Kevin Durant admits he’s ‘thinking too much’ with Nets on the brink of being swept by Celtics

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant was suffocated by the Boston Celtics protection once more Saturday evening. 

The Nets at the moment are going through elimination within the NBA playoffs after a 109-103 loss put the staff in a 3-0 gap. Critics have positioned blame for Brooklyn’s struggles on teaching and Durant, who’s going up in opposition to one of many NBA’s finest defenses and taking pictures simply 36.5% from the ground throughout the collection. 

The four-time NBA scoring chief, who averaged 29.9 factors this season, took simply 11 pictures in Sport 3, scoring 16 factors with eight rebounds and eight assists.

“I used to be simply pondering an excessive amount of, to be sincere, this entire collection,” Durant mentioned after the sport, by way of ESPN. “Like how I method the sport. We received one other recreation to play — one other alternative — and I am wanting ahead to that.”

Durant was 13 for 41 (31.7%) within the two video games in Boston with 12 turnovers, and the Nets have been hoping he might regain his type again dwelling. However the Celtics received heart Robert Williams again from damage, which made their stingy protection even stronger in Brooklyn. 

Brooklyn Nets ahead Kevin Durant (7) shoots in opposition to Boston Celtics ahead Grant Williams (12) throughout the second half of Sport 3 of a first-round playoff collection, Saturday, April 23, 2022, in New York.
(AP Photograph/John Minchillo)

“I really feel like the primary two video games I used to be making an attempt to be too aggressive,” Durant mentioned. “A staff that is loading up on me, that is making an attempt to take me out of all my actions. I felt like I used to be nonetheless making an attempt to pressure the primary two video games, and watching movie, quite a lot of my teammates have been open. And so they have been pulling down pictures, so I felt my method to this recreation was to play off of everyone — get within the circulate of the offense and let the ball transfer and discover me.”

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Durant, who has performed a minimum of 41 minutes in every of the three video games this collection, mentioned fatigue has but to be a consider his play. He argued that the Celtics simply have “extra measurement than us.” 

“Clearly they’re loading up on him, sending our bodies to him, being bodily with him. … I believe it is the unforced turnovers,” added Brooklyn head coach Steve Nash, by way of the outlet. “I do not suppose Kevin has to go off. We shot a superb proportion, we moved the ball. It is simply those that we simply gave up. Poor decision-making, not connecting, easy passes, and so they’re going the opposite manner. That, to me, has been the distinction in all three video games.”

Exterior of Durant, the Nets have struggled to get Kyrie Irving going in opposition to the Celtics. On Saturday, the guard went 6 for 17 and missed all seven of his 3-pointers.

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving sits on the baseline throughout the first half of Sport 3 of a first-round playoff collection in opposition to the Boston Celtics, Saturday, April 23, 2022, in New York. 
(AP Photograph/John Minchillo)

The Nets are nonetheless trying to find solutions as they hope to keep away from elimination in Sport 4 Monday evening. It is unclear if Ben Simmons will make his debut for Brooklyn within the elimination recreation. 

“We all know what it’s,” Durant added. “I don’t suppose no speech or something will do at this a part of the yr. You recognize what it’s. We’re down 3-0. We received one other recreation on Monday. Simply come out and play.”

The Related Press contributed to this report