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Why Wizards fans shouldn't count on Scott Brooks to lure Kevin Durant
by bobheckler Fri Apr 22, 2016 1:06 pm
https://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-wizards-fans-shouldn-t-count-on-scott-brooks-to-lure-kevin-durant-010418933.html
Why Wizards fans shouldn't count on Scott Brooks to lure Kevin Durant
By Chris Mannix of The Vertical
15 hours ago
Yahoo Sports
Scott Brooks has accepted the Washington Wizards' head-coaching job, and you know what's coming next. For weeks Brooks has been perceived as Kevin Durant bait, the ex-coach with the ear of the soon-to-be free-agent star, the connection that could make a difference in a high-stakes courtship. He's the Durant whisperer, the asset that, coupled with a young roster and a familiar zip code, could lure Durant.
It's nonsense, of course, a narrative that never made much sense. Durant isn't coming to Washington. It has nothing to do with Brooks, who Durant respects and has even missed at various points this season. For all of Brooks' flaws, Durant knew this: He held everyone accountable, and his track record of player development defined him. Durant and Russell Westbrook became MVP-caliber players under Brooks, while the likes of James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson thrived, too.
Durant isn't bound for Washington, friends say, because … it's Washington, it's home, and, like so many athletes, Durant isn't all that keen on returning to play in the city in which he grew up. Friends, family – some real, some claiming to be – all come out of the woodwork in those situations, and Durant, who has tightened his inner circle considerably in recent years, isn't interested in dealing with them. His lone trip to D.C. this season was stressful, league sources told The Vertical, reinforcing to friends that wherever Durant signs next summer, Washington won't be it.
Kevin Durant won't lack for suitors after the season. (Getty Images)
That isn't to say the Wizards erred in hiring Brooks, because Durant or no Durant, Brooks is still the best man for the job. He won 62 percent of his games with the Thunder, with two trips to the conference finals and one NBA Finals appearance topping his résumé. Critics tattooed him for unimaginative play-calling, for his unwillingness to adapt in the moment. Yet there was Brooks, leading a group of 20-somethings over the vaunted Spurs in 2012, battling them again in '14. Crippling injuries to Westbrook and Durant derailed two seasons, two playoff runs that may have ended differently had Brooks had a full roster.
The Wizards ooze potential, have a roster desperately needing to be molded. John Wall is an All-Star, Bradley Beal – if healthy – could become one while Otto Porter has emerged as a reliable starter, and could be more. Washington was a goofy team last season; the Wizards wanted to play fast, but they were too out of shape to do it, wanted to play small, but didn't have the personnel for it. Brooks will simplify the offense, will get everyone to play hard and will amplify his team's strengths while relentlessly hammering out its weaknesses.
The Wizards projected as a top-five team at the start of this season, and with Brooks they could immediately contend for one of those spots again.
Washington got its man, its coach, just don't expect him to be much more. The Summer of Durant will be wild, with Durant eager to be courted, to see how other teams operate. Golden State will be in the mix, San Antonio too, while Boston lurks as a dark horse, the Eastern Conference alternative if Durant chooses to extract himself from the bruising Western Conference playoffs.
Washington will come, with Wall, with Brooks, with promises of building a sustainable contender in Durant's own backyard. And the Wizards should. They will fight for the hometown star, right up until he tells them he isn't interested in them fighting anymore.
bob
MY NOTE: If "dark horse" is another way of saying "long shot", then I agree. It depends upon whether we can rally from 0-2 against Atlanta (we may not have to beat them, but we cannot just fade to black meekly. We have to show fight) and the draft. Since Durant is probably the most sought after free agent this off-season many of the other free agent signings will be waiting on him to choose first. I see that as a problem for Danny. He'll want to build the team up for Durant, to make his decision easier, and that might not happen.
.
Why Wizards fans shouldn't count on Scott Brooks to lure Kevin Durant
By Chris Mannix of The Vertical
15 hours ago
Yahoo Sports
Scott Brooks has accepted the Washington Wizards' head-coaching job, and you know what's coming next. For weeks Brooks has been perceived as Kevin Durant bait, the ex-coach with the ear of the soon-to-be free-agent star, the connection that could make a difference in a high-stakes courtship. He's the Durant whisperer, the asset that, coupled with a young roster and a familiar zip code, could lure Durant.
It's nonsense, of course, a narrative that never made much sense. Durant isn't coming to Washington. It has nothing to do with Brooks, who Durant respects and has even missed at various points this season. For all of Brooks' flaws, Durant knew this: He held everyone accountable, and his track record of player development defined him. Durant and Russell Westbrook became MVP-caliber players under Brooks, while the likes of James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson thrived, too.
Durant isn't bound for Washington, friends say, because … it's Washington, it's home, and, like so many athletes, Durant isn't all that keen on returning to play in the city in which he grew up. Friends, family – some real, some claiming to be – all come out of the woodwork in those situations, and Durant, who has tightened his inner circle considerably in recent years, isn't interested in dealing with them. His lone trip to D.C. this season was stressful, league sources told The Vertical, reinforcing to friends that wherever Durant signs next summer, Washington won't be it.
Kevin Durant won't lack for suitors after the season. (Getty Images)
That isn't to say the Wizards erred in hiring Brooks, because Durant or no Durant, Brooks is still the best man for the job. He won 62 percent of his games with the Thunder, with two trips to the conference finals and one NBA Finals appearance topping his résumé. Critics tattooed him for unimaginative play-calling, for his unwillingness to adapt in the moment. Yet there was Brooks, leading a group of 20-somethings over the vaunted Spurs in 2012, battling them again in '14. Crippling injuries to Westbrook and Durant derailed two seasons, two playoff runs that may have ended differently had Brooks had a full roster.
The Wizards ooze potential, have a roster desperately needing to be molded. John Wall is an All-Star, Bradley Beal – if healthy – could become one while Otto Porter has emerged as a reliable starter, and could be more. Washington was a goofy team last season; the Wizards wanted to play fast, but they were too out of shape to do it, wanted to play small, but didn't have the personnel for it. Brooks will simplify the offense, will get everyone to play hard and will amplify his team's strengths while relentlessly hammering out its weaknesses.
The Wizards projected as a top-five team at the start of this season, and with Brooks they could immediately contend for one of those spots again.
Washington got its man, its coach, just don't expect him to be much more. The Summer of Durant will be wild, with Durant eager to be courted, to see how other teams operate. Golden State will be in the mix, San Antonio too, while Boston lurks as a dark horse, the Eastern Conference alternative if Durant chooses to extract himself from the bruising Western Conference playoffs.
Washington will come, with Wall, with Brooks, with promises of building a sustainable contender in Durant's own backyard. And the Wizards should. They will fight for the hometown star, right up until he tells them he isn't interested in them fighting anymore.
bob
MY NOTE: If "dark horse" is another way of saying "long shot", then I agree. It depends upon whether we can rally from 0-2 against Atlanta (we may not have to beat them, but we cannot just fade to black meekly. We have to show fight) and the draft. Since Durant is probably the most sought after free agent this off-season many of the other free agent signings will be waiting on him to choose first. I see that as a problem for Danny. He'll want to build the team up for Durant, to make his decision easier, and that might not happen.
.
bobheckler- Posts : 61461
Join date : 2009-10-28
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