Just checking in: Kevin Durant, what’s going on?

Just checking in: Kevin Durant, what’s going on?

It doesn’t take much for me to worry about Kevin Durant, the legend. I was hawking him from a distance during the Phoenix Suns’ victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night. But merely observational, nothing eerie about it. Colleague interactions can reveal a lot about a team’s closeness.

Fans and the media were able to witness Durant’s disconnection from the team on Thursday night as he steadily let his fury on the floor seep into the bleachers. It’s an uncomfortable sight, from the team huddles during timeouts to the on-court annoyances.

Though it may just be a simple case of being frustrated with his play, it appears that the turnovers that result in on-court outbursts (mainly directed at teammate Drew Eubanks) are returning. It is as though the past is trying to force its ugly head back into the present.

Restricted Free-Throw Chances
Kevin Durant won’t give the referees much of a break after every play that finishes with the ball leaving his fingers, clinging to the days when the thread of a jersey signaled fouls. Durant’s game-to-game contact totals surely add up to at least ten free throw opportunities per contest. Durant has only shot 1.5 free throws per game, averaging 6.2 this season, in the final four games before to the Hawks game.

Since the All-Star Break, there has undoubtedly been a decline in free-throw attempts as the league has evolved. KD seems to have succumbed to the league’s more aggressive style of play. Trying to find his place in this Suns offense and adjusting to it.

Fewer Shots Made
Before playing the Hawks on Thursday, Durant had averaged 16.4 points, 7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and a 45% shooting percentage in his previous four games. Durant averaged 33 points per game and shot 54% from the field in the five games prior to that.

This season would not be going well without the support of his surroundings. In addition to Durant’s slumps, Devin Booker has struggled with health and output this season, while Bradley Beal has also been sidelined.