I just returned from the 89th annual Oklahoma City Thunder media day and boy, what an event. Players talked, reporters asked questions and in the end, we pretty much know everything we already knew before. Doesn’t mean there weren’t a few interesting things of note, like what players were working on this summer, expectations and of course, chair-throwing questions. Here are the things I starred. (The sound’s not great on the videos, I know. But remember, I’m an amateur.):
- I found it interesting that the players came in one-by-one to be greeted by the media. Typically, two or three come in at a time and there are different players in different areas. This time, it was one at a time. And to kick things off was Tweedy Carter, which made for some awkward moments as everyone in the room tried to figure out who that is.
- Scott Brooks was asked extensively about Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant coming off a tougher-than-usual summer. He simply said, “I think they’re fine.” He then added, “If they weren’t playing with Team USA they would’ve been getting after it twice a day somewhere. They’re coming back fresh and excited.”
- Darnell Mayberry asked a really good question to Brooks as he wondered what is tougher to follow up: Taking over a team that was 1-11 or coaching a 50-win team? Brooks: “Well, 1-11 became 1-12 so that was pretty tough.” And then of course the team lost 12 of its first 13 of Brooks. “I thought I might be the first interim-interim coach,” he said.
- When Brooks first came in he joked about not talking about two things: 1) If Russell Westbrook is a better point guard than him and 2) expectations. About the rising expectations, Brooks said, “There’s no doubt we’re a good team. You have to have expectations for yourself. You have to expect things from yourself.” He commented on how expectations rose because of a 27-win improvement last year. “I don’t see a 27-win improvement this year,” he said.
- Thabo said he worked this offseason on his body and once again mentioned the corner 3.
- I’ve never actually read what Thabo’s tattoo says, but it reads, “The Game Chose Me.” As someone tweeted me, “The game chose… poorly.” Harsh, but I appreciate any Last Crusade reference.
- Morris Peterson is definitely the statesman of this group. Well-spoken, smart and engaging. He said almost unprovoked, “I think we have a real shot at a championship.”
- Every new player to the Thunder (Royal Ivey, Daequan Cook, Peterson, Cole Aldrich) were asked about how they liked OKC. I’m kind of growing tired of this question, because it doesn’t seem like we still need the validation of players saying how nice the people are and how quiet it is. Oklahoma City is a fine city, but we’ve been over this every year now for like five. Can we just move on from that?
- Byron Mullens was asked mostly about his new teammate Cole Aldrich. He talked how he was learning from Aldrich some and how they plan on pushing each other. Mullens also said he’s comfortable extending his range to 17-18 feet from the basket.
- It took four questions for someone to ask Nenad Krstic about the chair incident. And Nenad answered it well. “What incident?” he deadpanned. He did go on to give a comment: “It was a bad, bad incident … I was just trying to protect my teammate. I’m not saying what I did was a good thing. It was a very bad thing and it won’t happen again.” Krstic was extremely apologetic and said he didn’t mean to hit that guy with the chair. He said he apologized to him in the hotel but Krstic said, “He didn’t want to accept the apology. But I’ll do it again now. I apologize for that.”
- As to why he even picked up the chair, Krstic mentioned how there were no police and that he was being backed into a corner. He said he saw “half naked” people running around, the Greeks were saying horrible things about him and his family and in the end, he put it simply, “I was scared.” He said he didn’t have the time to really think of an exit strategy and just sort of reacted. He said his teammates have teased him some but said, “That’s not for TV.”
- Krstic was also pretty outspoken about his dissatisfaction over the officiating in Turkey, basically saying the refs were influenced by the crowd. He pointed out how the Turkish player that scored the winning semifinal basket was out of bounds and also said, “In the tournament, there was only one NBA referee and he was by far the best referee.” Over the non-call that cost his country a shot at gold, he said, “I’m upset.” Presumably not upset enough to throw a chair, but upset nonetheless. (One day, we’ll move on from the chair-throwing incident. I’m sure of it.)
- Serge Ibaka spoke to the media without the aid of a translator and his English is much improved. He said he’s fine with his current role and said, “I like coming off the bench.” When asked where he fits better, the four or the five, he said, “My game is defense. And on defense, I can play both.”
- Ibaka mentioned the ESPN the Mag body issue pictures saying it was “something fun” and that he liked the squat picture the best. He also came in wearing a headband today and said it could be something he wears a lot this year.
- Nick Collison showed up with more hair than were used to seeing and when asked about it he kind of just said, “Yeah I just haven’t had a haircut in a little while. Really, it’s a non-story.”
