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Pharzeone
Posts: 32183
Alba Posts: 14
Joined: 2/11/2005
Member: #871
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Posted by JohnWallace44:
If a player is great in the summer league, that's at least a good sign.
If its their first year and they look horrible in the first couple games, that doesn't tell you much.
We had a lot of good signs last night. Seattle had to feel good about Jeff Green, but otherwise they are basically seeing that they need to coach these guys up to get them ready.
I'm sure Durant will be a great scorer, but no assists in 2 games has to give you pause.
Durant struggles in second consecutive game
By GARY WASHBURN
P-I REPORTER
LAS VEGAS -- It appears Kevin Durant's transition to the NBA is going to mirror that of the Sonics' transition back to league respectability.
It will be a methodical process that will have its share of pitfalls.
Durant's second professional game Monday night at Cox Pavilion was much like his first. He struggled mightily from the field, was pushed around by bigger opponents in the paint and swats by NBA savvy opponents forced him into hurried shots.
The wunderkind from Texas played like a mortal for the second consecutive time.
Durant scored 18 points on 4-for-19 shooting as the Sonics were drubbed by the acrobatic Nate Robinson and the New York Knicks 87-74 at the Las Vegas Summer League.
In two games, Durant is 9-for-36 from the field with a 17.5-point average.
He is indeed scoring because the 6-foot-9 swingman is getting to the free-throw line, but his struggles are apparent, especially on Monday when the defensive-minded Knicks focused on giving him a humility lesson.
"I was in the game but I struggled. But as the game went on we got a little better, focused a little hard and that's the important thing," he said. "The game's quicker. Everybody is good and you've got to play hard every night and hopefully the next game we come out harder."
Durant's shortcomings are becoming more profound with each game.
On Friday against Dallas, he was able to dominate two 6-foot-5 small forwards because of his length.
But the Knicks countered with defensive ace Renaldo Blackman, a 6-foot-8 Dennis Rodman type who used his legs to push Durant from a desired position, leaving him to shoot fadeaways.
In the paint, Durant found himself trying to bang with 6-11, 260-pound Randolph Morris, who used his trunk to push Durant, then swatted his shot on three occasions.
Durant is far from being strong enough to create his own space in the key and will have to outjump or used his length to score baskets.
Of his four field goals, two were 3-pointers, one was a fadeaway 16-footer and the other a 2-pointer with his foot on the 3-point line. He converted all eight of his free throws and finished with one rebound and two turnovers.
"I still get position in the post, I still get the ball but I have to execute," Durant said. "My teammates got me the ball (in the fourth quarter) and I was able to get some shots. I think I could have done a little better, shot the ball a little better and rebounded a little better."
The spotlight is unquestionably on Durant and opposing players are gunning for him. Balkman, who played so well at the 2006 Orlando predraft camp he catapulted from an unknown to a first-round pick, was intent on stopping Durant.
He kept yelling "Nothing!" to his teammates as encouragement to shut down the Sonics, who shot 37 percent from the field.
"He's a great player, but the first time a player comes to the summer league, I just tried to play my game (against him)," Balkman said. "I wasn't worried about Durant. It's hard. You come from college to the NBA with a lot of expectations from everybody, and if you let them down like (I did) they booed me. But you have to overcome all that. He's a great player."
Robinson, who some believe is playing in Las Vegas to be showcased to other teams, finished with 19 points on 6-for-11 shooting and seven assists. He made a couple of acrobatic plays and on one defensive sequence anticipated a shot attempt by Zabian Dowdell and slapped the ball out of bounds.
The former Rainier Beach standout played two years ago in Las Vegas as a rookie with a lot of questions and expectations.
He said Durant is going to need time to develop.
"He'll get better as time goes, with each game," Robinson said. "I know people are expecting a lot out of him. I know he has a lot on his shoulders and on his plate but he's young. He's going to be a great player, an All-Star in this league.
"He's going to do a good job. He has nothing to worry about. Just be young. Be him, and the city of Seattle will welcome him with open arms."IMHO, Durant just needs to get stronger and put on serious weight and he should be fine. I don't like to play bad rookies , I like to play good rookies - Mike D'Antoni
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