Kevin Durant admits to ‘overthinking’ vs. Celtics
The Brooklyn Nets are facing elimination as they find themselves in a 0-3 deficit against the Boston Celtics in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.
The early favorites to win the NBA championship are in big trouble. The Brooklyn Nets have dug themselves into a very deep 0-3 hole, after Saturday’s 109-103 defeat at the hands of the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center.
Celtics throw bodies at Durant
Boston’s top-notch defense limited Nets star forward Kevin Durant to only 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting overall. He played for 46 minutes and tallied eight rebounds, eights assists, and five turnovers.
The Celtics also kept Kyrie Irving at bay, keeping the star guard’s total to 16 points, three rebounds, and nine assists in his 43 minutes of play.
Durant, who had been described in the past as an ‘undefendable’ player, admitted his role in the loss.
“You could put it on me in terms of playing better, controlling the game better, controlling our possessions,” he said.
“I had five fouls tonight, so you can put it on me more of just doing more and holding guys accountable, same way I’m held accountable.”
Kevin Durant: ‘I’m thinking too much’
The 2014 NBA MVP added that he has not been getting his flow because he was trying too hard to figure out the best way to play.
“I just tried to play the game the right way without being too aggressive... I’m just thinking too much, to be honest, this whole series,” he said.
Durant’s numbers have visibly declined from the regular season. He was registering an average of over 30 points per game in the two months before the playoffs, and he has only recorded a 22-point average in their first three games with Boston.
As they face being swept from the playoffs, the Nets’ strongest player needs to do what he admits he should have been doing in the first place- more shooting, and less thinking.
The Nets face the Celtics in Game 4 of their playoff series on Monday at Barclays Center. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.