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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Perhaps a Shift in Emphasis on D. Rose for Bulls?

Team USA defeated Serbia handily to win the Gold Meal in the FIBA World Cup Final in Madrid behind a lights out shooting game by Kyrie Irving who went 6-6 from three point-land on 9 of 12 shooting.  James Harden also had a good outing with some clutch treys and a deft offensive game.
Derrick Rose lead with 6 assists but did not have a basket as he was still struggling to find his shooting touch.

All in all, Rose had a successful tournament.  He did not get hurt and he helped his team in other areas beside making a pretty basket.

Pau Gasol, who will debut with the Chicago Bulls this upcoming season did make the FIBA "All Five", the top players in the Tournament.  Kenneth Faried was also honored as a top player in the Tournament.  Irving was named  the MVP of the World Cup.  What this points to is the USA has a great pool of talent, the best in the world. And, this is not including LeBron James, Kobe Byrant, or Will Durant, who didn't play in the FIBA event.

Back to Derrick Rose.  He played with some of the best players in the world and generally held his own.  His scoring was not needed as there were plenty of players, such as Harden, or Stephan Curry, who could make up the difference.

He has such high standards that it might bother him that he wasn't the offensive weapon, Bulls fans, have been accustomed to watching. He's been out for so long that it feels like it cost a dime to make a public phone call when he last played.

There is still time, training camp begins at the end of September.  Chicago will have plenty of offensive punch with the addition of McDermott, Gasol, and Milotic.  It will interesting to see how Coach Thibodeau will utilize Gasol, Noah, and Taj Gibson. These players can be versatile, roam and find seams --with Rose making spot on passes, it could look almost artistic on the court.  We shall soon see.

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It's Not Easy Being Derrick Rose

Team USA is moving along nicely, after defeating Mexico by 23 points in the first game of the elimination round in the FIBA World Cup of Basketball.  Team USA is now 6-0 and has won with a combination of power and speed.

Derrick Rose, who is rehabbing his injured knees in this select competition, has moved well with the ball, and has made some nice assists.  He can't find his shot, not scoring vs. Mexico, and only netting single digit points in recent games.  Meanwhile Stephen Curry, the leading scorer vs. Mexico, showed how good he really is.  Kenneth Faried has brought intensity and physicality down low and has made a strong impression.It's been heard that Rose is feeling impatient to being able to do the things he did before he got hurt, which seems a long time ago.

Derrick, don't worry.  Let the game come to you.  That may be easier said than done, but that is what he may need to do.  He is playing on a team where he is not needed to be the "man."  So  just be Derrick.  Work on the skills that come easier to you, like passing.  Regain your basketball vision.  He is slowly doing this and his game will come back in a matter of time.  His shot was falling before.  It can fall again.  The level of play is about to get more challenging. That's when Rose has stepped up in the past.  Let's see what transpires in the week to come.

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Rose Watch Is Earnest Now

Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls is being withheld from the Dominican Republic exhibition game at Madison Square Garden.  He has not practiced the last two days due to a sore knee.  At first, reports were downplaying the soreness but now the word is out.  Rose has some soreness in one of his surgically repaired knees.

We suspect its the one where had had surgery to repair a Meniscus muscle tear however people who know the game of basketball are not alarmed.  They say, it's typical to have some pain while playing at a high level.  Playing for Team USA is competing at a high level, and those close to the game think this is a good experience for Rose to test out his knees, to pace himself, and not feel that he is the only scorer on the court.  He is not, considering the team also features James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Stephen Curry playing guard.

But the Rose watch is on.  Can he recover from this discomfort?  Coach K thinks this is not such a big deal. To the Bulls fans in Chicago, it is a big deal.  They want to see a healthy Derrick Rose, who can move like he did before he got hurt.

We don't know the extent of the soreness to the knee and what this means for Derrick.  Will he play in a week?  Right now, no one knows.  His coach, Tom Thibodeau, is an assistant on Team USA, and must be closely monitoring the situation.  This does not sound good for Bulls fans. Hopefully, he is going through pain that comes from really testing the knee in direct competition. Those close to the Team USA say it is better to go through this now, than 3 weeks into the season. Double cross your fingers.

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