Kevin Durant, the superstar on the court, is now the NBA's new Big Three with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. However, even with such a strong roster, the Phoenix Suns fell behind the Minnesota Timberwolves 0-2 in the first round of the playoffs, and the situation is worrying. In the face of such a difficult situation, Durant did not lose confidence, but instead used his own experience 12 years ago to remind his teammates how to rise up in the face of adversity and move towards victory.
Back in the summer of 2012, Durant led the Thunder to meet the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. At the time, the Spurs were leading 2-0 and were widely expected to advance comfortably to the Finals. However, it was in such a desperate situation that Durant showed his extraordinary strength and leadership temperament. He averaged 29.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game to lead the Thunder to four straight victories, outscoring the Spurs 4-2 and advancing to the Finals.
Now, Durant wants to pass that tenacity and fighting spirit to every player on the Suns. He knows that there are no absolute weaklings on the basketball court, only strong ones who refuse to give up. He encouraged his teammates, just like he did back then, to defy strong opponents, to dare to take on challenges, and to treat every game as if it were a battle of life and death.
Durant also noted that the Suns still have a lot of room for improvement on the offensive end. He believes the team needs to be more aggressive, while also maintaining a precise passing combination to create more scoring opportunities. He believes that as long as the team can play a smooth combination on the offensive end, they will be able to beat any opponent.
In addition, Durant also emphasized the importance of home-court advantage. He said the Suns need to play at a better level with the support of their home fans. He believes that with the series moving to Arizona, the Suns will be able to use the power of their home court to tie the series score.
While the Suns are facing a huge challenge at the moment, Kevin Durant and his teammates are not discouraged. They know very well that only after the baptism of adversity can they move more firmly towards victory. They will follow the example of Durant 12 years ago and keep working hard to win.