Monty Williams Jokes Suns Star Kevin Durant is Expensive Decoy
The Phoenix Suns have enjoyed a fair amount of success this postseason, clinging to a 2-1 series lead over the Los Angeles Clippers with an opportunity to go up 3-1 later today.
Devin Booker is averaging 36 points per night and is fresh off a 47-point performance to secure a win in Game 3, and is rightfully being talked about as the most valuable player in the postseason thus far.
However, Suns forward Kevin Durant has managed to live up to the hype during his short stint on the court in Phoenix. Through three playoff games, he's averaging 26.7 points, seven rebounds, seven assists 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per night.
Durant has yet to put together a signature (electric, however you want to put it) performance, taking a backseat to allow Booker to take advantage of optimal spacing.
Suns coach Monty Williams joked Durant was an expensive decoy.
“I feel bad for Kev [Kevin Durant] sometimes because he's an expensive decoy out there. He's standing at the 28 foot hash and the defender is right in his face and that gives book a number of opportunities to attack a basket," Williams said after Game 3.
"Even when we run him in actions as a misdirection, sometimes two guys go with Kevin when he comes off of a screen, so that opens up the floor for everyone else and he's big he's 6’11 and so when a guy like that who can shoot the ball with that kind of efficiency is coming off of a screen or spacing the floor, you have to pay attention to him.”
Booker explained what Durant does on the court, even without the ball in his hands.
“I mean in so many ways. You can’t leave him, obviously he draws a lot of attention. A lot of the buckets I scored, I went back to him and said, 'You open that up for me.' He knows that and I expect the Clippers to make an adjustment to try to take me away and it’ll be his turn to do it and it’s just how we play," Booker said.
Durant himself touched on that specific play.
“I remember we ran a play to come and set a screen for me and I’ll end up catching it at the top of the key, but I saw the whole defense just looking at me. Book was bringing it up and got the one on one. The whole defense with their backs turned He was able to get to his move. He had some help at the rim, but that’s nothing for him. He ran back to me saying I created that when I probably didn’t create that," Durant said with a smile.
"He’s so good that he can do whatever he wants. They couldn’t help as much or as aggressively when I was coming off the screen. So just being comfortable with that and once the ball comes to me, I still have to be aggressive.”
When it comes to finding a flow in Phoenix's offense, Durant says
“I feel like I found a rhythm and a flow; letting the ball come to me. I know how to play the game of basketball. If the ball comes to me, just make the right play. Just be ready. I just try to stay prepared," he said.
Game 4 is in just a few hours at 12:30 PM PST - we'll see if Durant will continue having success with and without the ball.
