NEW YORK – Brooklyn Nets striker Kevin Durant admitted on Saturday night that he “thought too much” in the first round against the Boston Celtics and that this was a factor in his poor game.
After being held up to 16 points in a 6-1 out of 11-10 loss to 109-103, which put the Nets in a 0-3 series hole, Durant ruled 36.5% (19-for-52) off the field with three consecutive Celtics losses. and failed to find any rhythm against Boston’s stubborn defense.
“I just thought too much to be honest, this whole series,” Durant said. “Like the way I approach the game. We have another game to play, another opportunity, and I’m looking forward to that. “
After averaging more than 30 points per game in March and April, Durant gave only 22 points per race in the first three games of this series. The Celtics did this to be physically with Durant throughout the series and threw body after body at him to slow him down.
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“I feel like I was trying to be too aggressive in the first two games,” Durant said. “A team that is busy with me, trying to get me out of all my actions. I had the feeling that I was still trying to force the first two games and watching movies, many of my teammates were open and they knocked down blows, so I felt that my approach to this game was to play against everyone – to embark on the flow of attack and let the ball move and find me. “
Durant said that part of the reason the Celtics were so successful against him was that “they are bigger than us.” He reconsidered his loss on Saturday, admitting it was not the first time in his career that he felt he was thinking too much on the floor.
“All the teams I’ve been on, you’re just trying to figure out the best way to play,” Durant said. “When you have good teammates around you, you try to understand, I try to understand how I can be the best version of myself and also not get in the way of my teammates. Sometimes I think too much about it. Sometimes I have to go out there and just [have] no thoughts in my head and just playing.
“I feel I have prepared in the right way. It’s a matter of small decisions in the match that may not work in my favor. I thought I found my teammates better than in the last two games. I just need to score more “
After game 3, Durant, Nets coach Steve Nash and the rest of his teammates were left looking for answers they didn’t have. Nash attributes Durant’s struggles to “a little of everything.”
“It is clear that they are loading with him, sending him bodies, are physically with him … I think these are non-violent turns,” Nash said. “I don’t think Kevin should leave. We hit a good percentage, we moved the ball. Only the ones we just gave up. Bad decisions, lack of connections, simple passes and they go to the other. For me, that was the difference in all three games. “
Durant allowed 12 turns in the first three games of this series. As a team, the Nets have taken 48. Veteran striker Blake Griffin said the Nets did not have the “right spirit throughout the game” on Saturday.
“I’m sure K has had games in the past where he didn’t play as well as he wanted to,” said Nets guard Kyrie Irving. “I’ve had games like that … And it’s just this basketball game. It’s a game of averages, man. And you guys know better than I do, just by looking at the side, that these things can happen when you change a game where you’re hot and just cold. “
Irving added, “But it’s not time to hold your head or point your fingers. I just have to go home and put on my bulletproof vest.”
Durant, who played 46 minutes in Saturday’s loss, has an average of 43 minutes per game in the first three games of this series. He refused to let the extra minutes be an excuse for his poor performance.
“I don’t think I’m tired,” Durant said. “I feel good playing. I’m not tired. My body doesn’t hurt.
Asked how he could find his rhythm, Durant said he could “shoot more.” Since the Nets are one match away from elimination, Durant will not need motivation to be ready for game 4.
“Man, we know what it is,” Durant said. “I don’t think any speech or thing will do it this part of the year. You know what it is – we lose 3-0 … We’ll go out and play on Monday.”
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