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Video: KD lights up the Dominican Republic

by Royce Young on July 13, 2012 at 12:14 am 271 Comments

It’s been three weeks since we last saw Kevin Durant and his purely sweet jumper. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until he started dropping long balls against the Dominican Republic in a Team USA exhibition Thursday.

After about 10 minutes of the game, all I could think about was, “Man, I really can’t wait until next season.”

Durant scored a game-high 24 points (21 coming in the first half) on 9-of-11 shooting including 5-of-6 from 3 as Team USA rolled 113-59. In fact, KD’s 24 was two more than the entire starting five from the Dominican scored.

KD also added 10 rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes.

As we saw in Turkey at the World Championships, the shorter 3-point line in international ball is almost unfair for Durant. He hits those as long 2s in the NBA, but now gets an extra point on them. It almost makes me wonder if KD could be the greatest international player ever. His game is really perfectly built for it. He scored at will in Turkey and even with all the talent surrounding him on this team, he’s likely to lead it in scoring, or be close to it.

One thing though: Durant came off the bench. The last time that happened was the 2010 All-Star Game. Before that? I’m thinking never.

Of course Durant was joined by Thunder teammates Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Westbrook finished six points, five rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes while Harden added eight points on 3-of-9 shooting in 18 minutes.

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bmuelle22
bmuelle22 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

This was a long time ago but does anyone remember the post game show after KD hit his first game winner ever in OKC against the Knicks? There was a lady that called that was pretty stupid. She basically went on a rant about how we should of never needed a game winning shot in the first place and how she was mad because she pays all this money for season tickets and the Thunder weren't living up to her expectations because they let the game get so close, lol

Bryson
Bryson

Whats everyone's opinion on Al Jefferson? I like him...

Lost Ones
Lost Ones

 @Bryson  love him, he's expensive.

Fezzy
Fezzy

 @Lost Ones  @Bryson  In my own unexpert opinion, he's not as much of a ball hog as he used to be. This past year he more or less came out and said that he finally realized that him being in the middle opens up shots on the perimeter and then getting the perimeter going opens up shots for him, so he started passing more.

Crow
Crow

 @dancassidy35/FreeFestusFromGSW!  @Lost Ones  @Bryson Long, busy day at work.

 

Martin andJefferson are both overrated by many, because of their poor defense. Each actually was estimated to have a positive overall impact on offense but Martin's offensive positive has only half the size of his defensive negative, leaving him with a modest sized overall negative impact which contrasts with his favorable offensive boxscore image. Jefferson's offensive positive actually erased his defensive negative but barely, leaving his net impact as slightly above neutral. Based on their RAPM estimates neither is anywhere near a good  impact / spending value.

OBoy
OBoy like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Lost Ones  @Bryson  i like him...i've heard some advanced stats guys say he's a big man version of kevin martin in terms of usage and stopping ball movement tho

Fezzy
Fezzy like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @justin_mia  @Lost Ones A lot of us are lazy and having Crow around is a bit of a luxury for us. He also simplifies things for us and for me personally, I always enjoy his insights.

[censored]
[censored] like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Lost Ones Why do you need Crow?  Plenty of public resources available to look into usage, scoring efficiency, etc.  Al Jefferson does not score all that efficiently at first glance because he doesn't go to the line a lot, but he also keeps the turnovers way down.  He's good on the boards, has a bad reputation as a defensive player.  I think he'd be okay next to Ibaka, but I don't know think we have the touches to go around for him.  

Lost Ones
Lost Ones

Everyone's entitled to there own opinion but damn......

draga
draga

@Lost Ones things have gotten intense around here lately.

Jooseppi
Jooseppi

I understand why Carmelo over Durant gets a lot of attention, and rightfully so, I guess, but Kobe in the starting lineup is a bit more absurd, imo. 

SoonerSpens
SoonerSpens

 @Jooseppi I'm going with equally absurd. Can I get some CP3-Iggy-KD-LBJ-Tyson starters please? Or if you're not an Iggy fan, go with one of the other PGs at SG.

Lost Ones
Lost Ones

 @Jooseppi why

Jooseppi
Jooseppi

 @Lost Ones He doesn't bring much to the table at this point compared to his competition. He's less efficient, a worse passer and a worst defender than the alternatives. 

Jooseppi
Jooseppi

 @Lost Ones  @Stringer Bell I said it above and you responded above. Iggy. I think more of you than to assume you would forget that so soon.

What's Kobe's level? He shot 43 percent this season, 52.7 TS% compared to Iggy's 45.4 and 53.7 TS%. Iggy better from 3 at 39.7 percent compred to Kobe's 30.3 percent.

