"I don't think he touched the rim"- Pascal Siakam says Kevin Durant was unstoppable before disastrous injury in the 2019 NBA Finals
Kevin Durant was unstoppable during his three-year tenure with the Golden State Warriors. The sharpshooting forward won two championships with the Dubs and was arguably the best and most efficient player on the team.
KD and his squad had a chance for a three-peat in 2019, but he went down with an Achilles tendon injury. The Warriors ended up losing to the Toronto Raptors in six games, and Durant spent only 12 minutes on the floor in the entire series.
Pascal Siakam, who won the championship with the Raptors that year, said that Durant was unstoppable before he was shut down for the series. The Raptors forward even called KD unguardable.
Pascal Siakam considered Kevin Durant unguardable in the 2019 NBA Finals
Kevin Durant missed nine games in total during the 2019 playoffs. He strained his right calf in the second round against the Houston Rockets, missing the last game of the series.
The Golden State Warriors then swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference finals. However, the Toronto Raptors were much tougher. Without Durant, the Warriors fell to 1-3 in the series, but the forward returned in Game 5 and was amazing.
"I don't think he touched the rim like one time," Siakam said on Draymond Green's podcast. "I don't think he touched the net. It was just like straight. I'm just like, 'This is gonna be a long night.'"
"I don't think [Kevin Durant] touched the rim like one time... I'm just like 'yo this is gonna be a long night'. If there was any panic... I think it would've been at that point."
—Pascal Siakam, on the 2019 Finals vs. Warriors
(via @TheVolumeSports)
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In just 12 minutes, Durant scored 11 quick points, going 3-for-3. He also grabbed two rebounds and had a block.
"If there was any panic, I think it would've been that point," Siakam added.
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Siakam said that Durant was unguardable. The Warriors also had Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, two other amazing shooters. So, adding Kevin Durant to the mix was too much.
However, the Warriors forward was injured with just under 10 minutes left in the quarter. Durant injured his Achilles tendon and fell to the floor. Shortly after, he was escorted to the locker room and did not return for the remainder of the series.
The Warriors ended up winning the elimination game and getting a chance to tie the series in the Bay Area. However, they couldn't win another game without their best player.
The Toronto Raptors sealed the deal in Game 6, winning by four points. Pascal Siakam recorded a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Kyle Lowry added 26 points as well, along with 10 assists.
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Kawhi Leonard, the Finals MVP, dropped 22 points in the final game of the series, winning the Raptors their first NBA championship.