That was an amazing win by the Warriors. This could be the game the Raptors look back on and cry if they end up losing this series. They were up 6 with two minutes and had the ball. This is the type of lost we have grown use to Cincinnati teams have, that eventually leads to ultimately a big downward spiral.

That Kevin Durant sure is a quitter isn't he?

I understand your point; however, if we just lay it out there to the extreme and say "it is just about me" than a Team never develops, no one ever has your back, and the game is destroyed for everyone. You just don't desert your buddies in the foxhole under fire even if that assures your own survival/prosperity.

 

Am very glad to see KD is going to give it a go tonight.

 

That worked out well for KD. Kinda shows how ridiculous this whole question of “is he quitting on his team” was to begin with. It’s only going cost him all next season, and likely millions of dollars on his next contract.

 

I understand the building the team angle, and having each other’s back, etc, etc. But you also can’t compare Johnny QB skipping the Sun Bowl which means zero for everyone involved to a pro athlete playing for a championship. Most pro’s are going to give it a go if at all possible. It’s one of the things that make them pros. You don’t often see pros skipping the big game. Guys for years have been putting their body on the line for their team, and continue to do so like KD.

That worked out well for KD. Kinda shows how ridiculous this whole question of “is he quitting on his team” was to begin with. It’s only going cost him all next season, and likely millions of dollars on his next contract.

 

I understand the building the team angle, and having each other’s back, etc, etc. But you also can’t compare Johnny QB skipping the Sun Bowl which means zero for everyone involved to a pro athlete playing for a championship. Most pro’s are going to give it a go if at all possible. It’s one of the things that make them pros. You don’t often see pros skipping the big game. Guys for years have been putting their body on the line for their team, and continue to do so like KD.

Used that title strictly to stimulate interest in the thread. Obviously, the injury had either been misdiagnosed in the first place or the real issue was kept from the public. I never understand why the true injury is not revealed other than forcing the opponent to expand their gameplan for the possibilities of the athletes return. Sure sorry for KD's injury. Maybe keeps him a Warrior?

Well it looks like KD put his team first and he showed he wasn’t ready to return. If this was the regular season he wouldn’t have been back for much longer. These guys are competitors and if they can play they usually do.

I have played team sports my whole life and now have coached for the last 12 years. I'm all about the concept of team, and building that team concept. However, if one day my son was a star D1 athlete say in football for example and was expected to be a 1st round pick. Unless he was playing in the playoffs for a National Title. Then there is no reason to play for example in a bowl game that literally means nothing. It's one thing if you and your team are building for a championship. If that Championship goal was no longer a possibility, then no reason to play in a meaningless game. That wouldn't be being selfish, that would be being smart. That would mean my son worked his butt off for his whole life to get to that point to reach his dreams, and financially change his life forever. So no reason to risk all that for a meaningless game at that point if not playing for a Championship. Now if you are playing for a title, then yeah don't bail on your teammates. But most of those cases you mentioned of players not playing and protecting themselves, was not cases where they were playing for a title. Just like Durant also shown tonight he was willing to give it a go for his teammates.

 

Most of the people who complain about players protecting themselves. Are people who were never good enough to even have to worry about making that choice. So they wouldn't truly know what it is like to make that choice. It is easy to think yeah I wouldn't leave my teammates hanging like that, because most of us were never good enough to have to worry about losing out on anything if injured.

 

I wish I could just stand on the like button. Truer words have never been spoken.