One of the defining moments of the 2021 playoffs came in the Eastern Conference semifinals, when Kevin Durant’s late jumper for Brooklyn was ruled a 2-pointer because his foot was on the 3-point line. In a new analysis, Zach Kram revisits that sequence and builds an alternate NBA timeline based on a simple change: Durant’s foot staying behind the arc.
Kram’s premise is straightforward — flip the outcome of that shot, and the ripple effects extend far beyond a single game. From there, the analysis follows how a different result in that series could have altered the postseason’s eventual champion and reshaped the league’s subsequent landscape.
Ripple effects beyond one possession
Rather than focusing only on the immediate scoreboard impact, Kram examines how a changed playoff path could have influenced later rounds and the title race. The piece then expands outward, connecting that alternate postseason to broader league consequences, including the kinds of roster decisions and headline trades that often follow playoff success or disappointment.
Ultimately, the analysis uses a single, high-leverage play as a lens to show how thin the margins can be at the top of the NBA — and how one moment can echo into championships and franchise-altering moves.