The Warriors wouldn’t be able to share one ball
When Kevin Durant decided to take his talents to
South Beach
Ocean Beach, many people wondered how it would work. Some folks were genuinely concerned with the fit. Others, were scared and grasping at their last bit of hope, that somehow this new superteam wouldn’t work.
Regardless of motivation, the argument was still the same: there’s only one ball. The Warriors had three All-NBA players. They had the league’s most potent offense, led by the scoring champion.
Steph Curry was an undeniable monster. He made the Golden State machine work. He averaged 30 points per game in under 35 minutes while knocking down a ridiculous 402 threes.
He was the league’s first MVP and the team’s clear alpha. Then, Durant, another former MVP, decided to join. Would he disrupt the team? His role would be far more different than Harrison Barnes’ as he just stood in the corner all game.
There’s just one ball. There aren’t enough shots to go around for Curry, Durant, and Klay Thompson, they’d say. They’d all decline and the team would crash and burn instantly.
Each member of the Big Three is very close to each other in shots. They’re each averaging 17 shots per game and scoring 20 or more every contest. It’s all very even.
The Warriors have their growing pains. During their collapse against Memphis, Draymond Green seemed to scold Durant for a bad shot attempt. It dominated the news cycle the next day, but there wasn’t anything there.
Here’s a fact: the Warriors’ chemistry is fantastic and it’s only getting better. Here’s an alternate fact: the Warriors can’t share one ball, the chemistry is falling apart, and Durant ruined everything.