- Kevin Durant: “I feel like the same guy I was in high school. I’ve got a car and a driver’s license, but other than that, it’s the same.” And the millions of dollars. Don’t forget the millions of dollars.
- KD said he added some weight this summer and is up to 231, but mentioned how he has a hard time keeping it on during the season. “I always finish up around 219 or so.”
- Durant once again said that he’s not on LeBron’s level, but said, “I’m working to get there for sure.”
- James Harden’s beard is looking as good as ever. It’s thicker, fuller and there may or may not be a small child lost inside of it right now.
- Harden was asked how important the starting role is to him and he said, “Not at all.” He said “it’s up to Scotty and whatever he wants to do.” For the most part, he didn’t sound as if he really cared too much about starting and was pretty clear he just wants to play a role and help the team win.
- Jeff Green said he wants to key on being more assertive, more consistent and more focused. He wasn’t concerned at all about his looming contract extension and passed over pretty much any question about it. Green spoke openly about wanting more this year and freely talked about rising expectations.
- Green said he wasn’t hurt at all by being cut by Team USA but rather took it as motivation to get better.
- Russell Westbrook definitely looked and sounded much more relaxed and confident than he has before. Since Westbrook is one of the Thunder’s more emotional players, I asked him about the changes in the technical foul rule and he wasn’t even aware there was a change.
- Cole Aldrich is going to be a big personality and eventually a fan favorite. He’s very clever, very honest and very engaging. He was probably my favorite interview of the day because even though it was, his answers really didn’t feel like lip service. He said he feels great about being in Oklahoma City and has been here for a few months and working mostly on his offensive post game.
- Just like last season, defense was preached more than anything. Every player talked about it and went on about team defense being a goal before every touching on individual things.
Other than, pretty much more of the same. But media day does mean that training camp begins tomorrow which means we’ll be watching preseason games before you know it which means the actual season is coming soon. And I can stand and listen to vanilla quotes for two hours if it means that.
I thought Tweedy Carter was an intriguing pick-up for this team. Surely Big 12 hoop fans will remember the alternating flashes of brilliance and foolish play he showcased during his time at Baylor. I like him as a high-energy guy off the bench, but I also like Maynor's potential to provide a steadying hand. Assuming Carter makes the squad, that back-up PG spot could be a compelling story during this season. If nothing else, you have a decent trade chip in Carter. (Ummm...Is his contract guaranteed?)
@Elegy444
I even heard a "Chomsky-esque".. Wicked, huh?
You know you've got a diverse following when ON THE SAME DAY you can have
1. A medical debate diagnosing a prominent injured NBA player.
2. Discussion of the federal/state tax code and how it affects athletes.
Carry on.
“Yeah I just haven’t had a haircut in a little while. Really, it’s a non-story.”
I've been waiting all summer to see how Nick's hair is doing, and he just blows it off.. hrumpf
What's a Tweedy Carter?
Crap. Last Anon was me. Carry on.
@Anonymous
OK, I admit it, the whole thing was just a setup to use a "dangerously Chomsky-esque" bomb on a sports board cuz that is lulz.
NBA Jam had better hype Durant after they indefinitely postponed live. Jam was the only b-ball video game other than TECMO I ever gave a ish about.
Anonymous :@Ozark
that’s fine, man. i’ll buy your penetrance reason, as to understand where you’re coming from. oh i’m not a gp, if you for some reason were tryin to put ‘them’ in their place.
anyways, thank god we got Durant and this team
I'm thinking less along the lines of classical genetic penetrance but rather a "penetrance of expression" if you will. Proteins only do what they do in the context of other proteins within their environment. Yeah, that sounds dangerously Chomsky-esque for a scientist, but you know what I mean. There are probably numerous elastin genetic issues in the population, we tend to call these disorders Marfan Syndrome, but we only really notice them when we encounter a pneumothorax or aortic aneurysm, and these get genotyped.
I think there are probably plenty of individuals with stooped shoulders and skinny wrists who tear something every time they turn around who have something wrong with their elastin genes but never get genotyped.
Also regarding the alcohol, I have to say Richard Dumas was never the same after he sobered up. Funny how the Cerebellum works within the context of it's environment.
And KD rules.. WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!
