What difference does Kevin Durant make tonight?
For me, Kevin Durant's return tonight is one of the most interesting subplots in the NBA in a while. My question for the Board is what difference does Durant make tonight?
If he's 80%....a massive difference.
It wouldn't be shocking if the Warriors won this series with him
80% Durant is 1,000,000% better than whatever is going on with Cousins.
Mostly just turnovers
A big difference. I would bet the farm on the Warriors still winning this series.
Durant is a great player but it is clear that he is not getting along with, like, anybody on that team. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of his teammates packed it in tonight so that he didn’t get the glory of bringing them back. The body language of those players when they are on the floor together really looks like they are ready for this business relationship to end.
Is he officially back in for tonight? I know he was cleared to practice, hadn’t heard about games.
He is officially playing tonight.
I think he is healthier than we were lead to believe. The Warriors apparently were frustrated he hadn't been back sooner.
Could be a tactic to right his wrong (come back from a 3-1 deficit instead of blow one) and to prove the Dubs need him.
Kevin is an extremely petty dude. It would not surprise me if he wanted to come back from a 3-1 deficit
The team doctors just cleared him to practice the other day.
How in the hell would you know if he's petty?
His prior social media antics suggest he’s at least pretty immature
a little to a lot depending on how healthy he really is
I am anticipating him making a huge difference considering what an outstanding player he is, how he changes the warriors spacing, and his ability to contribute defensively. He is, after all, arguably the best player in the NBA.
Bill Simmons on Twitter: "I'd be shocked if KD played well tonight. 4 week layoff, not healthy, no time to adjust to the speed/intensity/physicality of the series. If GSW survives tonight it’s gonna be because Klay/Steph pulled a 2016 Game 6 OKC. I don’t see another way."
I have to agree. And nothing against KD but fuck the Warriors. I'd absolutely love it if Toronto destroyed them. It would be even better with the storyline being the return of Durant.
The health of Klay is they key, as he admitted he was only 80% for game 4, which is probably generous. My guess is that Durant is still injured and shouldn't be playing and will have reduced productivity as a result. If he was healthy, he would have come back already. It seems that since this is an elimination game, they are rushing him back.
This idea of Durant being any sort of dominant (and who will be guarded by the actual best player in the NBA) is fantasy booking for Warriors fans, nothing more. All reports prior to this day indicated significant issues and his teammates questioning his heart. The idea that he's going to tool up Kawhi Leonard is silly.
Maybe he's Willis Reed redux but I doubt it.
Wow...shots fired. nice
Who knew Drake had an account with MGoBlog? Michigan is technically the North to our enemies, and we’ve already got Big Sean on board. Hello: Drake?
Mmmmm. The Kool-Aid must be tasty up there.
Looney will check Kawhi to start out. That may work if he's healthy, with Iguadala coming off the bench to support. The key will be to let Green check Gasol, which will be lessen Toronto's advantage there, and see if Durant can keep up with Siakim. More margin for error guarding him as he's a streakier shooter.
If Boogie can go full tilt, maybe you start him off on Gasol and have Green guard Kahwi. Either way it won't be KD.
GS is an underrated defensive team and having all of those pieces back will be something that haven't had this series.
If Toronto stays hot like Games 1/3 GS will lose despite any iteration.
I guess I’m having a hard time seeing him being able to play more than 20 minutes or so given that he’s just been cleared today and the Raps will absolutely grind you to a stump on both ends. Maybe he’s that guy that gets some big buckets in a tight game. I just don’t see him walking in and carrying them all game.
Hopefully not much. I don't understand why they gave the Raptors a heads up, why not just make him a gametime decision?
The NBA must have some rules on that. The impact on the betting lines will be significant.
Let's go Raptors. I want to see Canada, from Newfoundland to British Columbia, collectively lose its shit tonight!
If Klay is back near 100% and Durant is 80%, the Warriors have a great chance both tonight and for the rest of the series.
Even if Durant can give them 20 good minutes it could make a big difference.
It's a weird series, basically a race between Raptors winning four before the W's are healthy.
Leonard has been fantastic and that crowd is gonna be frenzied - tall task for a limping Warriors team. OTOH, champs rarely go down without a fight.
Crap - double post. Go Warriors!
hes the best scorer on the planet and such a unique addition to any lineup that if hes healthy, hell make a huge difference
No way he’s in sync with everyone after that much time off. If I recall, the pistons took out the Lakers 4-1. I think Toronto runs them out again after a quick start by golden state. I could be wrong.
If he’s not healthy...he may be a hinderance! I would put Kawhi on him from the start and test him out to see how healthy he is really is from the opening tip
Gotta think he’s going to be a little rusty we’ll see tonight
I'd expect, at most, 15-20 minutes from him tonight. If he goes in and plays 30+ minutes at 90%+ his first game back I’d question why he wasn’t back sooner.
I’d put him to the test defensively. He can’t be 100% and he is not in the type of shape needed to play significant minutes.
15-20 minutes of a hobbled KD is probably better than the Warriors' other options, but it's hard to see how much of an impact he can make with so much time off and not being completely healthy. If he can't guard, then it's really trouble, especially considering how poor the Warriors' defense has been this postseason.
It's big. But also important is the health of Looney and/or Boogie. Even with Durant the Warriors are going to be scrambling with defensive matchups unless one or both of those guys can be effective. That is what has swung the series so far. Not Durant being out, but a thin front court that was already overmatched on paper.
If he’s anywhere close to 100%, it changes everything. If Klay is also near or at 100%, then Golden State can very easily come back and win this series.
I don’t see it...ppl keep underestimating the Raptors. This same Warriors team with KD healthy dropped 4 games to the Clippers & Rockets in the postseason. Just don’t see them beating Toronto 3 times in a row.
Not saying Toronto wouldn’t make them earn it, but getting back the best or second best player in the world has to count for something. As long as he’s at or near 100%. Golden State has been without Durant the whole series and without Thompson for a part of it.
I think if both of them are back and make significant contributions, this’ll at least go to seven. Big if for sure, but Golden State has been playing this series with one hand tied behind its back.
Not much. He'll probably score 10-15 in limited minutes.
Toronto finishes the job.
I think the Raptors take this tonight. They just look balanced everywhere on the floor and they don't looked rattled at all. They look like they know they can handle the Warriors. I have been massively wrong this entire post season, but I think it ends tonight with or without Durant.
The refs will try for another game. That’s how the nba works.
obviously his health is a huge variable. maybe an even bigger variable is that he hasn't played in over a month. it seems like a lot to ask for a guy to just jump right in with the insane intensity of playoff basketball, let alone dominate. it would be a great story to see a durant led comeback, but i highly doubt it. he scores 24 points and toronto wins tonight.
All of it. His absence is the reason they are down 3-1.
Forced a turnover on the first possession. Should be interesting.