Kevin Durant has been a different player in 2018; one more at peace with himself and his surroundings than ever before in his glittering career. Winning a title in 2017, getting the proverbial monkey off his back and taking home finals MVP honours, has released a certain freedom within him that is blatant on and off the court. He's talking more openly, playing more relaxed and has developed an almost Rasheed Wallace-like edge that's seen him ejected fives times this season. 

The Warriors, in turn, are certainly different in 2018. Though they are still the best team in basketball when everyone is healthy and firing, those nights have been few and far between, particularly this calendar year.

Injuries to all four of their All Stars have seen them lose momentum at key points in the season, and with it, the top seed in the West. The impressive Rockets own that, and there is a sense that the road back to the finals will not be anywhere near as straight forward as last year when they swept all-comers in the conference. 

Durant knows this to be true. 

Talking to USA Today NBA Insider Sam Amick, the 2014 MVP noted that the team feels good, but wouldn't be drawn on predicting a championship repeat: 

“I can’t predict that – I wish I could,” said Durant. “But I feel good about where we are. I feel good that we had to go through some stuff, to figure some stuff out.”

KD has shouldered more responsibility the past couple of weeks after Stephen Curry was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, and potentially longer, due to an MCL sprain. 

He knows they are strong with the two-time MVP in the lineup but also that he can't let Curry's absence derail their progress and is ready to put the team on his back to get over the line at any point.

“If Steph comes back, obviously we’ll all be excited and we’ll be a better team, but if he doesn’t, I can’t hang my head about that. I’ve got to go out there and play as hard as I can. Klay has too...Draymond, everybody down the line. Everybody has to be on point, because it’s a team game. We all move as one. If two or three guys aren’t focused on the play, you’re still going to lose. It doesn’t matter. That’s what I learned winning a championship. If we get there, that’s what we’re going to have to do and that’s why it’s so hard.”

Durant also knows they could end up facing two of his former teammates at different stages in the playoffs in the form of reiging MVP Russell Westbrook's OKC Thunder, and the James Harden-led Rockets. 

A potential first round matchup with OKC could turn into a nightmare, even with a healthy Curry, and the 29-year-old admitted that losing is a very real possibility in the loaded West.

“We know how good Houston is, we know how good OKC is." he said.

“It’s cool that people (looked) at us like we’re invincible, but we’re not, and you see it with the injuries that we have. We’re not superhuman. I think when we play basketball the right way, we’re damn good. But if we don’t come out there and focus, we can lose to anybody, and you’ve seen that.”

The nine-time All Star knows Golden State will have to be locked in and ready for every single game, or everything they've been built up to be will be torn apart in the blink of an eye.

"We can’t just go out there and expect to be lazy and go on and win. Nah, no team in the history of the league has been able to do that." he noted.

"The best teams we’ve seen with a lot of talent – the Bostons, the Miamis, us, they’ve got a lot of talent but they were focused, locked in, on every possession. That’s what creates champions. It’s not just the talent.

"You’ve seen it with Cleveland a couple of years ago (when they came back from the 3-1 deficit to beat the Warriors before Durant signed). They were focused, and every possession they wanted to win so bad. That’s what creates champions.”

KD knows the road ahead won't be easy, but it's also clear that he and his teammates will be prepared for everything that the rest of league throw's at them. The 2018 playoffs are set to be competitive as any in recent memory, and the Warriors will undoubtedly be making headlines throughout them, whether they win or lose. 

Listen HERE to the first episode of the new GiveMeSport NBA podcast, featuring former Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin.

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