How good is Kevin Durant

[Pelicans78]

He's averaging 24+ pts, 6+ boards, shooting 47% from the field and 42% from 3-point land and his team is finally winning games. I'm impressed.

[dirk4mvp]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3863472

[IronMexican]

Lets ask tlong.

[pauls931]

He's a chucker granted a good one.

[JamStone]

Some people say he's underrated or under the radar. I think he's overrated.

He's a poor man's Rashard Lewis. Could be a pretty good third option on a great team.

[Pelicans78]

Some people say he's underrated or under the radar. I think he's overrated.

He's a poor man's Rashard Lewis. Could be a pretty good third option on a great team.

He's 19-20 years old, and a much better ball-handler than Lewis. He's gonna be way better than Lewis eventually.

[JamStone]

It's possible he'll be better than Lewis, but he isn't right now. He does have better handles than Lewis. That's it. They're similar shooters and rebounders. Lewis is a better defender, both in the post and out on the perimeter. Lewis also is better in the post on offense. Durant might end up better, but right now, he's a poor man's Rashard Lewis.

[Pelicans78]

It's possible he'll be better than Lewis, but he isn't right now. He does have better handles than Lewis. That's it. They're similar shooters and rebounders. Lewis is a better defender, both in the post and out on the perimeter. Lewis also is better in the post on offense. Durant might end up better, but right now, he's a poor man's Rashard Lewis.

I guess I was talking about the future more or less.

[jack sommerset]

I never see him play.

[JamStone]

I guess I was talking about the future more or less.

Then you should have asked, "how good can Kevin Durant be?"

If you put Durant on the Magic in place of Lewis, I don't think he does a better job than Lewis does. Durant doesn't have to worry about taking good shots or playing defense. He has the green light to shoot any shot he wants. And, no matter how bad his defense is, he won't get taken out of the game. Durant has a long way to go before he becomes a really good player. He's a great scorer. That comes natural to him. But, that alone doesn't make him a great player.

[Rogue]

Then you should have asked, "how good can Kevin Durant be?"

If you put Durant on the Magic in place of Lewis, I don't think he does a better job than Lewis does. Durant doesn't have to worry about taking good shots or playing defense. He has the green light to shoot any shot he wants. And, no matter how bad his defense is, he won't get taken out of the game. Durant has a long way to go before he becomes a really good player. He's a great scorer. That comes natural to him. But, that alone doesn't make him a great player.
however, you can never deny the truth: Durant > Oden

it was not miles but durant that pissed the blazers off.

[JoeTait75]

however, you can never deny the truth: Durant > Oden.

Little early to be making that assessment, no?

[monosylab1k]

I'm pretty gay for Durant, I'll take him any day of the week over Lewis. And Lewis isn't exactly Bruce Bowen defensively, he's pretty subpar as well. I'd probably take Durant's defense over Lewis to be honest, Lewis has the luxury of having Dwight Howard defending the paint, so he can afford to be more aggressive on the perimeter. Once Kevin Durant realizes he has the lift weights to last in the NBA, he'll become a top-5 player easy.

Calling Kevin Durant a poor man's Rashard Lewis is like calling Michael Jordan a poor man's Kobe Bryant.

[JamStone]

Calling Kevin Durant a poor man's Rashard Lewis is like calling Michael Jordan a poor man's Kobe Bryant.

I agree, if you were making that statement in the 2002-03 season.

[Udokafan05]

Lewis is the 3rd or sometimes 4th option on the team, depending on how nelson is playing. Durant is carrying his team on a nightly basis.

[mystargtr34]

It's possible he'll be better than Lewis, but he isn't right now. He does have better handles than Lewis. That's it. They're similar shooters and rebounders. Lewis is a better defender, both in the post and out on the perimeter. Lewis also is better in the post on offense. Durant might end up better, but right now, he's a poor man's Rashard Lewis.

I had a similar view on KD earlier this season, and ripped on him more than most. He looked like a slightly richer mans version of Kieth Van Horn.

Boy was i wrong.

