Not everyone was so excited about Blake Griffin...

4:04 pm - Wed, Feb 1, 2012: 333 notes

Not everyone was so excited about Blake Griffin cannon shot dunk on Kendrick Perkins. “The People’s Champ,” Kevin Durant told ESPN’s Tim McMahon:

“I have no appreciation for it at all. It was a layup, I think. He threw the ball in and got fouled and made his free throw, so it was three points at the end of the day, no matter how it happened, how it went in the basket. I really wasn’t impressed. He finished it. So what? We’ve moved on.”

I love poor sports. I mean, I think grown men should be civil, and I think there should be a professional courtesy involved with celebrations on court, but poor sports are great for the game. Statements like the one above show you just how much Kevin Durant wants it. Is there any question how badly he wants to win?

Let’s flashback to Game 6 of the 2011 Western Conference Finals. The Dallas Mavericks had just ousted Durant’s Thunder, and Durant showed his cards.

Reporter: Dirk’s been eliminated in the first round, 3 of the last 4 years. For him to reach The Finals at this stage of his career, what kind of feelings do you have, seeing him succeed, even at your expense?

Durant: I’m not happy at all. I’m a competitor, man. I really didn’t care about what he went through last 3 or 4 years. I know it’s been tough for him, he lost 3 of the last 4 years in the first round. I’m sure he’s happy now, he’s going back to The Finals, but I’m not happy for him at all, because I wanted to be there.

You’re lying to yourself if you don’t want a guy with that attitude on your team, and you’re lying to yourself if you don’t think both of these Durant quotes are kind of cool.

I love you for being a hater, Kevin Durant.

At the same time, hating Blake Griffin is a great way to get boofed on. Nevermind. I’m gonna delete this.

@gotem_coach

[click to enlarge the amazing photo]