Is Durant an average player when he doesn't get freethrows?

[Venti Quattro]

Discuss

[lefty]

FT or no FT, Durant is overrated

He doesnt bring anything to the table besides scoring

Yeah, go ahead and score your 30 ppg

[Dunc n Dave]

He looked semi-pedestrian tonight vs the Spurs, save for a couple of dunks... seems like his game has regressed.

[Hooks]

Hard to tell based off of just this game, after all he did play against the same team that shut Kobe down just a few days ago, the same team that has the best record in the NBA...

[BRHornet45]

FT or no FT, Durant is overrated

He doesnt bring anything to the table besides scoring

Yeah, go ahead and score your 30 ppg

well said. Durant is outstanding, but all he offers is scoring. if the refs aren't giving him every call like they do MOST of the time, the Thunder are fucked.

[Dex]

Yes, just like Wade, Kobe, Manu, etc...

What makes those guys such potent scorers is not only their ability to shoot or make threes, but also their ability to get to the line. That's how they can score 30 points while only making 8 to 10 shots (and hopefully only taking 15 to 20). Take away the freebies, and they're right back with the pack.

[BRHornet45]

Yes, just like Wade, Kobe, Manu, etc...

What makes those guys such potent scorers is not only their ability to shoot or make threes, but also their ability to get to the line. That's how they can score 30 points while only making 8 to 10 shots (and hopefully only taking 15 to 20). Take away the freebies, and they're right back with the pack.

son but the whole problem is the NBA favors certain players. It is no big secret (unless you just don't want to admit it) that the NBA tells their officials to blow the whistle all the time for certain players and not for anyone else unless it is a blatant foul. That's not to say that every time guys like Durant, Wade, etc. get to the line that it was a bullshit call, but I can assure you that at least 75% of the time it was. A player like Durant knows that all he has to do is run into the lane, throw the ball in the air, yell out loudly, fall down, and he will be awarded with two free point opportunities 9 times out of 10 despite the fact that no foul was committed.

[jag]

BR is about to put his tin foil hat on and start talking about Tim Donaghy.

[LkrFan]

BR is about to put his tin foil hat on and start talking about Tim Donaghy.
:lol

[BRHornet45]

BR is about to put his tin foil hat on and start talking about Tim Donaghy.

lolz

[LkrFan]

Same could be said about LBJ and Wade, tbh.

[BRHornet45]

Same could be said about LBJ and Wade, tbh.

nowhere near as much though. last season Durant shot almost 70 more free throws than Lebron and almost 140 more than Wade ... oh and LOL 300 more than Kobe. The bottom line is that Durant's scoring numbers are greatly inflated over the last 2 years. The NBA is doing everything they can to "force" him into superstar status.

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/523/freebies.jpg

[mystargtr34]

Difference between Durant and the real 'elite' guys like LeBron, Wade and Kobe etc is that they not only score... but make plays for others. Durant hasnt shown the ability to do that.

Still young.. but honestly it doesnt look like he will develop that part of his game to the point where it is a weapon.. he seems to have that score at all costs mentality probly because he doesnt have that natural vision or playmaking ability.

He should be compared to guys like Carmelo... not LeBron, Wade and Kobe.

[dbestpro]

Durant can shoot over top but he still is not as smooth a shooter as Gervin was (both were 6-9). George was much better with the ball when attacking the basket, as well. If Gevin had got the love Durant gets he might have become the alltime scoring leader.

[Pelicans78]

It's a disgrace how many FTs this guy gets a game. Really pathetic. Every single game. I was happy how the Spurs tapped that ass and sent him and his overrated team packing.

He needs to expand his game a bit more. Get stronger, post up more, pass more, etc.

[ohmwrecker]

Durant needs to bulk up a little and develop a power game. He plays like a taller version of Reggie Miller.

[Giuseppe]

Durant needs to bulk up a little and develop a power game. He plays like a taller version of Reggie Miller.

ohm wreck er

[TDMVPDPOY]

comparing durant to reggie lmao, reggie never had a mid range game like durant

[Dunc n Dave]

not to mention Durant never had a 3pt stroke like Reggie

[ohmwrecker]

comparing durant to reggie lmao, reggie never had a mid range game like durant

Sure he did. Catch and shoot off a screen. Easily his highest percentage shot. Everybody remembers the threes because he was so clutch late in games.

Durant can dunk if he burns his defender off the dribble or off an oop pass, but he can't post up at all. If he could develop a post game, he would dominate.

[BRHornet45]

the bottom line is that even without all of his ridiculous free points awarded to him by the refs every game ... Durant still has to shoot the ball 20 times per game in order to score 20 points. He averages 20 shot attempts per game and without free throws averages around 20 points per game as well. That is the reason why he scores a lot. Now add in the 10 free throw attempts he averages per game and its no wonder the dude puts up 30 a game.

[PGDynasty24]

Another difference is that he's got a target on his back now. Just like LBJ,Kobe,CP3 etc....defenses are geared towards stopping him now which is why he is not playing as well as last year