Stephen A. WAS SHOCKED to hear this Kevin Durant & Luka Doncic HOT TAKE đŸ”„ | First Take

NBA on ESPN
15 Apr 202410:39

Summary

TLDRThe transcript discusses the pressure on Western Conference NBA players to win a championship. Kevin Durant and Luka Dončić are highlighted as having significant pressure due to their individual performances and team expectations. The conversation also touches on the expectations from James Harden and the potential impact of his performance on the Los Angeles Clippers' playoff success.

Takeaways

  • 🏆 The Western Conference is experiencing an exceptionally deep and competitive season with 10 teams finishing 10 games above .500.
  • đŸ€” There's significant pressure on Kevin Durant and Luka Dončić to win a championship, with expectations varying on their individual performances.
  • 🏀 Kevin Durant's legacy is discussed, with opinions suggesting that not every ring carries the same weight and his move to the Suns presents an opportunity to solidify his status.
  • 🏆 Luka Dončić is considered to be having the best individual season of any NBA player currently, and this could be his best chance to lead his team deep into the playoffs.
  • đŸ€·â€â™‚ïž Debate on whether the pressure on Durant and Dončić is higher than on other star players like those on the Clippers.
  • 👏 James Harden's performance and his impact on the Clippers' success are highlighted, with his lack of a championship being a significant talking point.
  • 🏆 The importance of playoff performances and meeting expectations are discussed, with past performances creating pressure or easing it for players like Harden.
  • đŸ€” The role of team dynamics and health in playoff success is considered, with the Suns' performance and coaching being a topic of concern.
  • 🏀 The conversation emphasizes the high stakes for star players in the NBA, where playoff success or failure can define their legacies and public perception.
  • đŸ€·â€â™‚ïž The debate concludes with varying opinions on who faces the most pressure, considering the different contexts and expectations surrounding each player's situation.

Q & A

  • Which two players from the Western Conference are discussed as having the most pressure to win a title?

    -Kevin Durant and Luka Doncic are the two players from the Western Conference discussed as having the most pressure to win a title.

  • What is the significance of the NBA Conference having 10 teams finish 10 games above 500?

    -The significance is that it represents one of the deepest conferences in league history, making the competition extremely tough and challenging for any team trying to emerge as the West champion.

  • Why is Kevin Durant's legacy potentially affected by his performance with the Phoenix Suns?

    -Kevin Durant's legacy could be significantly affected because if he can lead the Suns on a successful Western Conference run, it would cement his status and prove his ability to carry a team to victory even after changing teams.

  • What is the argument about James Harden's pressure to win a title compared to Kevin Durant's?

    -The argument is that James Harden, despite not having won a title, faces less pressure than Kevin Durant because expectations for Harden have been lowered due to his past playoff performances, and he is not required to be the leading player on his team as he once was in Houston.

  • How does the discussion suggest that Luka Doncic's performance this season impacts his pressure to win a title?

    -The discussion suggests that Luka Doncic is having the best individual season of any NBA player currently, and the team's composition around him provides the best chance for a Western Conference run, thus increasing the pressure on him to capitalize on this opportunity.

  • What is the significance of the Clippers' teammates' combined All-Star selections and scoring titles?

    -The significance is that it highlights the high expectations and talent on the team, which in turn increases the pressure on James Harden to perform well in the playoffs and contribute to the team's success.

  • Why is there a retraction regarding the prediction about the Wolves beating the Suns?

    -The retraction occurs because the Suns have consistently outperformed the Wolves, with a 3-0 record against them and significant leads in the second half of each game, indicating a stronger performance than previously assessed.

  • What is the argument about the expectations from James Harden in the playoffs?

    -The argument is that the expectations for James Harden in the playoffs have decreased due to his past performances, and the focus is now on other players like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, reducing the pressure on Harden.

  • What potential outcome is discussed that could create significant backlash for Kevin Durant?

    -The potential outcome discussed is if Kevin Durant's team, the Suns, lose in the first round of the playoffs, especially considering the talent on the team and the expectations for success, which could lead to significant criticism and backlash.

  • How does the script discuss the impact of past performances on current pressure for players like James Harden and Kevin Durant?

    -The script discusses that past performances, particularly in the playoffs, can set expectations and thus pressure on players. For James Harden, past underwhelming playoff performances have lowered expectations, while for Kevin Durant, his past success and changes in teams have increased the pressure to prove his ability to lead a team to a championship.

