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Golden State Warriors: Is Kevin Durant playing too much hero-ball?

By Tony Pesta

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 07: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors walks backcourt during a game during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on December 07, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Warriors defeated the Bucks 105-95. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 07: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors walks backcourt during a game during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on December 07, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Warriors defeated the Bucks 105-95. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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After losing a tight game against the Houston Rockets, it’s time to ask if Kevin Durant is playing too much hero-ball for the Golden State Warriors.

The Houston Rockets defeated the Golden State Warriors 135-134 in one of the greatest regular season games I have ever witnessed. Each team traded huge buckets as it came down to the final seconds. The game ended on a 31-foot heave from Kevin Durant which would have won the game but instead sent the Warriors to the locker room with a loss.

James Harden led all scorers with 44 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds. This performance added to the legendary streak that Harden is currently on. Over the last 11 games, Harden is averaging 41.1 points, 9.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds a game. He has single-handedly carried the Rockets back into relevance in the Western Conference.

While being the hero has certainly worked for Harden, Kevin Durant has not been so lucky. It seems like KD’s attempts to be the hero lately have hurt the team more than helped. His game against the Rockets being the most recent and notable instance of this.

In the fourth quarter and overtime of the Rockets game, Durant shot 2-13 from the field and threw only one assist. He tried time and time again to hit the big shot but simply couldn’t get his jumper to fall.

This isn’t anything new for the Warriors. Durant has made it clear that he wants to be the one to take the most important shots. For example, look at earlier in the season when Draymond Green opted not to pass to him in a late-game scenario. This led to a verbal altercation between KD and Green that bubbled over for quite a few games.

Durant has earned the right to play hero-ball. He has built a career off of making clutch shots. KD’s most memorable moments with the Warriors are his two dagger 3-pointers versus the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

However, would the team be better off veering away from giving KD the last shot every single time? I mean, it’s pretty obvious that the Dubs could have found a better shot than what Durant attempted at the end of the game versus Houston.

Moving forward, it is clear that Durant should be the first option to take the final shot. But, this doesn’t mean that there are no other options. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are more than capable of making a clutch bucket. Hopefully, the team can figure out a way to keep everyone involved down the stretch of close games.

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