The playoffs can’t come quickly sufficient because the Suns take on the Clippers within the first spherical, a sequence the place everybody can be watching the competition between former OKC teammates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
The pair performed eight seasons collectively in Oklahoma and had a formidable document (331-195) within the common season and a 47-35 playoff document, however their relationship has turn out to be noticeably strained since then.
However, Westbrook advised the media this week that there’s “no beef” between the previous dynamic duo, in the meantime, Durant was requested if there’s nonetheless a aggressive edge that exists between them.
“I think Russ is competitive against any player he plays against,” Kevin Durant per AZ Central. “I don’t think it was just specific to me. I think a lot of the fans and the people that were watching, it was high-intensity for them, it was entertainment for them. For us players, it’s just another game, it’s regularly scheduled programming, but Russ is that way. I’ve played with him for so long and watched him for so long, he was that way against everybody, so I don’t expect anything different.”
15-season veteran Durant defined that the postseason is a brand new sort of mentality in comparison with anything and groups could have to combine issues as much as succeed, as he prepares for his first playoffs for the Suns.
“That’s really what playoffs is,” Durant said. “A lot of the stuff, the [signature] plays you ran through the regular season, might not be there. Just got to knuckle down and guard up and play strong on offense and see what happens.”
If Phoenix beat the Clippers, progress by way of and win the championship, they would be the first crew to take action after profitable lower than 50 video games in an 82-game season for the reason that 1994-95 Rockets.
With Durant on the court docket, their likelihood is infinitely higher. In the eight video games he has performed for Phoenix, they’ve an ideal document and the expertise he brings to the desk is sort of unmatched.
The ahead has performed 155 video games within the playoffs – that’s the 36th most in NBA history.
