Seattle Shape As Dark Horse Due To One PlayerKevin Durant Proves It’s His Team And Does Something About LosingApril 15, 2011
By Woody Hannes
ESPN.com Writer
All hope seemed lost by the end of 2010. But a huge surge for much of 2011 ensured the Seattle Stealth of a playoff spot. This could be attributed to a number of factors. The additions of Andrew Bogut and Rasheed Wallace, the promotion of Reshawn Tyson to starting guard, and the brilliant home stand that the team forged to close the season. But one factor meant more to the Stealth than anything else. That was Kevin Durant.Durant high fives Raja Bell after he blocked Jason Kapono’s potential game tying bucket. On the previous play, Durant deferred to Bell for a game winning trey; a show of true sportsmanship. “Bell is the consummate professional, I had to get him the rock,” Durant stated afterwards. Durant would also do his ‘new-trademark’ double heart tap and shout, “Seattle Stealth – my team baby!” into the camera in a postgame interview.
He’s shown that Seattle is his team all right.
No matter how much deeper and more experienced this team is with the additions of Bogut, Sheed, and Bell; the team only wins when Durant is on top of his game. Reshawn Tyson may have given the team the second scoring option that they have needed for so long but when the second year SG went down to injury, it was Durant who carried the load and led his team via perfect example.
“Durant is a superstar and one day he will be a champion,” gushed one Western Conference scout. The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard even stated, “Kevin is the most relentless scorer in the league. Kobe Bryant and Lebron James don’t even compare to him.” Miami's Dwyane Wade echoed Howard's sentiments, "Kevin is the toughest player to stop. He scores from everywhere on the floor. You just can't stop him or even contain him."
Durant’s secret is his work ethic, he spends hours in the gym on his jump shot. He also has a very close relationship with all of the players on his team, especially Reshawn Tyson. Durant often heaps praise on Tyson when he is actually the driving force behind his development, “The young fella is not ready to step up but give him time and one day he might be where I am.”
Durant led the League in scoring for the second straight season and at his tender age, it looks like he will be leading the league in scoring for many years to come. Coming into the Summer with his expiring contract, all signs point to him resigning with the team. Durant happily discussed his future plans, “I’m confident that Seattle will offer me a long term deal. I want to really stick around here.”
When questioned about his championship aspirations, Durant answers, “Seattle has really surrounded me with a great group of guys. We’re ready to challenge for that title this and next season. Depends on if we step up.” Jason Kidd is the next best player on the team and his window is slowly closing so Durant feels obliged to help him win his first title in a long career, “Kidd is a legend of the game. It would be an honor to help him get a ring.”
The Stealth may only be the number six seed these playoffs but they have shown that they are strong enough to be a dark horse in the upcoming championship run. Durant has dominated on the offensive end and finally has the scoring options surrounding him that could make this team dangerous. Take a look at their frontline and you can already see the diversity.
Andrew Bogut is an able inside scorer, Rasheed Wallace loves to take his man out near the perimeter, while David Lee scores on scrappy plays and is great in the open court. Meanwhile, the backcourt presents Raja Bell who can shoot from the perimeter, Trevor Ariza who one of the most athletic players in the game, and Jason Kidd who can set everyone up at will. Durant has a strong supporting cast and it would be a waste if he did not do something with them.
However, put those thoughts aside because Durant has proven that he can bring all that talent onto one page. Durant proved that Seattle was his team and unlike so many lead players around the league, Durant actually won games for his team. He did something about losing. He turned the whole season around.
And now he is looking at starting his championship campaign against an under strength LA Clippers side.
After going to the Western Conference Finals last season; it’s looking more than possible that this team could make it again this season.
All they need is for Durant to keep proving that the Seattle Stealth is his team baby.
I think what you've really accomplished here is make everyone hate Durant.
I wrote:LaMarcus smiled slyly when told that Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant said “he ain't got no game”.
I love it. The real life Durant probably doesn't... I think even I look at KD now and think, 'how the hell did he become a nice dude...' in real life...He just doesn't care!
