REBUILDING THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS! NBA 2K17 MY LEAGUE
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle
Golden State Warriors" Zaza Pachulia stretches before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Golden State Warriors" Zaza Pachulia stretches before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The ChronicleGolden State Warriors" Andre Iguodala heads to the court to warm up before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Golden State Warriors" Andre Iguodala heads to the court to warm up before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The ChronicleGolden State Warriors" Stephen Curry jokes with assistant coach Bruce Fraser before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Golden State Warriors" Stephen Curry jokes with assistant coach Bruce Fraser before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The ChronicleGolden State Warriors" Stephen Curry watches as he makes a shot from the tunnel before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Golden State Warriors" Stephen Curry watches as he makes a shot from the tunnel before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The ChronicleGolden State Warriors" Kevin Durant warms up before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Golden State Warriors" Kevin Durant warms up before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The ChronicleGolden State Warriors" Kevin Durant heads to the court to warm up before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Golden State Warriors" Kevin Durant heads to the court to warm up before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The ChronicleGolden State Warriors" Kevin Durant heads to the court to warm up before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Golden State Warriors" Kevin Durant heads to the court to warm up before playing Los Angeles Clippers during NBA Preseason game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Photo: Scott Strazzante, The ChronicleWarriors Kevin Durant hopes to average double-double
Kevin Durant has been named an NBA MVP, a Rookie of the Year and an All-Star Game MVP.
In his first season with the Warriors, he eyes a new feat: averaging a double-double. It is an ambitious goal that, if reached, would buoy a team trying to replace two of last seasons top three rebounders in centers Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli.
I feel I can be a double-double guy if I go in there and bang a little more than I have in the past, said Durant, whose Golden State team hosts the Clippers for a preseason game Tuesday night. Its just a matter of me developing that mindset and just going out there and doing it.
At 6-foot-9 with a 7-4 wingspan, Durant has long been a solid rebounder for his position. The four-time NBA scoring champion has averaged 7 rebounds per game over his nine-year career, including a career-high 8.2 last season. But Oklahoma City, which paced the league in 2015-16 with a mind-boggling rebound differential of plus-8.4, hardly needed Durant to be elite at crashing the glass.
The Warriors offer a far different scenario. With Bogut and Ezeli gone, they dont have anyone capable of routinely soaring above the rim for rebounds. Offseason signings Zaza Pachulia and David West, while both proven rebounders in their own rights, rely on boxing out their men.
Though preseason openers should be kept in perspective, Golden State was outrebounded, 58-42, Saturday by Toronto. Durant finished that game with four rebounds, only two shy of Wests team-high.
Ive got to do a better job, said Durant, who would be just the second small forward this century to average 10 rebounds per game if he achieves his goal (Gerald Wallace in 2009-10 is the other). Ive got to do a better job of getting in there and helping Zaza and Draymond (Green) out. And JaVale (McGee) and D-West. Ive got to go in there and help those guys out.
Said head coach Steve Kerr of Durant trying to average a double-double: I think its a great goal. Im pretty sure hes going to get the double on the scoring side. I like anyone who tries to set goals other than scoring.
Briefly: Forward Kevon Looney (left groin strain) is out, and Kerr said he is day-to-day. Kerr said he expects to play his starters more Tuesday than he did Saturday, bumping them up to over 20 minutes each.
Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron
Source: http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Warriors-Kevin-Durant-hopes-to-average-9704999.php
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