Now's the time for Kevin Durant to make his run for MVP

Now's the time for Kevin Durant to make his run for MVP

Stephen Curry recently turned his ankle against the Atlanta Hawks. If he is out for a few weeks, Kevin Durant has to be the guy to step up for Golden State.

Stephen Curry recently turned his ankle against the Atlanta Hawks. If he is out for a few weeks, Kevin Durant has to be the guy to step up for Golden State.

It was about this time when Kevin Durant sustained a knee injury after Washington center Marcin Gortat shoved Zaza Pachulia into him. 

The play against Atlanta on Friday when star point guard Stephen Curry turned his ankle late in the first quarter going for a rebound, but returned to play the second and a little bit of the third quarter, before coach Steve Kerr and head athletic trainer Chelsea Lane told Curry that he would sit out the fourth quarter.

Here's the injury.

The injury didn't seem to be serious, but if Curry were to miss a week or two, Durant needs to the guy to step up in his stead. For the season, Curry is averaging 26.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg and 6.4 apg on 49.2 percent from the field, including 42.2 from three and 92 percent from the charity stripe. Compared to Curry, Durant is averaging 26.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 5.4 apg per game on 52.6 percent from the field, 42.8 percent from beyond the arc and 88.3 percent from the free throw line. Although there are some statistics where Durant edges out Curry in, it will be difficult not having the ultimate floor spacer on the court. 

Curry is the ultimate gravity sucker. Wherever he goes, the defense goes. However, if he's out, the defense will be able to relax just a hair, but not a whole lot since the Warriors still have Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to rely on. When Curry is not in the lineup (via Next Man Up), Durant averages 28.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, and 5.6 apg, compared to the 25.0, 6.4 rpg, and 5.4 apg when Curry does play. Sure, you could say that Durant plays better with Curry out of the lineup, but what these stats symbolize is how much harder he has to work for every statistical category.

As great as Durant is, everything the Warriors do starts and ends with Curry.

When Curry is not in the lineup, the rotations are different and the flow of the offense can become discombobulated. There are times when the offense looks lost and not even Durant can fix it.

However, Durant is one of the most gifted offensive players the league has seen. With spider-like extremities and the size at 6'11", he can break down his defender with two long, exaggerated crossovers and rise up for a jumper. Not just with his supreme shooting ability, he can beat his defender with, but also, the long strides and ability to attack the rim makes it a nightmare for the opposition. He's not just one of the greatest scorers in league history, but is also, a willing passer. He will need to distribute the ball more if Curry remains out for a couple weeks.

Durant is not just one of the greatest offensive players, but he's become an incredible defender since joining the Warriors. Sure, some of the credit goes to assistant coach Ron Adams, who was an assistant when Durant was playing for Oklahoma City, but he has been on a tear defensively this season. This season, he has averaged a shade under two blocks per game at 1.9, a career high, good for fourth in the league in blocks per game. The three players ahead of Durant---Kristaps Porzingis, Anthony Davis and Myles Turner are either power forwards or centers. That's pretty good for a guy some people consider and know as a scorer. Durant has garnered attention for a possible shot at Defensive Player of the Year.

However long Curry may be out, Durant has to be the man to carry the load on both ends of the floor for the Warriors to keep pace with the streaking Houston Rockets.

It was about this time when Kevin Durant sustained a knee injury after Washington center Marcin Gortat shoved Zaza Pachulia into him. 

The play against Atlanta on Friday when star point guard Stephen Curry turned his ankle late in the first quarter going for a rebound, but returned to play the second and a little bit of the third quarter, before coach Steve Kerr and head athletic trainer Chelsea Lane told Curry that he would sit out the fourth quarter.

Here's the injury.

The injury didn't seem to be serious, but if Curry were to miss a week or two, Durant needs to the guy to step up in his stead. For the season, Curry is averaging 26.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg and 6.4 apg on 49.2 percent from the field, including 42.2 from three and 92 percent from the charity stripe. Compared to Curry, Durant is averaging 26.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 5.4 apg per game on 52.6 percent from the field, 42.8 percent from beyond the arc and 88.3 percent from the free throw line. Although there are some statistics where Durant edges out Curry in, it will be difficult not having the ultimate floor spacer on the court. 

Curry is the ultimate gravity sucker. Wherever he goes, the defense goes. However, if he's out, the defense will be able to relax just a hair, but not a whole lot since the Warriors still have Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to rely on. When Curry is not in the lineup (via Next Man Up), Durant averages 28.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, and 5.6 apg, compared to the 25.0, 6.4 rpg, and 5.4 apg when Curry does play. Sure, you could say that Durant plays better with Curry out of the lineup, but what these stats symbolize is how much harder he has to work for every statistical category.

As great as Durant is, everything the Warriors do starts and ends with Curry.

When Curry is not in the lineup, the rotations are different and the flow of the offense can become discombobulated. There are times when the offense looks lost and not even Durant can fix it.

However, Durant is one of the most gifted offensive players the league has seen. With spider-like extremities and the size at 6'11", he can break down his defender with two long, exaggerated crossovers and rise up for a jumper. Not just with his supreme shooting ability, he can beat his defender with, but also, the long strides and ability to attack the rim makes it a nightmare for the opposition. He's not just one of the greatest scorers in league history, but is also, a willing passer. He will need to distribute the ball more if Curry remains out for a couple weeks.

Durant is not just one of the greatest offensive players, but he's become an incredible defender since joining the Warriors. Sure, some of the credit goes to assistant coach Ron Adams, who was an assistant when Durant was playing for Oklahoma City, but he has been on a tear defensively this season. This season, he has averaged a shade under two blocks per game at 1.9, a career high, good for fourth in the league in blocks per game. The three players ahead of Durant---Kristaps Porzingis, Anthony Davis and Myles Turner are either power forwards or centers. That's pretty good for a guy some people consider and know as a scorer. Durant has garnered attention for a possible shot at Defensive Player of the Year.

However long Curry may be out, Durant has to be the man to carry the load on both ends of the floor for the Warriors to keep pace with the streaking Houston Rockets.

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