NBA Finals 2017: 5 reasons the Warriors can find redemption
By Ian Levy
3. Kevin Durant
Other than some shuffling to their bench rotation, the Warriors return essentially the same group as they brought to the Finals last year. Oh, and Kevin Durant. Former MVP. One of the only guys to have a 50-40-90 season. One of the most gifted individual scorers in the entire league.
Durant gives the Warriors’ offense an entirely new dimension. He’s a better spot-up shooter than Harrison Barnes, who he has essentially replaced in the lineup. He’s also a better post-up scorer, for those situations when he catches a smaller defender. Durant is also capable of creating offense in the high post, hitting cutters and spot-up shooters, or raining jumpers over the top of the defense. Oh, and he’s also an incredible isolation scorers, for those moments when the offense breaks down and the Warriors need a bucket at the end of the shot clock.
And, I almost forgot, HE’S AN INCREDIBLY GOOD DEFENDER.
Durant used to get ridiculed for his defense but he’s progressed tremendously on that end. He’s extremely capable in space and has become a terrific weakside rim-protector. ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus estimated Durant’s defense to be worth about as much as Kawhi Leonard’s or Andre Iguodala’s this season. So, yeah, he’s a pretty important addition.