Stars aligned in pursuit of greatness
Curry, Durant pushing each other to a higher level with united Warriors focused on reclaiming NBA title
OAKLAND — Any lingering questions about what kind of impact Kevin Durant joining the fold would have on the Golden State Warriors’ dynamic were answered in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers locked in on the Warriors’ traditional three-point threats, gaping lanes were left wide open for a driving Durant, and he didn’t turn down the opportunity.
It made for a one-sided opening game.
It’s highly unlikely those lanes will be so wide open again in Game 2 on Sunday — not with the volume of tape the Cavs have consumed in the past 48 hours — but there’s no question the Cavaliers will have to do something different. Even then, it might not be enough. It’s easy to say, ‘We’re going to take this away,’ and the Cavs are certainly capable of doing that, but in taking something away, they leave themselves open to something else.
That, in short, is the impact of adding Durant to a team already loaded with talent.
The addition has had a ripple effect. Stephen Curry has picked things up from Durant, who in turn has picked things up from Curry. The great are getting even greater as they steal from one another’s game. Both are notoriously hard workers. “Most guys are self-motivated, self-driven,” Curry said. “We understand what it takes to elevate our game, get better every single year, how to use our practice sessions, our individual sessions, whatever it is, to stay sharp. But when you have a culture of guys that work, guys that want to be great and want to put the time in and not cheat the game, it’s huge, because you can feed off of that energy.”
Both players admit they have found improvements in their daily routine just watching the other guy go about his business.
“There’s a lot of different footwork drills and stuff that I’ve never done before, that he’s learned along the way ... I just sit and watch and I try, from time to time, just to kind of shock your body a little bit and see if you can do it and how it may help you,” Curry said when asked what he has picked up from Durant.
“I do a little Karate Kid-type balance drill on my pre-game warmups that I got from KD and Steve Nash (a Warriors’ development consultant).
“You have to find different ways to challenge yourself. Whether it comes from KD, whether it comes from Steve Nash, other great shooters, any of my teammates, all that input is very valuable for me as I go forward.”
Durant was no different when he arrived. He was well aware of Curry’s status in the game and his talents, and saw it as an opportunity to improve his own game.
“You want to know why Steph is one of the best players in the world, one of the best players ever,” Durant said about joining the Warriors. “You just want to know how hard they work. You want to know their approach to the game. You want to know how serious they take it.”
Much was made of how it would the Warriors were incorporating another alpha male into the locker-room. That hasn’t been an issue.
“It’s been pretty natural, really,” Curry said. “You don’t really have to force much of the infusion of KD into your lineup. He’s an efficient basketball player. A high-IQ guy, fits right into what we do here.”
The Cavs are getting a heavy dose of what that means to Warriors’ opponents right now.