Channel: MJ2KALLDAY

Category: Sports

Tags: nba playoffsstop durantnets celticsceltics defenseceltics vs netslongest wingspanhandswingspannets vs celticsnba defenseboston celticsmj2kalldaynbadurantbrooklyn netsdurant defensekyrie irvingstopdefenseuniquejxmyhighrollerkevin durantheightpocket

Description: Kevin Durant has struggled because of the Celtics defense, they figured out the most unique way to stop Durant. #Durant #NBA #Stop Twitter- @MJ2KALLDAY Gaming/Streaming- @MJPLAYSALLDAY Did KD miss some shots he would make? Yes.** Man went 9 of 24 from the field, 6 turnovers. And then 4 of 17 from the field, another 6 turnovers, including 0 of 10 in the second half of Game 2. He struggled. Because normally, no contest actually reaches Durant. Durant is 6’ 10 and 3 quarters with a 7 foot wingspan rising up like a guard. *He’s a demigod*. Add in the hesitation into the pull and it’s unlikely that the defender will be able to jump that high that quickly to bother KD. The Celtics had great contests.This was the matchup that KD wanted, he even called the ISO but Horford moved his feet, got a hand up. We even saw a rare block on Durant’s jumpshot by Tatum, Tatum got KD going left and right but no where on the last possession, **but all of this was predated on what the Celtics did in the first two quarters** because they might have come up with the most unique way to stop Durant. KD hasn’t had many bad games,** but I watched the tape for most of them like this 7 of 33 game against the Mavericks in 2016, 21.2% from the field, 7 turnovers and there was no special defense, he just missed shots. He can be human. What happened with the Celtics wasn’t. First, let’s look at a guy who successfully bothered Durant in the playoffs for a game. 6’ 3” Patrick Beverley. **At first glance, this is a stupid matchup.** Beverley is too little, right? KD can’t even see Bev, he could just hold the ball high and there’s no way Bev could get the ball, but somehow in this game, he annoyed Durant to the point in which Durant had an outburst. All by being physical and hand-checking him the whole night. Pushing him off his spots and making it hard for KD to pick up the ball. Fast forward to Celtics Game 1. Now KD is gifted. He can start with the ball on the left side, right side, high, low, get it to his release point and still make the bucket. But if you can research those pathways in certain positions and get a hand there, well, you don’t actually contest and that’s what the Celtics did. You strip him before he gets the ball, strip him on the pick up before he becomes unblockable. You make it so he has to shoot off rhythm. The Celtics were ready. Getting a hand on so many shots early might have even come as a shock to KD. They did this again in Game 2 so it wasn’t a fluke. They even used drop coverage on picks because they were confident they could get a hand up on exactly where he would pick the ball up. Because as much as KD is elite, shooting 55% from mid, he’s even more lethal in the paint, shooting 58%. i They didn’t even give Durant a chance to breathe. Look at Game 2, denying him the ball. Celtics didn’t just double, they blitzed. Switching on most plays, quick doubles. It was almost guerilla tactics to have KD rely on his instincts, so much so that he was frustrated. So now all these easy shots for KD were out of rhythm. Worried about potential strips, so he uses the offhand more and gets offensive fouls. Worried about the second defender looming so he rushed these one on ones. It was a team effort. Forcing KD to go certain directions, forcing him to pick up the ball in certain ways to get a good contest. It was a defensive masterclass by the best defense in the league. Having Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Grant Williams, all guys who can somewhat keep up with KD and have quick enough hands to change his path, was crucial.