  • What is the significance of the discussion about the pressure on Kyrie Irving compared to James Harden?

    -The significance lies in the comparison of the pressure faced by different players based on their roles and past performances. While James Harden may have lower expectations due to his past, Kyrie Irving, who is also a key player on the Suns, could face high pressure due to the team's high expectations and his role in contributing to the team's success.

Outlines

00:00

🏆 Pressure on Western Conference Stars to Win a Title

The paragraph discusses the immense pressure on two key Western Conference players, Kevin Durant and Luka Dončić, to win a championship. It argues that Durant, despite having two rings, needs to prove his legacy by leading the Suns on a successful Western Conference run. The conversation also highlights Dončić's potential to elevate his status among NBA stars through a strong playoff performance with the Mavericks, given the team's current momentum and his outstanding individual season. The discussion further emphasizes the expectations from these players and the potential impact on their legacies and team dynamics.

05:02

đŸ€” Comparing Pressure on Durant, Harden, and the Clippers

This paragraph delves into a debate about the relative pressure on Kevin Durant, James Harden, and the Los Angeles Clippers to win a championship. It contrasts Durant's situation with his previous achievements and the expectations due to his move to Phoenix. The discussion then pivots to James Harden's position in the Clippers, considering his past successes and the lack of a championship win. The conversation also touches on the Clippers' performance and the expectations from their star players, including Russell Westbrook and Paul George, and how these factors contribute to the overall pressure to succeed in the playoffs.

10:04

🌟 Kyrie Irving's Pressure in the Eastern Conference

The final paragraph shifts focus to the Eastern Conference, highlighting the pressure on Kyrie Irving. It suggests that Irving faces significant expectations, potentially more than James Harden, due to his role in the Brooklyn Nets' success. The discussion acknowledges the team's performance and Irving's individual contribution, leading to a debate about the impact of the team's results on his reputation and the narrative surrounding his play in the league.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡West champ

The term 'West champ' refers to the champion team in the Western Conference of the NBA. In the context of the video, it highlights the challenge and prestige of becoming the top team in this competitive conference. The discussion revolves around the pressure and expectations placed on players to lead their teams to this title.

💡NBA Conference

The NBA Conference is one of the two divisions in the National Basketball Association (NBA), with the other being the Eastern Conference. The Western Conference is known for its strong teams and intense competition. The video transcript emphasizes the difficulty of teams in this conference achieving a record 10 games above 500, showcasing the high standard of performance.

💡Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is a professional basketball player in the NBA, known for his scoring ability and has won multiple championships and accolades. In the video, he is discussed in terms of the pressure on him to win a title with the Phoenix Suns, and how this potential achievement could impact his legacy.

💡Luka Dončić

Luka Dončić is a professional basketball player in the NBA, recognized for his exceptional individual skills and performances. The video talks about the expectations from Dončić to make a significant run in the Western Conference with his team, and how this could define his standing among other star players.

💡Pressure to win

The 'pressure to win' refers to the psychological and public expectation burden on athletes to achieve championship success. In the video, this concept is explored in relation to specific players and how their potential success or failure could impact their careers and reputations.

💡James Harden

James Harden is a professional basketball player in the NBA, known for his scoring and playmaking abilities. The video transcript brings up Harden's lack of a championship title despite his individual accolades, discussing the expectations and pressure on him in the context of his team's performance.

💡Conference Finals

The Conference Finals is the playoff round in the NBA where the best two teams from each conference compete for a spot in the NBA Finals. It is a significant milestone in the postseason journey, and reaching this stage indicates a team's strong performance and potential to win the championship.

💡Championship legacy

The 'championship legacy' refers to a player's or team's historical impact and remembered achievements in terms of winning NBA championships. It is a critical aspect of how players are evaluated and compared to their peers, with a strong championship resume enhancing a player's overall reputation.

💡Playoff performance

The 'playoff performance' of a player or team refers to their achievements and execution during the NBA's postseason tournament. It is a crucial factor in determining a player's or team's success and is often the focus of scrutiny and analysis, especially for star players.

💡Team dynamics

Team dynamics refer to the interactions, relationships, and synergies among players within a team. It is a significant factor in determining a team's success, as the combination of individual talents and collaborative efforts can influence their performance on the court.

💡Expectations

Expectations in a sports context refer to theéą„ć…ˆèźŸćźš or anticipated outcomes or achievements for a team or player. These can be shaped by past performances, team compositions, and public or media narratives. High expectations can create pressure to meet or exceed these anticipated results.

