Kevin Durant sheds light on Team USA departure in HBO documentary

August 7th, 2014

“This was an extremely difficult decision as I take great pride in representing our country,” said Durant. “I know that I owe it to my USA Basketball teammates to be totally invested in the experience. After going through training camp with USAB, I realized I could not fulfill my responsibilities to the team from both a time and energy standpoint. I need to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season. I will be rooting for USAB and look forward to future opportunities with them.”

It was seemed too convenient at the time, to manufactured and not from the heart.  When Team USA needed him the most after the injury to Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder F Kevin Durant stepped away citing fatigue.  Only 7 days removed from George's gruesome injury and an off-season that included workouts with Los Angeles Lakers G Steve Nash and New York Knicks F Carmelo Anthony, the reigning league MVP needed a break or so many thought.  

Tuesday night, October 4th, HBO will air The Offseason:  Kevin Durant.  The 60 minute documentary showed a glimpse of what it's like to be Kevin Durant on and off the court, an intimate detail piece of work which also feature the real reason Durant decided to step away from Team USA. While at a basketball camp Durant decided that he couldn't move past George's injury and sent a text to Coach K indicating a need to talk.  

“It took everything out of me seeing that,” Durant later told friend Randy Williams and a Nike executive at his camp of George. “Everything I had to play for Team USA, that injury stripped it away from me.”
Without spoiling, one could see the tense moment as someone handed Durant the phone and he simply asked the follow:  
“That’s him?”
The situation could have been handled smoother, the truth could have been demanded by fans on the time of his departure but this coming Tuesday on HBO at 10 pm ET, the truth was revealed and the veil that has always shrouded Kevin Durant for the duration of his career was finally ripped away.  From a desire to not be second, to the drive of validation to win a champion, The Offseason offered it all.  

“It was cool to see how moved people were by my speech, but that’s not what I’m here to do,” Durant said in the film. “I’m in this league to win a championship.”

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Team Preview: Indiana Pacers

Proverbial bad breaks in life.........can't be avoided no matter how well one tries and the same thing can be said about sports.  Sports, the first true reality entity to grip the minds of nations, to take its followers through the ebbs and flows of various emotions which includes the euphoria of the win and the agony of defeat.  The bad breaks can not be avoided and it highlights the "win now" culture that we inhabit but the reality is that everyone can't win now no matter how prepared they think they are, no matter how much the fan base feels entitled to it, no matter how far a team's franchise player has ascended.  Bad breaks in life, in sports.......happens.

Falls from grace can be monumental at times and also unexpected.  This time last year the Indiana Pacers were the darlings of the NBA and the heir apparent in the league’s Eastern Conference, the cool choice to be the team to dethrone the then two time defending champion Miami Heat.  Another deep playoff run and another loss to the Heat had the Pacers pondering if a rebuild would be necessary, should they attempt to keep then free agent Lance Stephenson or let him depart?  In a league were the usual suspects are crowned champion year after year, the hardest thing to do is for a contender to break free from the chains of being a pretender. 

If a team can possibly have the worst off season ever it was the Pacers.  Already in a state of flux, the franchise lost its brightest star when Paul George suffered his horrific leg injury during an exhibition game for Team USA months ago.  Despite the optimism from George that he may return at some point during the regular season, it’s best if he sits the season out. 

The loss of George for the season stings but the vain of G/F Lance Stephenson was a venomous strike.  Throughout last season it was evident that something was amiss in the Pacers’ locker-room as multiple reports detailed players calling one another selfish and a physical altercation between Stephenson and Evan Turner.  Roy Hibbert was quoted as stating the following after an ugly loss near the end of last season:

"Some selfish dudes in here,"  Hibbert said. "Some selfish dudes. I'm tired of talking about it. We've been talking about it for a month."

"We play hard, but we've got to move the ball," Hibbert said. "Is it obvious, or what? I don't know whatever our assist ratio, or whatever it is, is in the league, but it probably isn't up there. I'm really trying hard not to spaz out right now, but I don't know. We've been talking about it for a month. I'm not handling the rock. I don't know. I've made suggestions before and we do it for, like, one game, and then we revert back to what we are. I don't know. I'm not the one to answer that question. It directly affects me and the bigs. We're just out there and it makes us look bad."

The Charlotte Hornets made a bold move by signing Stephenson to a 3 year deal valued at $27 million.  A good offer for a player of his caliber but when one considers the Pacers offer of 5 years and $44 million the Hornets deal offered less security and slightly more money ($200,000 more per year).   Simply put Stephenson left the Pacers because he wanted to shine, something that he could have done in Indiana but Paul George was in his way.   Isn’t it ironic that Stephenson left just mere weeks before he would have been “the guy" in Indiana anyway?

