(Before we get started, there is an alternate view point here, one in which Durant was out of his rhythm because he had been benched for the final 5:40 due to picking up his fourth foul, or that he was tentative for the same reason, concerned with drawing an offensive foul. If you choose to believe that Durant picking up those fouls was legitimately what resulted in Durant’s performance, then God Bless You. May the aliens who you wear tinfoil to avoid attacks from be merciful when they subjugate your world. For the rest of us, let’s talk about what happened.)
If LeBron James had dropped this line: 2 of 6 from the field, 0-2 from the line, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 2 turnovers in the fourth quarter of a playoff game, can you imagine the roasting that would occur? The abject demolition of his character? There would be attacks that would make Sherman’s March seem like the Disney parade.
Yet there’s Kevin Durant. Two points in the final five minutes, four in the quarter, a loss, and a 2-1 deficit after Miami’s 91-86 loss in Game 3.
You can thank LeBron.
James took on the task of guarding the NBA’s scoring leader in the fourth quarter, again, and versus the first two game in which Durant was setting records, in Game 3, James frustrated and confounded Durant into a miserable performance that helped the Heat seal the win. It wasn’t the usual NBA kind of defense which is foolish and prideful. There was no “go ahead and catch it, and come at me.” James engaged Durant all over the court. Baseline to baseline, sideline to sideline. Durant would flash for a lob, James was there with him, step for step. Durant would cut to the wing behind a screen, James was right there, somehow avoiding the foul but getting through the screen. Durant was in the post, trying to use his length to get around James (a curious tactic given his strengths). Durant forced him to the baseline, so far he was shooting behind the basket.
James had 4 fourth quarter rebounds. He pursued Durant to the ends of the Earth. Oh, yeah, and he scored 8 points.
He guided him into Chris Bosh for a bock. He forced him out of his positions. He rendered him isolated, stranded on the Isle of LeBron, trying to find his way to the ball, points, to a victory that would not come. If it was thought after Game 1 that Durant was proving himself the best player on the planet with his single-minded offense force, then Games 2 and 3 are LeBron answering with his comprehensive impact. While Durant was struggling to contain James, even before his foul trouble, especially inside, James was putting together a comprehensive effort. He pressure Durant, he bodied and challenged him.
James is on another level. It is of no slight to Durant, who is a better pure offensive player, despite LeBron outscoring the scoring champ in this series. James through three games has simply been the complete package he’s billed as (outside of the assists). There was no chance for Durant, no sliver of air, and the result was a frustrating and disappointing night.
Durant can rebound from this. He can hit pull-up jumpers over LeBron all day long. He tried to challenge him at the rim, tried to get calls that weren’t coming. He can respond by hitting pull-up j’s over and over in Game 4. But the result is still the same, a 2-1 lead for Miami on the back of their MVP, not their Offensive Player of the Year, but Most Valuable Player, swallowing the young gunslinger alive. Kevin Durant was eclipsed in Game 3. We’ll have to see if he responds with an even brighter shine in Game 4. For now, the edge goes to the King.
