KD wants title, not perfect
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Golden State Warriors reached the NBA Finals by becoming the first team to ever go 12-0 through the first three rounds of the playoffs. That sets the stage for the possibility of a perfect 16-0 run to a title, a task that won’t be easy against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Count Warriors star Kevin Durant among those who couldn’t care less.
“However you get there,” Durant said yesterday. “However you get to 16 wins. That doesn’t matter to me.”
Durant’s playing in the Finals for the second time, the last coming when he and the Oklahoma City Thunder lost 4-1 in 2012 to James and the Miami Heat. Besides five years in age, Durant downplayed the differences between him from then and now.
“I’ve played in much more games since then, got better as a player, more comfortable out there as a player,” he said. “Just a natural progression as a player.”
The other key natural progression has been Durant’s chemistry this season with fellow star Stephen Curry. While much has been made of Curry being healthier during these playoffs than he was last year when an ankle and then a knee injury hobbled him, Durant doesn’t recall Curry being too hobbled when his Warriors beat Durant and Thunder in the Western Conference finals.
“He looked healthy enough last year,” Durant said.
As for how their on-court relationship has grown, Durant described them as “just two guys who know how to play.”
“We built our chemistry from the start of the year, and then when I got hurt, Steph had to step up. He did a great job of that,” Durant said. “I think our chemistry has grown over the year, and it’s only getting better. We’re going to have to be big for us to win this series. We both know that.”
Durant will have to be more than just big on the offensive end. He figures to get at least some time guarding James and spoke of his philosophy toward trying to defend him.
“Just challenge him, just like you do with any other really good player,” Durant said. “Just try to challenge him and not get discouraged when they make shots. They’re going to shoot tough shots. Just let him know you’re going to come down next time and play the same type of defense. Just can’t get discouraged with guys like that — him or Kyrie (Irving). They can score in bunches, and they can score so easily. You’ve got to try to make it tough.”