Kevin Durant’s awaited debut for the Phoenix Suns occurred on Wednesday because the Suns eclipsed the Charlotte Hornets 105-91 on the street.
On a minute restriction, Durant managed to attain 23 factors, capturing 66.7 % from the sphere and making two out of 4 three-point makes an attempt. With this, a brand new chapter has begun for Phoenix. Chris Paul’s management and basketball IQ, Devin Booker’s scoring means, and DeAndre Ayton’s presence within the paint have been the inspiration for this workforce. With the addition of Durant, who’s undeniably one of many biggest scorers the sport has seen, the Suns have reestablished themselves within the title image. And if this recreation was an indicator of issues to return, the title might very nicely be within the Valley come June.
Fast affect
Durant wasted no time making his presence felt. Whereas we had been reminded of how good he’s and his means to raise any workforce he performs for, his opening minutes as Phoenix’s new quantity 35 reminded us that he’s additionally human. His first contact led to a miss, and his second was a turnover. But it surely didn’t take him lengthy after to get warmed up.
Durant stepped onto the ground for the primary time since his MCL sprain in January, with a brand new workforce and the ever-heavy weight of expectations on his shoulder. There have been loads of changes to make, however it’s no query that Durant could have extra makes than misses and extra affect than turnovers throughout his time in Phoenix, irrespective of how lengthy it lasts.
Durant received his first factors for the Suns within the type of a layup. It was adopted by a block on Charlotte’s Mark Williams and a 3 on the opposite finish.
Durant confirmed his true colours in his Suns debut. Regardless of not having the right begin, he ended the night time with six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks on high of his factors in simply 27 minutes of play.
If Durant can do that a lot harm enjoying simply over half of the sport’s period, think about what he can do if he performed over forty minutes with this new firm. Devin Booker performed extremely with 37 factors for the night. Having him and Durant of their finest type spells hassle for the remainder of the league. It is just a matter of time earlier than the Suns to regulate to their new system and unleash their full potential. However this displaying was an unimaginable place to begin.
In the meantime in Brooklyn
Whereas Durant was rising with the Suns’ in his debut, his former workforce, the Brooklyn Nets, was on the receiving finish of a beating within the fingers of their neighbors in Madison Sq. Backyard.The Nets have gone from title favorites to a youth-driven and entertaining workforce with darkish horse potential written throughout them. Enjoyable as they might be, the Nets are 3-8 since Durant and Kyrie Irving’s departures. The Suns gave away key items Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, together with a laundry record of picks to make room for the 13-time All-Star.
Whereas Bridges and Johnson have acclimated nicely in Brooklyn and appear to be working nicely with Jacque Vaughn’s system, they’re removed from filling the void of KD and Kyrie. The Nets have slid to the sixth spot within the Jap Convention, and given the route they’re trending in the direction of, it will not be stunning if they’re holding onto a skinny thread within the play-in image on the finish of the season.
In the meantime, Durant is beginning his run with the Suns in the identical place he left Brooklyn, fourth of their convention. The Western Convention is up for grabs in the mean time. The highest of the heap, the place the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Sacramento Kings reside, has not moved for the higher a part of the season. The defending champions, Golden State Warriors, have just lately emerged into the Playoff image presently sitting fifth, whereas the surging LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks are hungrily chasing them from behind.
The Suns have hit the bottom working with Durant and haven’t any time to waste in getting the title, as they went all in on this for this deal. One of many largest threats to the Suns is their proneness to damage and lack of depth. But when they keep wholesome and preserve enjoying how they’re, there aren’t any excuses for them to not win the title.