Highlights

The West Conference in the NBA is noted for having 10 teams finish 10 games above 500, marking one of the deepest conferences in league history.

The Denver Nuggets are favored to get out of the West for a second year in a row, according to ESPN.

Kevin Durant and Luka Doncic are considered to have the most pressure to win a title in the Western Conference.

Kevin Durant's legacy is discussed, with the argument that not every ring carries the same weight and his move to the Suns could cement his status.

The importance of the MVP voting and individual seasons is highlighted in the context of Luka Doncic's performance.

James Harden's career achievements and lack of a championship are discussed, emphasizing the pressure on him to win a title.

The expectations and reactions to players' performances in the playoffs are considered as a source of pressure.

The role of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and other Clippers' teammates in the context of James Harden's performance and pressure.

The discussion about the impact of injuries on Kevin Durant's performance and the expectations set for him.

The potential reactions and discussions if the Suns were to lose in the first round, particularly focusing on Kevin Durant.

The argument that James Harden's past playoff performances have set a lower expectation bar for him.

The Clippers' performance and James Harden's contribution to elevating the team's championship expectations.

The comparison of the pressure on different players, specifically Kevin Durant and James Harden.

The discussion on the impact of the team's construction and the role of each player in terms of pressure and expectations.

The potential implications if the Clippers were to lose in the first round, focusing on the reactions towards James Harden.

The importance of playoff experience and the collective performance of the team in the context of the Suns' performance.

The discussion on the expectations and pressure on Kyrie Irving compared to James Harden.