Rodney Stuckey was the Pacers largest off season signing and he will have a chip on his shoulder this season due to flaming out as a member of the Detroit Pistons.  Stuckey has a career average of 13.4 points and 3.9 assists per game.  At only 28 years of age, Stuckey could prove to be an effective spark plug if utilized right by head coach Frank Vogel in tandem with George Hill.  

With that having been said, Vogel’s seat grew hotter as the Pacers had a disastrous second half.  Losing to the Miami Heat only magnified the situation and the displeasure was evident all over the face of Team President Larry Bird.  Bird indicated during the off season that Vogel’s job was not in jeopardy but the writing was on the wall as Vogel was never Bird’s first choice to coach the team.   Despite the fact that Vogel will be on the hot seat for the upcoming season, he will survive due to the injury to Paul George, it’s sort of a get out of jail free card if you will and it was that very card that allowed Vogel to agree to a multi year contract extension with the franchise.  

Expect the Pacers to be a competitive team but their run as contenders is over for the time being.  Roy Hibbert will have another All-Star season as he is the only consistent scoring threat that the Pacers have and veteran David West will continue to fortify the front court as long as he remains with the franchise.  There have been rumblings that the Pacers may look to move West at the deadline just as they did with Danny Granger this past season.   Despite maturity issues at times, the Pacers are a gritty bunch and will contender for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference. 

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Indiana Pacers 2013-14 Team Review

The world of sports can often be filled the concept of moral victories.  Times when just winning or losing isn't as important as how you how accomplish both.  Was one able to win with class or lose with class?  The 30 teams of the National Basketball Association (NBA) endure a schedule of 82 games played, many of which ending with moral victories as they all fight for the right to be crowned as the NBA Champion.  Having won 56 of 82 games and leading the NBA's Eastern Conference for three fourths of the season, one would have a hard time calling the Indiana Pacers of 2014 a failure but based on the goals that they set for themselves coming into the season, they failed and in spectacular fashion.

From the moment that they walked off of the American Airlines Arena court last season, their goal was not to have to travel for a game 7 again and they vowed to have the singular goal of hosting a game 7 in Bankers Life Fieldhouse in a potential rematch with the 2 time defending NBA Champion Miami Heat.  How ironic is it that their goal turned out to be nothing more than fools gold?  The Pacers captured the number one overall seed in the Eastern Conference but was not allowed to host a game 7 in their "house" as the Miami Heat once again stood in the way of the Pacer's path towards an NBA title.  Afflicted by team turmoil (selfishness, arrogance, off the court issues), the Pacers went from one of the most promising teams in the NBA in recent memory to its most dysfunctional in what seemed as if a matter of mere seconds.  Had it been a matter of a lack of talent, the Pacers would have been labeled as the underdogs, a franchise fortunate to make it to the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals two years in a row but this was far different.  There were no passes given as they faltered under the pressures being applied by the "big brothers" if you will.

The "Franchise" Paul George continued his ascension throughout the NBA's regular season as he was named a starter on the All-Star for the first time.  With averages of 21.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, George was clearly the standout player of the Pacers for the season.  Finally being free from the shadow of previous franchise Danny Granger, George as the face of the franchise lifted it to places that haven't been seen since the years that were home to Hall of Famer Reggie Miller tormenting the New York Knicks and being a pest to the likes of Michael Jordan and every other star in the league during his 18 year career.  In an opt disappointing season, George, on the court, was the largest bright spot for the Pacers.

With that being said, the largest decision that the Pacers will have to make this off-season is whether or not they are going to re-sign Lance Stephenson who is set to become a restricted free agent July 1st.  Just as George did years earlier, Stephenson had to learn and adapt to ascending while playing in the shadows of the "Franchise".  Antics aside, Stephenson is a talent despite still being "raw" in a multitude of areas.  The Pacers will have the ability to match any potential contract that Stephenson receives elsewhere but depending on the impending value of said contract, Stephenson may very well be allowed to simply walk away.

Despite the addition of C.J. Watson to bolster the depth of the guard position, he and starter George Hill was simply underwhelming as the Pacers fell.  If Stephenson is destined to be priority one in the off-season for the franchise, upgrading the point guard position is slated for the next position.  Having true point guard will allow both Paul George to play freely as they won't have the pressures of setting up the offense on their minds, they'll be able to move freely without the ball and attack when necessary.  With the "clutter" eradicated from their minds, they'll continue to shine brighter than before.

A veteran guard that comes to mind is Andre Miller due to his incredible skill set and professionalism.  Miller's advanced age is obvious but due to his ability to facilitate the offense, protect the ball, and dominate in the post, Miller would be a great addition to bolster the guard play of the Indiana Pacers however the Washington Wizards have guaranteed his contract for the 2014-15 NBA season.  Another intriguing name is Miami Heat free agent Mario Chalmers.  Despite the disdain between the two franchises, Chalmers would fit perfectly in the Pacers system and would also be able to showcase more of his skill set to offset Paul George.

