Durant says Curry making "bad shots." Is there more to it?

[jpotter33]

So Durant had some issues with Curry celebrating on the floor with his teammates, and he also said Curry was making "bad shots" that he should've passed off. Here's the link and what he said exactly:

http://www.bigplay.com/kevin-durant-takes-jab-at-stephen-curry-making-bad-shots/

“You know, he makes those shots. And sometimes you gotta just, you know, put a hand up and contest, and you know, when you pick-and-roll, try to put a couple bodies on him.

They were sending three guys (at me on offense). I was trying to make the right pass. Maybe I’ve just got to shoot over three people.”

Now, a lot of this is just him being salty after the butt whooping they took, and that's expected. But there also seems to be something deeper there.

Last night, Curry didn't really make many "bad shots" as Durant puts it. When he went on his run, he was decently open and just got on a groove. We're not talking about his game-winning "bad shot" that he made from halfcourt in OKC to beat them during the season. They were legitimate shots for the most part, especially for Curry.

But does it seem like he's almost a little jealous that Curry has such a "long leash" with his shot selection? When he says that "he was trying to make the right pass" where Curry was "making bad shots" and maybe he should "shoot over three people," it almost hints that he has some issue with his role or the number of shot attempts that he gets in the offense. Now, Curry is without a doubt the greatest shooter in the history of the game, but Durant is also a top-3 offensive player in the league. Due to his size, he has just as much justification to "shoot over three people" as Curry, because for the most part, Durant can actually shoot over three defenders due to his combined skill and size.

Now maybe I'm reading a bit too much into this, but I feel like there certainly seems to be a hint of jealousy at Curry's role/ability to take those kinds of shots in their offense. Perhaps this is a good sign that he's tired of sharing shots with another superstar who is also deserving of being a 1A option. Or maybe I'm reading a bit too much into it, and he's just salty after a butt whooping.

What do you think?

EDIT: For those wondering, Curry only averaged one more shot per game than Durant this year, but perhaps it's more about "freedom" in the offense without someone else taking unnecessary shots away from you, though I've certainly seen Curry get mad at Klay before on certain shots, too.

[alldaboston]

I saw a stat in the Spurs series.

It was in game 3. Westbrook had missed 53 shots through 3 games. Durant had TAKEN 55 through 3 games.

Westbrook has since done better, in terms of deferring to teammates and getting assists, but he still goes overboard a lot and the thunder go multiple possessions in a row without giving KD the ball. He is right to be p---ed about that.

[Atzar]

This is Curry's game.  He routinely makes shots that literally nobody else in the league should even take.

He's the best offensive weapon in the game right now and it's not close.

[Ogaju]

definitely out of bounds to comment negatively on the shot selection of an opponent that just cleaned your clock with 29 points from 15 shots?

He did say something that I have been saying all season. You have to shadow Curry, you cannot leave him alone at anytime.

Why cant teams just study the way we played GSW to a stand still twice this season.

[fairweatherfan]

He's half-right, but they're not bad shots for Curry.  Dude shot a higher % from 40+ feet than the league did from 3. 

[jpotter33]

definitely out of bounds to comment negatively on the shot selection of an opponent that just cleaned your clock with 29 points from 15 shots?

He did say something that I have been saying all season. You have to shadow Curry, you cannot leave him alone at anytime.

Why cant teams just study the way we played GSW to a stand still twice this season.

Yeah, I found that funny, too lol

But last night wasn't even bad for Curry, though, was it? I don't remember any shots that I would consider all that bad. I mean, he only missed six shots in total with three of them being three point shots. I can understand Durant saying that about that ridiculous shot from near halfcourt that he sunk OKC with during the season, but there wasn't anything that I remember from last night that I would call a "bad shot" for Curry.

[jpotter33]

I mean, if you put two second tier stars around Durant that know their role rather than another first option like Westbrook, he'd probably score 35+ a game. He's just that good of an offensive weapon. I can understand if he'd want more freedom in the offense than what he currently has.

[GreenWarrior]

this is the same thing I've been saying about Bradley for years.

[saltlover]

He's half-right, but they're not bad shots for Curry.  Dude shot a higher % from 40+ feet than the league did from 3.

An article I read today said he was shooting 60% from 28-feet outwards, which is ridiculous if true.  That's better than a third of the league shoots from the foul line I'd bet.

[Sketch5]

I have to agree with Durant. Curry takes shots that would get other plays benched for the season.

Seriously, kid pumped faked, spun around took the shot and turned to the bench before the ball was half way to the hoop. He makes like 90% of those dumb shots.

Remember when DA was trying to trade for him and most people, including me were saying it was dumb, because he had been hurt a lot, and Rondo was suppose to be involved and we were saying Rondo was a true PG and Curry wasn't,Blah blah,blah.....

Yeah......good times.

[Boris Badenov]

Durant is either:

(a) really talking about Westbrook, or
(b) spouting nonsense.

[PhoSita]

Superstars make bad shots at a high rate. That's part of why they're so valuable.

Durant oughta know. He does it all the time.

[jpotter33]

Here's another aspect of this situation:

Though I think it's never really been a possibility that he joins Golden State this summer due to the harm it would bring to his persona/legacy, you'd have to think he'd be just as unhappy as a second, and maybe even third, option in Golden State. Sharing shots with Curry AND Klay would cost Durant a significant drop in production. I just don't see it happening.

[saltlover]

Here's another aspect of this situation:

Though I think it's never really been a possibility that he joins Golden State this summer due to the harm it would bring to his persona/legacy, you'd have to think he'd be just as unhappy as a second, and maybe even third, option in Golden State. Sharing shots with Curry AND Klay would cost Durant a significant drop in production. I just don't see it happening.

On the other hand, maybe he feels stifled in the Thunder offense, and loves the freedom the Warriors have.

[jpotter33]

Here's another aspect of this situation:

Though I think it's never really been a possibility that he joins Golden State this summer due to the harm it would bring to his persona/legacy, you'd have to think he'd be just as unhappy as a second, and maybe even third, option in Golden State. Sharing shots with Curry AND Klay would cost Durant a significant drop in production. I just don't see it happening.

On the other hand, maybe he feels stifled in the Thunder offense, and loves the freedom the Warriors have.

True, but I still don't think there's enough shots to go around there. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as "too much of a good thing." And Golden State would really have to ask themselves if he's really worth it if they repeat as champions - "don't fix what ain't broken!"