Monday, October 11th, 2010 at 10:45 am  |  62 responses

Durant To Play All Five Positions

by Adam Figman

You might’ve realized by now that Kevin Durant is a pretty dangerous player. He led the L in scoring last season, dropping 30.1 points a game, and almost single-handedly earned Team USA a gold medal this summer.

And that was just at small forward.

As Darnell Mayberry writes, the Thunder may be using KD at all five positions this season:

A major development has emerged for the Thunder this preseason, and it could be the most important thing to track as the exhibition schedule marches on.

Kevin Durant is now being deployed at different positions.

In the final weeks before his fourth regular season begins, Durant is working to become more dangerous by developing his skills at multiple spots on the floor. It’s a progression that could soon make the Thunder’s offense a terror and its defense more dynamic.

Against Miami on Friday, Durant played all five positions. He started at his customary small forward spot, ran point guard late in the first quarter and slid to power forward midway through the second quarter.

“Kevin’s game is evolving,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “He, like a lot of our guys, is not a finished product. He’s going to keep getting better. And there’s ways that I’m going to challenge him to get better… He has the ability to do a lot of things for us and do them well.”

It was the minutes Durant played at point guard and power forward that stood out most.

At 6-10, Durant is by far the league’s tallest provisional point guard. His size allows him to see over the defense and read and react to whatever is thrown his way. And by initiating the offense, Durant nearly becomes unstoppable because of his shooting ability and improving playmaking skills. He had only one assist against the Heat, but Durant beat LeBron James off the dribble on several possessions, working his way into the lane where he created the option to either finish himself or dump off passes to cutting teammates.

Aside from his usual role at the two or three, the Thunder will be able to play Durant at the one and slide Russell Westbrook over to the two, or put KD at the four or five and use a quicker, more athletic lineup.

Whether or not they actually use him at mutliple positions when it counts, one thing’s for sure: Oklahoma City will be one of the more versatile teams in the NBA this season.

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  • KB8toSG8

    All I see is 2,3,4…..He ain’t no Magic.

  • KB8toSG8

    @JTaylor……Wilikins yes. Magic, no.

  • http://www.oprah.com Doyouwantmore

    Actually I have to fix that last post I put up.

    Wilkins is to Lebron what Jordan is to Durant.

  • JoeMaMa

    Everyone hated on KD’s defense last year, and he came out and showed everyone that he was committed to playing. I think his assists will go up and he’ll be a more complete playmaker because he knows his weaknesses, and works on them. All the greats spend the summer turning their weaknesses into strengths, and, from what I’ve read of his work ethic, he’s no doubt taken time this summer to improve his playmaking abilities. As for his playing the centre spot, the people on this site blasted his wafer thin body, saying he can’t hang in the post. I get that….but there aren’t many grat centers, and if OKC plays a team with a mediocre one, KD would carve him up outside while giving up 10-12 points inside. They weren’t saying it’s KD vs Dwight, but KD vs Dan Gadzuric or someone like that.

  • cinquet

    kd is gonna be one of the best of all time. and since when was 25 and seven MUD in the playoffs @JTaylor21. he has the body to play all five because even though hes skinny there was another power forward his size thats in boston thats a hall of famer.

  • JoeMaMa

    OKC has proven themselves to be a smart, competitive team. They won’t put KD as the 5 unless they think it’ll help them win games. Scott Brooks knows more about the direction of the team, and KD’s abilities, than you. Maybe think about that for a second.

  • http://google c_cantrell

    not sold on the center position for kd.. hed have to be careful at the 1 too.. he can play the 2 n 3 amazingly n also the 4 very well at times

  • smooth

    keep westbrook at pg lol

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/media/slam-tv/2010/08/video-michael-jordans-love-of-the-game/ notblack

    Lebron can do the same and better i wonder why they dont point this out..

  • justine bacnis

    standing at 6’10, he could play the 5, seriously. he just needs to buff up a bit because if he’s gonna play the 5, he needs to have a lot of strength.

  • Michael Whyte

    give it a rest. cosign tmoney. durant cant pass, turnover after turnover. he cant play D. he can flat out score. room for improvement, which could be scary.

  • Michael Whyte

    @Xplor dont know about power, dont know about clutch. get off his dick

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