Forward Jabari Smith Jr. called out Kevin Durant and other teammates when discussing the Houston Rockets’ current struggles against the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite being a strong favorite entering the series, Houston is down 0-2 and must win 4 of the next 5 games to make the second round. Durant missed Game 1 with an injury, and he was shut down in the second half of Game 2.
Smith claimed that the entire team must work harder at getting Durant in the game to play like his usual self:
“Yeah, it makes it difficult, but at the end of the day, they’re trying to stop him, and the other guys have to be aggressive. We’ve got to be aggressive out of it. We’ve got to make the right reads out of it, make the right decisions, and it’s on him to find ways to get himself involved and get to his spots without the double team.
Rockets Teammate Calls Out Kevin Durant To Play Better
Just because he’s getting double-teamed, we still need him to be KD. So there are still ways around it, and we got some fixes to it, and we’re going to be better in the next two games.”
The most important comment featured Smith revealing that the Rockets need Durant to be KD and play at the highest level. Durant was taken out of the game and barely made an impact in the second half of Game 2. Smith was blunt that Houston can’t win games with this formula.
The Game 2 Disaster: Durant Disappears
Durant was brilliant in the first half of Game 2, scoring 20 points and looking like the Kevin Durant of old. Then the second half happened.
He scored only three points. He committed five turnovers. He looked uncomfortable, frustrated, and out of rhythm.
The Lakers trapped him on every pick-and-roll. They sent double-teams from unexpected angles. They forced him to give up the ball early.
Durant could not find his spots. He could not get to his pull-up. He could not escape the pressure.
And the Rockets’ role players could not make the Lakers pay.
The Burner Account History: Jabari Smith’s Perspective
An interesting twist about this comment is that Durant allegedly insulted Smith on his burner accounts when that story leaked during All-Star Weekend. Both Smith and Alperen Sengun were criticized by the account claiming that Durant couldn’t win with these two as his best teammates.
Durant has not confirmed nor denied that the burner account came from him, but most believe it was indeed accurate due to past issues with similar stories. Smith quickly moved past it by praising Durant and never holding anything against him via public quotes.
However, this quote shows that Smith expects more out of Durant on the court in a competitive playoff series. The rest of the Rockets lineup was also called out by Smith for needing to work harder at getting Durant better shot attempts.
Smith is not blaming Durant. He is saying that the team needs to do a better job of getting him the ball in positions where he can succeed. But he is also saying that Durant needs to find ways to be effective even when double-teamed.
That is a reasonable expectation for a future Hall of Famer.
What the Rockets Need to Change
The Lakers’ defensive game plan has been clear: make someone other than Kevin Durant beat them.
In Game 1, without Durant, the Rockets could not. In Game 2, with Durant, the same thing happened.
Jalen Green has been inconsistent. Alperen Sengun has been solid but not dominant. The role players have not stepped up.
The Rockets need to move the ball faster. They need to cut harder. They need to make the extra pass. They need to punish the Lakers for double-teaming.
So far, they have not.
Big Trade Could Be Coming For Rockets
A disappointing first-round elimination to the Lakers missing both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves would be a nightmare scenario for Houston. Last offseason saw the Rockets making a blockbuster trade of acquiring Durant in exchange for Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green.
Both players have played well for the Phoenix Suns to overachieve and make the playoffs. However, Houston was the team with pressure to contend after getting the bigger star and appears likely to take a step back with the faster elimination.
Young players like Smith, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard could fit the trade block to quickly improve the roster. Durant could be blamed and traded as well in a bolder move if the Rockets already regret last summer’s trade.
The Rockets are not there yet. They are down 0-2, not 0-3. They have two home games coming up. The series is not over.
But if they lose Game 3, the conversations will shift. And those conversations will include words like “blow it up” and “rebuild.”
The Verdict: Pressure Is on Durant and the Rockets
Jabari Smith is not wrong. The Rockets need Kevin Durant to be Kevin Durant. They need him to score 30 points. They need him to take over games. They need him to be the closer they traded for.
Durant is 37 years old. He has a long history of injuries. He is facing a Lakers team that has designed its entire defense to stop him.
But he is still Kevin Durant. And the Rockets need him to prove it.
Game 3 is Friday in Houston. The Rockets are in desperation mode. They need a win.
And they need Kevin Durant to be KD.
If he is, the series continues. If he is not, the offseason of regret will begin early.
Smith has spoken. Now, it is up to Durant and the Rockets to respond.