After stealing the ball from Kevin Durant and throwing it down for a slam, there was only one winner in the game. (0:18)
Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant admitted Saturday night that he has been thinking too much throughout the first-round series against the Boston Celtics and that it has been a factor in his poor play.
After being held to 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting in a109-103 loss that put the Nets in an 0-3 series hole, KD has not been able to find a rhythm against Boston.
I was just thinking too much and that's how I approach the game. We have another game to play and I am looking forward to that.
After scoring over 30 points a game in March and April, he is putting up 22 points in the first three games of this series. The Celtics have made it a point to be physical with Durant and have thrown body after body at him to slow him down.
The first two games I was trying to be too aggressive. I felt like I was still trying to force the first two games and watching film, so I wanted to play off of everyone, get in the flow of the offense and let the ball move.
The Celtics have been successful against him because they have more size than us, according to him.
You are trying to figure out the best way to play when you have good teammates around you. I think too much about it. Sometimes I need to go out there and just play.
I feel like I prepared myself well. The small decisions in the game may not go in my favor. I thought I found my teammates better than the last two games. I need to score more.
Nets coach Steve Nash and the rest of his teammates were left searching for answers after the third game of the series. Nash said that it was a little bit of everything.
They are loading up on him and sending bodies to him. Nash said that he doesn't think Kevin has to go off. We moved the ball and shot a good percentage. It is the ones that we gave up. Poor decision-making, not connecting, simple passes, and they are going the other way. That has been the difference in all three games.
Over the first three games of the series, Durant has committed 12 turnovers. The Nets have committed 48. The Nets didn't have the right spirit throughout the entire game on Saturday, according to veteran forward Blake Griffin.
Nets guard Kyrie Irving said that he has had games where K hasn't played as well as he wanted to. This is a game of basketball. It is a game of averages. You guys know better than I do that these things can happen at a change of a game where a guy is coming in hot and there is a cold spell.
It is not time to hold your head or point fingers. I have to go back home and get the bulletproof vest.
Over the first three games of the series, he has played 43 minutes a game. He didn't want the extra minutes to be an excuse for his poor performance.
I don't think fatigue sets in. I am not winded. My body does not hurt. I wouldn't blame it on that.
With the Nets one game away from elimination, Durant won't need any motivation to be ready for Game 4.
We know what it is and I don't think anything will change that. We are down by three. We will play on Monday.
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