Transcripts

00:00

and whoever ends up as the West champ is

00:01

going to have to go through one of the

00:03

deepest conferences in league history

00:05

for the first time ever a single NBA

00:07

Conference had 10 teams finished 10

00:10

games above 500 the nuggets are

00:13

currently favored to get out of the West

00:15

for a second year in a row that

00:17

according to ESPN

00:20

bet all right uh Tim we'll start with

00:23

you all right which player in the west

00:25

has the most pressure to win a title I

00:28

think there's two

00:30

I and it's hard to differentiate between

00:31

the two Kevin Durant Luca donic I think

00:34

those two players have more pressure on

00:35

them and I and I'll tell you why I'll

00:36

tell you why for Kevin Durant I'm one of

00:39

those people that thinks that not every

00:41

ring carries the same weight I just

00:43

don't believe that it does interesting

00:44

and this is the one thing right Kevin

00:46

Durant hasn't checked that box he went

00:48

to a team that was already a champion a

00:50

team that was already great and joined

00:52

them yes he's got two rings two Finals

00:54

MVP so at the end of the day will he

00:55

sleep like a baby either way probably I

00:58

think he's solid with with what his

01:00

Legacy is but the way he's viewed

01:01

externally if he were able to carry the

01:03

Suns on a western conference run okay I

01:07

think that's going to do more to cement

01:09

in people's minds what he is and who he

01:11

is if they lose in the first round when

01:13

he's been paired up with Devin Booker

01:15

and Bradley Beal they're coming for

01:17

Kevin Durant he's going to hear a lot

01:19

about that and it might cost Frank vogle

01:21

his job if that were to happen the other

01:23

guy's Luca and here's why I think Luca

01:25

donic is on a level he's either going to

01:27

be second or third in MVP voting I think

01:28

he's had the best indiv idual season of

01:30

any player in the NBA and I think this

01:32

team represents his best chance to make

01:35

a run at the Western Conference to this

01:37

point in his career because of the way

01:39

Kyrie's playing the pieces they've added

01:41

around him they are on a roll heading

01:43

into the postseason I think everything

01:45

is lined up for Luca now to C and put a

01:49

stamp and pound that gavel who he is

01:51

relative to other star players in this

01:53

league so I think one of those two guys

01:56

have more pressure on than anybody else

01:58

and I know you guys are probably going

01:59

to say

02:00

the dudes on the Clippers and I strongly

02:02

disagree if that's where you're going to

02:04

go and I'll tell you why but go ahead

02:06

well first of all it's Blasphemous what

02:09

you're saying I'm going to come to the

02:10

defense of KD Trey AKA Kevin Durant the

02:15

man is a two-time NBA champion he is a

02:18

two-time NBA Finals MVP I'm not trying

02:22

to act like he's devoid of pressure to

02:24

depart from Golden State to go to

02:26

Brooklyn and then from go from Brooklyn

02:28

to Phoenix of course there's pressure

02:30

but not the most pressure let me throw

02:34

something by you Tim legler let me throw

02:37

something by you Shannon shot let's

02:39

bring up the name James

02:42

Harden 10 time NBA Allstar six time all

02:46

NBA first team a league MVP member of

02:51

the NBA 75th Anniversary team three

02:54

scoring titles two assist

02:57

titles but hasn't been no Conference

03:00

Finals since

03:01

2018 hasn't been an NBA Finals since

03:05

2012 and has never ever won a title are

03:09

you kidding me are you kidding me of

03:11

course James Harden's name has to come

03:13

into the equation because when we look

03:15

at the Los Angeles Clippers if kawh

03:17

Leonard is on the basketball courton

03:18

he's played more games than he's played

03:20

in years this season okay if Paul George

03:22

is on the basketball court then really

03:25

what you're asking with the Personnel

03:27

that the Clippers have what's James

03:29

Harden going to do what's he going to

03:30

bring to the table for you I'm not

03:32

questioning Russell Westbrook here I'm

03:34

not questioning a healthy Kawai and Paul

03:36

George here I know what they going to do

03:38

okay the question is what is James

03:40

Harden going to do if James Harden is

03:43

the James Harden that we know he can be

03:47

oh the Clippers could beat anybody no

03:50

don't don't tell me that he's got less

03:52

pressure on him oh yeah than somebody

03:54

who's already W two rings he does for

03:57

the simple fact he's not that same

03:58

player that when you talk about 2018

04:00

he's not that player anymore he's not

04:02

asked to be that player anymore and I

04:04

agree I agree with legs on this LeBron's

04:08

championship in Cleveland means more to

04:10

than the two that he won in Miami 100%

04:12

so are you trying to tell me if Kevin

04:14

Durant wins a ring with the Suns it

04:16

wouldn't mean more than the two he has

04:18

in Phoenix it would be I excuse me with

04:21

golden state it would mean more but

04:22

here's the thing finally normally Kevin

04:25

dur Durant has a a Ticky Tac injury he's

04:27

lipping in or some of his teammates he

04:29

didn't get it done whatever the case may

04:31

be Kyrie went down where you had Co year

04:34

or whatever the case may be and if you

04:36

look at it he's his numbers are better

04:39

after the Achilles injuries than they

04:41

were before if you look at his scoring

04:43

numbers his rebounding yes him and book

04:46

averaging over 27 so now you got two

04:49

guys averaging over 27 Bradley Bill

04:51

everybody is healthy you mean to tell me

04:54

there ain't no pressure for him to win a

04:56

title after that horrible remember the

04:59

last time with Brooklyn he got swept out

05:02

of the playoff Boston by Boston he got

05:05

swept and you trying to tell me ain't no

05:08

pressure I'm not I'm not trying to say

05:09

there's no pressure I'm saying guys you

05:11

can't tell me that there's more pressure

05:13

on him than Harden with what I just

05:15

broke down to you let me also say this

05:17

yesterday I was on TV and I picked the I

05:20

picked the Wolves to beat the Suns I'm

