IS Durant being petty?

[dannyboy35]

Do you guys think Durant was being petty as Tracy McGrady said? Durant complained about not being a first team player and one of the very top MVP candidates. It did strike me odd at a time like this.

[Tr1boy]

Yup. Not sure what he is talking about. Other than wanting to increase his upcoming FA status

[D Dub]

Go Mavs!

Durant will be a lock to leave should they get bounced in the 1st round.

[Csfan1984]

Not petty he is looking for motivation I think. But in this situation he shouldnt have to be. Worries me about the state of the Thunder.

[Fafnir]

A little bit.

But a player like Durant shouldn't be content with not being all-nba first team or in the MVP discussion.

[knuckleballer]

Petty? Maybe, but this is why he should come to the Celtics.  He will be the man and have a strong supporting cast of hard nosed players and a great coach.  He will be in an ideal position to win an MVP and contend for a title.  All the future draft picks will help him and the team contend for a long time and the Celtics ownership has been willing to spend into the luxury tax unlike the Thunder.

[jambr380]

A little bit.

But a player like Durant shouldn't be content with not being all-nba first team or in the MVP discussion.

Yeah, there is no way to say, "I'm better than..." and not sound petty, but I agree. Durant is a dominant player and makes any team he goes to an instant-contender (or close to it). Our only hope is that the Thunder fall apart and he sees himself as the missing piece in Boston.

[Fafnir]

I do think OKC has done a very poor job filling out around Durant/Westbrook/Ibaka.

Just haven't hit on the role players. They've had a few effective ones, but never put a good enough cohesive unit to make OKC more than the sum of Durant and Westbrooks talents.

[Fafnir]

A little bit.

But a player like Durant shouldn't be content with not being all-nba first team or in the MVP discussion.

Yeah, there is no way to say, "I'm better than..." and not sound petty, but I agree. Durant is a dominant player and makes any team he goes to an instant-contender (or close to it). Our only hope is that the Thunder fall apart and he sees himself as the missing piece in Boston.

Even just failing to make the WCF could easily be enough. They don't have a great supporting cast other than Westbrook and Ibaka and all the moves they have made have just been meh.

Will he want to leave a talent like Westbrook who's also so young is the question. If Westbrook is considering leaving I think he'd think very hard on it. Which is why a LBJ style 2 year deal with the second year a player option is the route I think he takes.

Maximizes his money and protects him if Westbrook leaves in his own FA year.

[Moranis]

Of course, but that fits perfectly with Durant's persona.

[Ilikesports17]

You know where he definitely wouldn't be in the MVP race? GSW

[chambers]

I do think OKC has done a very poor job filling out around Durant/Westbrook/Ibaka.

Just haven't hit on the role players. They've had a few effective ones, but never put a good enough cohesive unit to make OKC more than the sum of Durant and Westbrooks talents.

I think it's always been more of their coaching issues than personnel.
Scott Brooks was simply terrible. Donovan is pretty average too.

Stevens could have coached that team to a championship vs the Heat and subsequent years after.

[jpotter33]

He can be petty all that he wants as long as he's a Celtic 

[footey]

I do think OKC has done a very poor job filling out around Durant/Westbrook/Ibaka.

Just haven't hit on the role players. They've had a few effective ones, but never put a good enough cohesive unit to make OKC more than the sum of Durant and Westbrooks talents.

Well, their biggest problem is playing in the Western Conference.  If in the East, they would have gone to the NBA finals several times.

[Fafnir]

I do think OKC has done a very poor job filling out around Durant/Westbrook/Ibaka.

Just haven't hit on the role players. They've had a few effective ones, but never put a good enough cohesive unit to make OKC more than the sum of Durant and Westbrooks talents.

Well, their biggest problem is playing in the Western Conference.  If in the East, they would have gone to the NBA finals several times.

I think playing Derek Fisher de-facto starters minutes is a problem no matter your conference. And he's only the most glaring example of coaching/roster issues of that team.