HOUSTON — Somehow, working as Earth’s last, best line of defense against the living supernova that is Kevin Durant has become a mere part of P.J. Tucker’s job description. The ongoing series between the Rockets and Warriors is, in a certain sense, beyond matchups; both defenses do so much switching as to jumble the court, shaping games through their own calculated dance of risk management. It’s more important to Houston’s coverage to stay attached than to keep specific pairings intact. So Tucker will guard Stephen Curry, or Draymond Green, or whomever his circumstances demand. Going round after round with Durant may be his most memorable work, but the reality is that Tucker has been the primary defender on Durant for only about a third of his shot attempts in this series, per NBA.
The Last Line of Defense: P.J. Tucker Does It All for the Rockets