This kids already better then Lewis. He can take people off the dribble, and has a far superior mid range game than Lewis. Hes also a better finisher at the rim. The only thing i would give Lewis the edge in is Defense, and long range shooting, although even thats debatable at this point. They are both shooting about 42% from 3 - im not sure of the exact numbers. Rashard attempts alot more, so he still probably has a more consistent outside stroke, but then Durant doesnt have a post threat to open things up for him. In all other aspects Durant > Lewis.

Hes even creating now. In 13 games in January hes dishing out 3.7 APG.

27.7 PPG - 8.7 RPG - 3.7 APG on .492% in January.


Anyway, at least we can all agree.... Durant >>> Oden

[Chieflion]

Durant is being played at the 2, 3, 4, 5 position. This guy is so versatile and a long defender. He can outrebound LeBron and his body has not even bulked up yet. This guy could be the greatest forward if he gets to a good team. Spurs should just screw over 2010 and wait for 2011 when Durant and Oden become free agents and sign them both. New Dynasty.

[KidCongo]

Durant is being played at the 2, 3, 4, 5 position. This guy is so versatile and a long defender. He can outrebound LeBron and his body has not even bulked up yet. This guy could be the greatest forward if he gets to a good team. Spurs should just screw over 2010 and wait for 2011 when Durant and Oden become free agents and sign them both. New Dynasty.

Hes got no-one else to grab boards on his team.But yes, Durant is a beast.

[BlackSwordsMan]

Lolden

[manufor3]

durants an animal

[m33p0]

durant on rookie salary> lewis with max deal

[j-money24]

id trade bynum for him

[Bob Lanier]

I don't know. Sonics games aren't being shown anymore for some reason.

[JamStone]

Lewis is the 3rd or sometimes 4th option on the team, depending on how nelson is playing. Durant is carrying his team on a nightly basis.

If Durant was on the Magic in place of Lewis, would he be anything other than the 3rd or 4th option? I really wouldn't believe you if you said he would be.

If Rashard Lewis were on the Thunder in place of Durant, would he be anything other than the first option? I really wouldn't believe you if you said he would be.

OKC Thunder have a record of 11-36, fourth worst in the league. No one on that team is "carrying" anything.

[Chieflion]

If Durant was on the Magic in place of Lewis, would he be anything other than the 3rd or 4th option? I really wouldn't believe you if you said he would be.

If Rashard Lewis were on the Thunder in place of Durant, would he be anything other than the first option? I really wouldn't believe you if you said he would be.

OKC Thunder have a record of 11-36, fourth worst in the league. No one on that team is "carrying" anything.

Durant would be 1a/b. He is better than Turk and arguably a better offensive player than Dwight.

[sook]

Durant and Howard would be a monster team.

Durant is still lanky, wait till he puts some muscle on he will be an all around player. During

a game i read that T-Mac used to be his hero when Durant was in highschool, had a

poster of him on his wall and everything, and told tracy that he wanted to mimic his all

aroudn game. The kid is already a stud though. I don't know how some of you can say Lewis is better at this stage...all lewis does is shoot 3s, never seen him do anything else.

[lil_penny]

Durant is a monster I would take him over lewis any day of the week.

[mattb_25]

Kevin durant is awesome so far, how could you take lewis over him? KD is shooting a better % on just reg fgs and just a little lower than on 3fgs, not to mention this is only KDs second year and he's already almost averaging 25 points ... His game is all around better this year than last, lets just wait to see what he turns out to be.

[dirk4mvp]

lmao

Lewis >> Durant

Lewis is on a team STACKED with offensive weapons, and he leads the league in 3pm while shooting over 42% while averaging a little over 19. Durant is on a team where any of the top 4 Magic weapons are better than the Thunder's second and averages a little under 25. Lewis on the Thunder would be averaging more points than Durant is now, Durant on the Magic would be avg less than Lewis is now.

[dirk4mvp]

Once Kevin Durant realizes he has the lift weights to last in the NBA,


This is his second year in the L, and he looks exactly the same as he did in HS. When's he gonna realize?

[Spurtacus]

Durant is an offensive beast. Kid is only 20 and underrated. He does need to bulk up and work on his defense.