Kevin Durant battles through a cold spell while the Phoenix Suns struggle with 3-point math.
Durant, who has shot 13-for-50 (26%) from three over his last eight games, attributes his dip in three-point accuracy to instances of rushing shots or attempting heat checks. His success rate on deep shots has declined steadily over the past four months, starting at 54.1% in November and dropping to 33.9% in February.
Reflecting on a recent game against the Houston Rockets where he went 0-for-3 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter, Durant acknowledged missed opportunities, suggesting that attacking the rim more aggressively might have yielded better results. Although he struggled from long range in that game, Durant was efficient inside the arc, going 9-for-15.
Suns coach Frank Vogel commented on Durant’s definition of a bad three, jokingly stating that for Durant, a bad three is one that gets blocked, implying his confidence in Durant’s shooting abilities. Vogel also emphasized the importance of taking good shots while still encouraging Durant and the team to continue attempting deep shots.
The Suns’ three-point attempts per game have fluctuated throughout the season, starting at 35 in October, dropping to 29.6 in December, and rising to 32.2 in February. Interestingly, there’s a nearly two-attempt difference between games they win (32.4 attempts) and games they lose (30.5 attempts).
In a recent loss to the Houston Rockets, Phoenix was outpaced in three-pointers made, with Houston making 15 compared to Phoenix’s 7, despite attempting nearly 15 more shots from beyond the arc. Durant highlighted this statistical discrepancy ahead of two upcoming matchups against Houston, emphasizing the need for smart shot selection while maintaining his green light to shoot.
