'No team in its right mind would want Kevin Durant, arguably the game’s most destructive force, watching from the sidelines,' writes RogersJourno for usatodaysports
CLOSE SportsPulse: Maybe Kevin Durant can take this week off anyways? The Trail Blazers looked sluggish and need to regroup quick, otherwise it could be a very short series says Martin Rogers. USA TODAY
Or should we say hasn’t happened? From that point forward, the Warriors stopped looking like they might be in danger of losing to the Houston Rockets. They stopped sputtering on offense. They stopped being over-reliant on seven men. They stopped being hesitant. And Steph Curry started looking like his old self and the Warriors more like champions than they have all season.
"It is fun. It is when we are at our best in terms of everybody feeling like they are a threat on the floor. It puts so much pressure on the defense. You see the morale. Everybody’s shoulders were up. There were smiles, just aggressiveness all over the floor." That’s what happened in Game 1. Unless Portland finds a solution, the Warriors will be content to give Durant’s right calf injury every bit of precious rest that it needs.
It's been like his mind was suddenly uncluttered. Perhaps Durant provides him with too many options. During the first three quarters against Portland, Curry had a simple philosophy: use his foot speed to find open space, and let it fly. He did, sinking nine threes . Blazers coach Terry Stotts was frustrated and it is hard to blame him. He looked bristled when quizzed about how to stop Curry. He’ll surely try something else next. There is no certainty it will work.
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