05:22

sorry I got to retract that I think the

05:24

suns are going to beat the Wolves I

05:26

don't like what they how the how the how

05:27

the te- wolves have looked against the

05:29

Suns the Suns have beaten 3 and 0 they

05:32

have they have not they have not trailed

05:35

in the second half and they've been up

05:36

by double digits in the second half of

05:39

each game they've had their way with

05:41

Minnesota and with Rudy go on the floor

05:42

it's even worse and for some reason

05:44

Anthony Edwards He's on ant-man's only

05:46

averaging like 14 a game against them I

05:48

don't understand it and so I I want to

05:50

retract that but I will say this this is

05:53

the number I wanted to throw out at you

05:54

Clipper's teammates Harden Russell

05:56

Westbrook Paul George have 28 combined

06:00

Allstar selections five scoring titles

06:03

zero NBA ranks so I'm saying at some

06:05

point in time I mean what doesn't it

06:08

matter what somebody has actually done

06:10

Kevin dur has won two chips I'm GNA

06:13

explain to you go ahead go ahead Shannon

06:15

no I was going to say this and Paul

06:16

George because Paul George more times

06:18

than not especially in the West

06:20

Conference has come up small remember

06:23

they keep called himself playoff P but

06:25

people can't forget pandemic P yes we

06:28

saw that remember when he was

06:30

an go off for 45 I two things create

06:35

pressure

06:36

expectations and then reaction and James

06:40

Harden is not going to elicit that kind

06:41

of expectation anymore I think the bar

06:43

has been set so low for him with past

06:46

playoff performances I don't think

06:48

anybody is expecting James Harden to be

06:51

that guy in the postseason so as a

06:53

result the ball the expectations aren't

06:56

there for him and expectations create

06:58

pressure it's not about him being that

07:01

guy it's about looking at the Clippers

07:02

as constructed if kawai's heard or Paul

07:05

George is heard and they're out I get

07:06

y'all I'm saying if those two brothers

07:09

are on the court you know what you can

07:11

get from them you're looking at him and

07:13

saying all right you ain't being asked

07:14

to be that dude that you were in Houston

07:16

anymore you ain't even being asked to be

07:18

what you were in Philly with EMB you in

07:21

an ideal situation there is no excuse

07:24

what I'm tell no excuse hey there is no

07:26

comparison to the v in the vitri all

07:29

that is going to go in their direction

07:31

if both of those guys lose in the first

07:33

round Kevin Durant coming for Kevin

07:35

Durant they're not coming for if if

07:38

Luca's averaging over 30 he ain't gonna

07:40

get vitri all if Dallas lose no no well

07:42

LC I don't think that's gonna happen

07:43

with him no I'm talking I'm talking

07:45

about James Harden and Durant saying if

07:47

the Clippers lose in the first round no

07:50

matter what James Harden does people

07:51

gonna forget about that in 48 hours if

07:53

Kevin Durant loses in the first round to

07:55

the Minnesota Timberwolves a team with

07:57

no Collective playoff experience as

07:59

winners and he's got that much talent

08:01

next to him and they lose that Series in

08:03

the first round that we're going to be

08:05

talking about Kevin Durant probably all

08:06

summer if he we're not talk about James

08:09

Harden the first round Stephen A M

08:12

that'll be twice yeah they won they' won

08:14

10 of their last 14 games but prior to

08:16

that we were lamenting the fact that

08:18

what the hell is going on in Phoenix

08:20

because they can't seem to hold fourth

08:21

quarter leads they got what's going on

08:22

with Frank Vogal and Phoenix what the

08:24

hell's going on here we've looked at

08:25

them like that did they lose in the

08:27

first round last year they Phoenix they

08:29

lost second round second round because

08:31

because Kawai got hurt after dropping 38

08:34

and then the Clippers won the rest of

08:36

that series because Kawai went down wait

08:38

so he got he got he got swept by Boston

08:41

his last his uh last full season in

08:43

Brooklyn he lost in the second round

08:45

last year to the Nuggets right if he

08:47

goes out with you got two guys averaging

08:50

27 stepen a and and everybody is

08:53

healthy listen again I'm not trying to

08:56

imply there's not my there's not

08:58

pressure on Kevin rant I'm not saying

09:00

that I'm just making the argument that

09:03

if James and remember with James Harden

09:05

we ain't talking about ability we're

09:07

talking about I mean this man has been

09:09

accused of quitting quitting you no

09:13

we'll be talking about that for more

09:14

than two days if that happens this go

09:16

round now I don't believe it will I

09:18

believe in James Harden but I don't I

09:21

but there's still pressure but this is

09:22

why I agree with legs is because we

09:25

don't have the same level of expectation

09:27

he's the third option we had

09:30

expectations last year when he was with

09:31

uh Joel embiid because he was the second

09:34

option as you move down the ranking as

09:36

far as options the less culpability is

09:39

normally Heap on you yeah but how about

09:42

how the Clippers were looking before he

09:43

arrived and then how they were looking

09:45

after they had a they they started off

09:47

rough the first five or six games and

09:49

then they went on this damn tier and

09:50

James Harden was the one that was in the

09:52

headlines because his elevated level of

09:55

play elevated the Clippers to

09:57

Championship expectations just

09:59

forgetting that as long they'll be just

10:02

fine won't they I no you ain't said

10:04

anything about that a l all last year he

10:06

was over there buing his gum talk about

10:08

they run LA because they were doing it

10:10

they were running they don't run nothing

10:11

but

10:13

M La not well listen or you can say that

10:17

don't y have to get past Denver assuming

10:19

y'all face him I think there's more

10:21

pressure I think there's more pressure

10:23

on Kyrie Irving than James Harden I

10:26

agree

10:31

p

10:32

[Applause]

10:34

[Music]

10:34

[Applause]