Durant Reacts to Rockets’ Frustrating 0-2 Start: “We Want Better”

UPDATE: Houston Rockets star forward Kevin Durant expressed mixed feelings after the team’s disappointing 0-2 start, following a narrow 115-111 loss to the Detroit Pistons on October 27, 2023. While he acknowledged the frustration among players and coaches, he views this early-season anger as a positive sign for the team’s potential.

Durant stated, “Coaching staff is pissed off, players are pissed off. We want a better outcome, and it’s early, too.” Despite his stellar performance, scoring 37 points on 9-of-18 shooting and 16-of-18 from the free-throw line, the Rockets failed to secure their first win in front of legends Yao Ming and Hakeem Olajuwon, who were courtside for the home opener.

The game echoed their season-opening 125-124 double-overtime defeat against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, with both games coming down to the wire. Amen Thompson, a guard for the Rockets, emphasized, “We haven’t played a good game yet. We want to play great games. We have championship-level expectations.”

In a tense final moment of the game, with less than 30 seconds remaining, Durant dribbled up the court as fans held their breath. The Rockets trailed by two points at 113-111. He executed a pick and roll, passing to Alperen Şengun, whose shot was blocked by Pistons forward Paul Reed. Shortly after, Detroit guard Cade Cunningham was fouled and sealed the victory with two free throws.

Durant reflected on finding the right balance between taking control and allowing his teammates to shine. In the fourth quarter alone, he scored 14 points, while no other Rockets player managed more than three. “I got aggressive and made them double me, and I think we got some good looks,” he noted.

The Rockets entered the season with high expectations, having been the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference last year and holding the fifth-best odds to win the NBA title at 14-1, according to ESPN BET. Durant, who recently signed a two-year, $90 million contract extension, is averaging 30 points per game with impressive shooting percentages of 53% from the field and 43% from three-point range.

As the Rockets prepare for their next challenge, the urgency to turn this early-season frustration into results is palpable. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as the team seeks to bounce back and fulfill its championship aspirations.