best team in basketball. They blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Durant and Green disagreeing with how they saw “double-teams” is likely a nuanced basketball position that the average fan can’t see. These are two of the best basketball minds to ever play the game.
What may look like a double-team to a layperson might not be what is actually happening.
It’s also likely Green’s assertion that Curry was double-teamed seven times as much as Durant drew the Nets star’s ire. Seven times as much is hyperbolic, but Green probably did it to highlight his main point, which is Curry not winning an NBA Finals MVP doesn’t negate his impact.
But it’s 2022 and there needs to be something to argue about on social media, and as plugged into social as Durant is there was no way he wouldn’t jump into the fray.
