Just like the rest of the NBA world, Brooklyn Nets superstar small forward Kevin Durant was shocked that the Los Angeles Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2020 playoffs.
The Clippers, led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, held a 3-1 series lead over the Nuggets before losing three games in a row at Walt Disney World. Game 7 was especially ugly.
Durant, who will make his Nets debut in 2020-21 after missing the entire 2019-20 campaign recovering from his Achilles tear, told rapper Joe Budden exactly why the Clippers lost:
“To see them lose like that, it was definitely shocking,” Kevin Durant said on The Joe Budden Podcast, via Nick Friar of Nets Wire.
“They had the most talent. They [were] the deepest team in the NBA top-to-bottom. The Clippers weren’t on the same page on defense all series. That’s why they lost.”
The Clips had zero answers for the Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray pick-and-roll. Doc Rivers, who won the 2008 NBA title with the Boston Celtics, kept playing Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell heavy minutes despite both players struggling on offense and having no shot to stop the Jokic-Murray pick-and-roll.
As a result of the Clippers' collapse, there could be major changes this offseason. The entire NBA circuit is going to be paying attention to what the Clippers do after their historic choke job.
Clippers fans are probably wishing that Leonard was able to convince Durant, a two-time Finals MVP and one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, to join the team instead of George. Leonard reportedly tried to recruit Durant and Jimmy Butler to Los Angeles before reaching out to George in the summer of 2019.
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