Warrior Wonder: Kevin Durant willingly sacrifices for the good of the Dubs

The Golden State Warriors smacked around the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-107 last night. If you didn’t watch, I’ll give you the big picture look: Warriors dangerous, Timberwolves medicore (but Karl-Anthony Towns pretty good).

But watching this game live was quite the visual treat, as the champs decided to practice running coach Steve Kerr’s motion offense to the max. GSoM’s rookie of the year Joe Viray broke that down in his Golden Breakdown (a must read).

There so much screening and off-ball movement, my eyes gradually started leaving whoever was dribbling at the top of the key just so I could look at the off-ball action guess who was about to get open.

Unshockingly, the Splash Bros were prime beneficiaries of the whip passes and non-stop motion. Stephen Curry finished with 36 points, and Klay Thompson had 28.

But all that running around and screening wouldn’t matter if there weren’t willing passers to feed these superstars the rock.

Draymond Green and Kevin Durant had their passing antennae on high alert and their unselfishness + the Splash Bros shotmaking made for a deadly combo.

Both Green and Durant had 9 assists a piece! I heard from our GSoM slack that some Warriors fans on Twitter didn’t like Durant calmly surveying the floor and whipping the ball on-time to other players. I couldn’t believe it, I had to look for myself.

Huh?

What?

Okay, I see what’s happening here. Durant misses time with injury, the Splash Bros get it going and take two big wins over Houston and OKC. Durant eases himself back, and instead of activating Game 3 in Cleveland mode, focuses on making sure his teammates (arguably the two greatest shooters of all time) keep getting good looks.

Durant is as intelligent as he is conscientious on the court. Criticizing him for feeding the Splash Bros as a passive-aggressive cop out is to project ones own fear and loathing on the two-time Finals MVP. #GROWUP

They even referred to him as passive (aggressive). Bill Walton is crying somewhere that people don’t understand basketball.

Durant finished 7-of-13 from the field, 3-of-6 from downtown, and scored 17 points in a double digit win. THAT’S HIGH I.Q. BASKETBALL, FOLKS!

Anyways, what about that Golden Sidekick?

Golden Sidekick Nominee

Player A off the Warriors bench last night: 18 points, 4 rebounds, 6-of-10 from the field (3-of-4 downtown) in 18 minutes. -1 plus/minus

Player B off the Dubs bench: 2 pts, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1-2 from the field, 21 minutes. +20 plus/minus

WHO HAD THE BETTER GAME?