By default the Indiana Pacers will continue to be one of the top 3 teams in the Eastern Conference but if they fail to maximize their potential for another season, big changes are coming.  At that point no one will be same included Frank Vogel and C Roy Hibbert.  If last season was indeed championship or bust for the Pacers, the lessons of it were not learned, there were no consequences for the disappointment, the indifference as the ship was sinking under the watchful eye.  The Pacers will enjoy another 50 plus win season but will face disappointment in the playoffs once more.

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NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference Finals Preview

Indiana Pacers (1) vs Miami Heat (2)

The Pacers made it to the Eastern Conference Final to once again face the Heat after a victory in six games over the Washington Wizards. Indiana is by no means back to their best, but they did show signs of regaining the form that saw them top the Eastern Conference regular season standings.

Roy Hibbert needs to find
some consistency

Roy Hibbert showed signs that he was beginning to regain his confidence and form, with good performances in the first two games of the series, although in games three, four and six he was almost completely anonymous.

However, one team that Roy Hibbert has always played consistently well against is the Heat, so now is the time for Hibbert to break out of his slump. No-one on this Miami roster can match the size of the 7’2” Hibbert. The only player Miami has who could match the strength of Indiana’s center is Greg Oden but he has been on the Heat’s inactive list throughout the postseason and would appear to be unlikely to figure in this series.

West and Stephenson have
stoked the fire in recent interviews

Lance Stephenson has added fuel to the fire that has been burning for a number of years between these two teams, stating that with Dwyane Wade guarding him, he intends to make Wade run around in the hope of making his problematic knee “flare up”.

David West has also chimed in, stating that the Pacers beat the one team that Miami did not want to play in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Wizards, in a bid to further rile the Heat.

The Heat know better than to respond to comments like these and they have no reason to as they are the two time defending champions and have nothing to prove compared to the Pacers, who are playing with a massive chip on their shoulder.

Miami was able to advance to the Conference Finals for the fourth year in succession with a relatively comfortable series win over the Brooklyn Nets in five games. Paul Pierce stated prior to the series that the Nets were not afraid of the Heat. That may have been the case, but they did not have the talent to match up with the defending champions.

LeBron James was once again instrumental in carrying his team into the next round, especially in game four, where he erupted to match his career high for points in a playoff game with 49. James did, however, receive more help than he got from his supporting in the first round.

Dwyane Wade showed a “Flash” of the player he can be, above all in game five, where he scored 20 points just in the first half. This is an encouraging sign for Miami, as they will need more from Wade if they want to advance to the NBA Finals. It could be that Stephenson’s recent comments are just what Wade needs to revitalize himself, as not many players play better than Wade when they are trying to make a statement.

Ray Allen hits the three pointer

Ray Allen came alive in the series played against the two players that he joined forces with in Boston to make up the Big Three, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. With 19 points in game one, Allen scored more points than he scored for all four first round games combined. However, Allen’s biggest play came in the game five series clincher, where he knocked down a step back corner three (sound familiar?) with 32 seconds remaining to give the Heat a two point lead, capping a 12-0 Miami run which brought them back from the brink of defeat.

It is fair to say the Pacers have been doing a lot of talking in the build up to this series; however, it is about time that they started to let their game speak for itself after looking less than comfortable in the first two rounds. Indiana certainly have not been playing well enough to justify the comments they have been making, so perhaps they have been saying these things to fire themselves up rather than trying to unsettle the two time defending champions.

Haslem will refuse to back
down against the Pacers

The Pacers’ best chance of winning this series is if they can get Roy Hibbert to play as well as he usually plays when facing the Heat. Miami has not used Udonis Haslem much so far in the postseason, but expect him to get a lot more minutes and maybe even start, to try and slow down Indiana’s frontcourt of Hibbert and West. What Haslem lacks in size, he more than makes up for it with his strength and tenacity and in the past he has caused Indiana problems due to his defense.

Paul George has had a fairly inconsistent postseason so far, and Indiana will certainly be counting on him to try and match LeBron James’ output, or at the very least slow him slow. The match-up between these two players has always been exciting to watch, and we are almost guaranteed another exciting contest.

The Heat have not had to play at their best to progress through the first two rounds, and have still been able to get through comfortable, whereas the Pacers have been poor and managed to scrape through. It is hard to see Indiana suddenly finding their form and challenging Miami like they did a year ago. Expect to see Miami make their fourth straight NBA Finals appearance.

Winner: Heat in 6

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