Kevin Durant is back and ready to put the Warriors over the top

Kevin Durant received the pass in the corner. He sized up his defender and took a long step baseline and put the rock on the floor. He dribbled once, picked it up, and took his two steps.

As he started to take those long strides, the Warriors bench behind him started to stand in anticipation. Alexis Ajinca was in the rear view mirror and he just ad the rim to conquer. He rose up and slammed down the reverse dunk, announcing his return in emphatic fashion.

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Kevin Durant is back. And, it’s important to note that the only way that Kevin Durant can return to the Warriors is if Kevin Durant is on the Golden State Warriors. By the way, if you haven’t heard, Kevin Durant is on the Golden State Warriors.

The superstar forward is playing basketball again after suffering a Grade 2 MCL sprain back in February. He admitted to Bill Simmons that his initial fear was that he had broken his leg and wouldn’t play again this season. Shortly after, he received the actual diagnosis and started on the road to recovery.

The Warriors experienced both extremes during Durant’s absence. Immediately after he went down, they went into a free fall. The Splash Brothers couldn’t make any shots, the defense was lackluster, and it looked like they would never win another basketball game again. They didn’t know how to play without their latest acquisition.

But then Klay Thompson

signed a toaster

started making shots. Draymond Green turned up the defensive intensity in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers and never turned back. Stephen Curry returned to MVP form. The bench, led by Andre Igoudala, played better than most teams’ starting units.

Durant didn’t feel up the score sheet. He only had 16 points in 30 minutes on 40 percent shooting. He also added 10 rebounds and 6 assists. But just his presence alone makes a difference.

He was getting to his spots and getting looks that he normally knocks down. He was making the right passes to Thompson and other teammates. And he took up so much space defensively, stepping one step towards the rim to dissuade potential drivers.

Curry didn’t play, but he’ll be ready for the Utah Jazz. And then the league’s deadliest duo will reunite on the Oracle Arena floor. It’ll be the first chance they get to build that chemistry and unlock their full potential.

Durant’s conditioning probably isn’t all there though he did extended run without a minutes restriction. His jumper was off, but that could just be a combination of nerves and having a bad shooting night. But the Slim Reaper was moving well, reminding us how unfair it is that a seven footer can run, jump, and handle like that.

The Warriors are playing their best basketball of the season right now, Their most important player, Curry, is locked in a zone that only a few players can reach. The complementary All-Stars, Green and Thompson, are doing what they do best. Iguodala looks even better than his 2015 Finals MVP form, David West has turned back the clock, and Ian Clark is earning a big contract this summer.

They’re on a fourteen game winning streak with two more to go in the regular season. They’ll have homecourt throughout the entire playoffs. The offense and the defense are coming together as they prepare for a third straight deep postseason run.

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They’re doing all that and they get to add Kevin Durant to the mix. It may not be a perfect fit right away, but it might not matter. The sheer talent may be too much for anyone in the league to handle and they can cruise to a championship.

The Warriors are rejoining Durant’s return. The rest of the league? They should fear the Slim Reaper.

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