I've been pimping ATL.
They stymied BKY with Gallo, Rondo and Okongwu out.
Yeah, the first two aren't exactly Mr. Durable candidates.
But when they get a full squad they will be dangerous.
Imo, Hawks are the most fun team going.
Caught the 4Q v. Nets.
Reddish got hot, scored 8 points to keep ATL's lead up. Look confident on 3's.
Are the Nets announcers under some sort of Dolanesque orders not to criticize Durant? Early 4Q play, KD lazily sinks under a mild screen and Reddish pops a wide open 3. Sarah Kustok who I usually like, notes that Jarrett Allen was frustrated with the D on that play, without noting that KD was the sleepwalking culprit.
A few plays later, KD dribbles through traffic and loses the ball, falls on it, but it's swiped away by Goodwin who gets tied up by Joe Harris. And Kustok comes away praising KD for being the first on the floor. No mention of the sloppy turnover, or that Harris got the tie-up. And then on a play in which Jar Allen makes a terrific block on a Reddish drive, Kustok winds up praising KD's D earlier in the possession when Capela posted up. Uh, Capela isn't much of a post-up threat ...
Maybe you just have to walk on eggshells with KD who doesn't like the media much.
I haven't seen much of the Nets yet, but I have seen a few lazy Durant defensive plays. In I think G1 I tuned in the Nets game and about the first play I saw was a guy cut to the basket and get a pass for a wide open dunk, leaving Kyrie and KD to stare at each other wondering how that happened.
KD & KI combined 4-18 on 3's in the L to ATL.
If a game is close, BKY has two guys who can get their shot off any time. But defense will be an issue. KD looks like he's back to old pre-GSW habits.