Kevin Durant: the comparisons

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

He gets rebounds because he is seven feet tall plus he guards post players on D because he is not athletic enough to guard anyone else. I am not saying that he is not a great offensive player, because he is but he is not mobile, cant jump, and has no lateral movement. He is a great player because he can score period. Sure he is stronger than Durant now but he is 10 years older. Name one big man who came into Pro basketball with size and skills to match as a teenager? I can think of one. Moses Malone, and he was weak then compared to his later years when he bulked up.

Athletic is athletic is athletic. You have athletic skills regardless of your competition. I'm sure that Durant could outrun Dirk, out jump Dirk, out move him. By a signifigant margin. Love to watch him and I didn't judge Barnes on one game. I thought he let the Kansas game slip through his hands and I still cant figure out how you dont double team Acie Law at the end of the game.

He can guard 3's (the position, not the shot) better than any 7 footer in the league.

You have to have a reference point, come on. Durant is playing against kids that are not nearly as strong, as fast, have hops like the pros. I am sure Dirk, at this point, is MORE atheletic than Durant. Lateral movement, are you kidding. Thats how he rebounds so well out high. Dirk has fantastic lateral movement for a man his size. Avery has made him play defense.
Durant barely has muscles yet. And I must repeat, Durant is not a great athlete, he is a great NCAA basketball player. Muscles move bones. Bones move the body. I think we may be mixing coordination with athleticism. Durant is incredibly well coordinated for an 18 year old. But this is because he has lived in the gym since he was 12 years old. His mentor would not allow him to play in pick up games and drilled him on fundamentals and balance. In fact over the Winter break he went right back to the gym to be drilled by this same mentor. Durant is single minded... good thing he can play basketball so well, he is a horrible speaker.

You dont double Acie Law because he does what he just did against Louisville (at home, which I still cant figure out how a 6th seed gets two home games in the first two rounds) He finds the open man for wide open slashes, or 3's. And the 3 Law made was pure luck, he said so, he shot a knucle ball, it had zero rotation. Kirk is ATM's best 3 point shooter, thats who Barnes was worried about shooting.

And you nailed it with Moses Malone. I totally agree. He was a monster under the boards the minute he stepped on the the court.

Keep em coming. I reserve the right to ask you horsie questions so I can learn more.