There's little to no evidence to suggest Kobe will be significantly more efficient than his NBA form either. In 2007-08 he shot 45.9 percent for the Lakers and then shot 46.2 percent in the Olympics. Not to mention the Olympic team was better with him off the court.

 

OBoy
OBoy like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @Jooseppi  @Lost Ones  @Stringer Bell i really enjoy watching kobe during the nba season...he has so many different iso moves its unbelievable...i would absolutely hate him if he were on a team i cheer for because he's not efficient and isn't a team guy...but watching with no rooting interest is fun

Lost Ones
Lost Ones

 @Jooseppi  @Stringer Bell I'm waiting for you to tell me who do we start considering kobe's this low efficient low iq ball hog we starting iggy in the place of kobe? 

 

 

kobe doesn't even have to shoot the ball on offense to be a threat for team usa. when kobe has the right teammates he's a more than willing passer. questioning carmelo is a legit question kobe has no one else on his level james damn sure aint.

Jooseppi
Jooseppi

 @Lost Ones He didn't exactly light it up compared to his teammates in 2008 either, and 2012 Kobe is worse than 2008 Kobe. He shot 46 percent, which sounds good, but Wade shot 67 percent, James 60 percent. In 2010 Iggy shot 58.8 percent. Even Westbrook managed to shoot 46 percent. 

And then we get into overall team play and defense.

If the team was built around getting a high volume shooter involved, then sure, but it's not.

 @Stringer Bell I don't hate Kobe, but I'm just calling a spade a spade. Like I said, I don't have an issue that he's starting, but if we're going to question Carmelo, it's worth questioning Kobe, too.

Stringer Bell
Stringer Bell like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @Lost Ones  @Jooseppi Kobe has fallen off that much... as long as he isn't going "Kobe mode" on team USA then he deserves to be starting... I feel Kobe hate can sometimes cause a haze to people's vision of him.

Lost Ones
Lost Ones

 @Jooseppi being inefficient on the lakers=/= being less efficient in the Olympic stop the madness. who else do we start russ? james? c'mon take your stan goggles off.

Jooseppi
Jooseppi

 @OBoymuzik  @Lost Ones I don't have a problem with it either, given that it's likely a thank you for participating in 2008 and bringing excitement and pride back to the US team. I'm just saying if we're going to bring up basketball reasons about the starting lineup, Kobe is worth bringing up, too. 

OBoy
OBoy

 @Jooseppi  @Lost Ones he does look odd out there trying to actually move the ball lol...but i don't really have a problem with him in the starting unit...KD should be starting without a doubt 

ou_sas
ou_sas

 @Jooseppi Kobe, when he's not getting all of the attention, will probably end up being more efficient. It's easier to be good when you're not getting double teamed all of the time.

Bryson
Bryson

 @Jooseppi Kobe is the most renown player world wide. There would be an uproar by international fans if he didn't start. 

thelaughingwiseman
thelaughingwiseman

who would win: the USA A-Team or B-Team

The A-Team consist of Carmelo, Kobe, Tyson, LeBron, Chris Paul

The B-Team consist of Kevin D, Russel, Deron, Andre, Kevin L.

 

That would be a badass game.  I Think the B-Team can take it by like 6 points 95-89

thelaughingwiseman
thelaughingwiseman

How would A-Team stop Kevin Love when he can make it from anywhere.  Westbrook is the perfect candidate to be on Kobe.  Then the awesome match-up of arguably the top 2 point guards in Deron Williams vs. Chris Paul. 

Tricia Status
Tricia Status

 @thelaughingwiseman Andre was impressive last night too. 

OBoy
OBoy

 @Tricia_status  @thelaughingwiseman he won't shoot that well probably ever again but i think he'll be a better overall player than Melo in the olympics

Tricia Status
Tricia Status

 @Lost Ones  @OBoymuzik  @thelaughingwiseman No I watch! I just dont see why Carmelo's game is supposedly so much better for international ball. I'd say it would be Kevin Love because he's a big man who can shoot...all of them seem to be big and good shooters over there. So i'm really just trying to find out the details -- what about Carmelo screams fantastic internationally.

Tricia Status
Tricia Status

 @Lost Ones  @OBoymuzik  @thelaughingwiseman Thats what everyone SAYS ...so we waiting for him to warm up? Let me not sound like a hater though. He got fouled going to the basket alot last night -- but I just dont see what you guys are saying just looking at last game in a vacuum.

Trackbacks

  1. Daily Bullets | Pistols Firing says:
    July 13, 2012 at 8:52 am

    [...] All of KD’s points from last night. (Daily Thunder) [...]

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