Thunder notebook: Kevin Durant expresses frustration with critics
BY DARNELL MAYBERRY, Staff Writer, dmayberry@opubco.com
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Published: October 12, 2009
Kevin Durant used his Twitter account Sunday to express frustration with critics who question his individual abilities and the Thunder as a team. Durant didn’t reveal who he was directing his series of messages to, but his target appeared to be a recent critical analysis piece written by ESPN.com that examined his talents and worth to a franchise.
On Friday, the Web site’s popular NBA blog, TrueHoop, ran a post titled, "The Kevin Durant Conundrum.” It explored Durant’s low plus/minus numbers and concluded, "Anyway you slice the +/- numbers, he’s one of the Thunder’s worst players.” Durant responded: "Everybody that is doubtin’ me as a player and my team as a whole...all I can say is that we all are tryin’ and workin’ our hardest! "What more do you want? Let me be the player I am...I come to practice everyday...and push myself to my limit, God has put me (in) a (great) position!!! "I love all the REAL basketball fans who appreciate hard work, passion and love for the game...and not (just) ‘plus and minuses’...(whatever that) is.”
BROOKS LOOKING FOR MORE OUT OF HARDEN
Through his first two preseason games, No. 3 overall pick James Harden has displayed ups and downs regularly seen from rookies. Harden enters tonight’s game against Phoenix averaging 10 points, two rebounds and two assists. He started both games at shooting guard but regressed in his second outing Saturday at New Orleans, turning the ball over four times and passing up several shots en route to only eight points in 30 minutes. "One of the things James Harden’s going to have to realize is when he has an open shot, he has to take it,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. "There were probably five or six times in the fourth quarter (Saturday) where he was open and did not take it. He brought it out and started probing. That’s not the way we play. He has to break that habit.”BRIEFLY
The documentary "Sonicsgate,” which examines the Sonics move from Seattle to Oklahoma City, will be released on the Internet today. The film can be found at www.sonicsgate.org . ... Nenad Krstic said he was battling illness Friday and became dizzy on the bench during Saturday’s game after being elbowed in the face by Hornets center Hilton Armstrong. Krstic said Sunday’s day off was much-needed.
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