The Phoenix Suns have their own postseason problems to solve without taking a look at how the Houston Rockets are doing against the Los Angeles Lakers, but it is funny how that series has unfolded.
Kevin Durant was unavailable for Game 1, while in Game 2 he had nine turnovers and the Rockets' offense ground to a halt when he tried to get involved.
Suns fans will enjoy Jabari Smith Jr.'s public takedown of Durant
With the series now switching to Houston and the Rockets down 0-2, none other than Jabari Smith Jr. had some pretty interesting words about Durant during media availability.
Found this interesting from Jabari Smith Jr.
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) April 23, 2026
It's not enough for Kevin Durant to pass out of the double team, then trust his teammates to convert. What do Rockets need from Durant after the trap?
“It's on him to find ways to get himself involved and get to his spots without… pic.twitter.com/PezMwNk6kN
Thing is, Smith Jr. isn't even wrong on his assessment here. Playing faster out of the trap is the most effective way to beat it and ensure an opponent doesn't go back to it again.
But you don't go public with any frustrations you might have, especially when it comes to the best players of all time.
But chemistry imploding is a concept the Suns themselves got painfully familiar with during Durant's stint in The Valley.
By the end of a second full season that didn't even feature a spot in the play-in tournament, the vibes on the bench and around the organization were not good.
There is history here as well, with leaked messages around the All-Star break rumored to be from Durant to some of his friends criticizing the former third overall pick.
This feels like Smith Jr. taking an opportunity to clap back at Durant, but the timing could not be worse as the Rockets head into an offseason with massive questions looming around them.
Durant is 37-years-old and is getting outplayed by 41-year-old LeBron James, who does not have the help of Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves right now.
A fact that makes the Suns trading away Durant last summer all the sweeter, and at this point it is not crazy to think Phoenix may have won that trade.
For the Rockets, having teammates not on the same page and taking thinly veiled shots through the media usually spells disaster.
Just the latest reason to believe that having Durant on your roster, while amazing in theory, does not guarantee success of any kind. Feels good doesn't it?