But Wednesday's 105-78 quarterfinal blowout of Argentina was the efficient Durant explosion everyone had been waiting for – 27 points on 7-of-9 from 3. Did something change?

Teammate Kyrie Irving said in the first five games, Durant was "feeling it out." In those games, Durant still managed to shoot 60 percent from the field, and 61 percent from 3.

Kevin Durant says he plays best when he's care free. The mindset seems to have worked for him during his nine-year NBA career.

From USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt:

“I told myself before I left my room, I’m at my best if I don’t care if we win or lose,” Durant said. “It might be different for other players. But for me, I’m more free and aggressive, and it's way more fun for me if I don’t care about the outcome. I know if I go out there and be who I am, the outcome will dictate itself.”

It was Durant's best offensive performance of the Olympics, in a Games where he's been considered good but not great. Such is the standard for the U.S. National Team.

But Durant's comments about having more fun and playing better when he doesn't care about the outcome adds to the list of eyebrow-raising comments to come out of the U.S. camp this Olympics, from Carmelo Anthony saying he'd be happy with his career if it ended with three gold medals but no NBA championship, to DeAndre Jordan flat out saying a gold medal should be valued above an NBA title.

The U.S. team is in the tough position of not being able to "win" even when they win. The team is 6-0 and should win its third consecutive gold medal at the Olympics. While the U.S. played three competitive games to finish the group stages against Australia, Serbia and France – all wins by 10 points or fewer – it still has the largest margin of victory in the tournament and the significant talent advantage.