What did we learn from the Warriors escaping the Rockets?

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 20: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the game against the Houston Rockets during Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 20, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2 of 6

HOUSTON, TX – MAY 24: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors reacts late in the fourth quarter of Game Five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on May 24, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

5. Kevin Durant is a Warriors problem?

Last year was the honeymoon phase for the Warriors and Durant. He was just happy to join a 73-win team and play with cats he could win with. They caught the league off guard and no one stood a chance.

In this series, we saw more of the real Durant. Which, is actually the fake Durant but could also be the really fake Durant? I’ve lost track of all the different Durant personas over the last two years.

What I saw in this series was a lot of what I saw in all my years of watching him in Oklahoma City. He loves to to get the ball in the high post, take advantage of the matchup, and go to work. It’s a good strategy considering that he’s the greatest scorer of this generation. But when it doesn’t work, it ruins what made the Warriors into the Warriors.

Too many possessions in this series started and ended with Durant. In the three losses, he had just three assists, with all of them coming in the same game.

Fans fell in love with the Warriors because of their free-flowing offense that resulted in the best possible shot. Durant shooting over two guys in the post isn’t the best possible shot. But this is who he’s been for the majority of his career. He’s never been great as the primary playmaker and has struggled feeling extra pressure.

It was funny seeing so many Warriors fans turning on Durant this series. He went from being one of the most beloved players in the league to barely liked by his own fanbase. All because he reverted back to the way he’s always played the game while still averaging 30 points.

Home/NBA Playoffs