...oooorrrr maybe he's just had bad luck with injuries. I may not be the athlete Oden is but playing basketball and I know for a fact I've had way more injuries than he has but I don't think there's anything wrong with me. It just comes and goes for some athletes and for some it seems like it never goes away. It is possible that he just does something different on the court that makes him slightly more likely to get hurt. Just sayin'. Hopeful for the best I suppose. He's a nice kid and I'd like to see him do really well because he does play well when healthy.
Sammy :
I’m actually really enjoying this armchair diagnosing. It’s the first I’ve seen anyone try to put a name to whatever’s wrong with Oden, even if the diagnoseseses are based on limited evidence.
Of course, if there already is a name for what's wrong with GO, then Oden, his agent, and Portland management sure won't be talking...
I'm actually really enjoying this armchair diagnosing. It's the first I've seen anyone try to put a name to whatever's wrong with Oden, even if the diagnoseseses are based on limited evidence.
@Anonymous
It's the connective tissue of the organs that has primacy in the mind of a GP who is concerned with the cardiovascular system etc, but it also weakens the tendons and bones, so tendonitis does put Marfan in the diff. - of course not everyone with tendonitis, but within the big picture certainly.
ThuDer :
Are his Lenses inferiorly dislocated? There is no way in he’ll Oden has Marfan’s. See Rubber boy when he makes his appearance in OKC if you want to see Marfan’s
Well, he certainly doesn't have the protruding eyes of acromegaly... and once again it is a syndrome likely caused by a legion of possible genetic mutations, with variable expression even among the individual mutations. It's not like all of them pop their aorta when they turn 40, or get repetitive spontaneous pneumothoracii.
ThuDer :
Where’s the web neck and skinny body habitus of Marfan’s. Oden IS the poster child of Acromegaly. Ozark did you go to Med School in Arkansas or something?
He does have the stooped neck and slumped shoulders, watch him as he runs up and down the court. He does have a history of foot injuries as well that might indicate flat feet. He tends to score or produce explosively, but lacks evidence of stamina. He has long fingers.
That being said, he does have more musculature than the average Marfan sufferer, but they aren't universally skinny. He could well be a great physical specimen with great genes for muscles who also has Marfan that limits the strength of his connective tissue. He also doesn't have skinny wrists, but not every symptom follows with a syndrome, syndromes are defined by a cluster of symptoms with variable expression, just as gigantism does not necessarily follow acromegaly.
Also, not Arkansas, more like Ivy League.
Are his Lenses inferiorly dislocated? There is no way in he'll Oden has Marfan's. See Rubber boy when he makes his appearance in OKC if you want to see Marfan's
Where's the web neck and skinny body habitus of Marfan's. Oden IS the poster child of Acromegaly. Ozark did you go to Med School in Arkansas or something?
@Anonymous
If he were the poster child of acromegaly, he would have bigger gaps in his teeth and his head would keep growing, a la Barry Bonds. Marfan's causes facial coarseness as well. I've been stewing on this connective tissue disorder theory for some time now, and only tonight did I discover that a few people have suggested it earlier as well. One guy did a side by side comparison of Oden and Lincoln's face, kinda funny. I'm not a fan of speculating what diseases historical figures might have had like on third rate History Channel fare, but I'd bet good money that if you hired a geneticist to look at Oden's elastin genes, you would find something awry.
@Ozark
BAM!!! Real cred over internet cred
Anybody else get the memo I got?
In light of recent events involving certain international players of the Thunder team. All floor-level chairs are being nailed down.
Just kiddin'. :)
@Anonymous
I'm an MD.
@Anonymous
Nope, acromegaly is a disease of excessive growth hormone, not a connective tissue disorder. Their size causes problems orthopedically over time and early onset of Osteoarthritis is increased, but they aren't made of glass. Also Lantern rather than narrow jaws.
Sidenote on KD....NBA Elite 11 to be delayed indefinitely, due to a large number of negative reviews from its demo
http://www.operationsports.com/newspost.php?id=446382
Though he had nothing to do making the game itself, it will be interesting to see what KD's take on the delay is, as he is the cover athlete
"I’ve never actually read what Thabo’s tattoo says, but it reads, “The Game Chose Me.” As someone tweeted me, “The game chose… poorly.” Harsh, but I appreciate any Last Crusade reference."
On the other hand, if the game was in need of a defender of the faith, the game choose...wisely.
"Oklahoma City is a fine city, but we’ve been over this every year now for like five. Can we just move on from that?"
Amen, and thank you.
"Harden was asked how important the starting role is to him and he said, “Not at all.”"
Liar liar, beard on fire. But very diplomatic of him.
I was also going to say that Serge should lose the headband. But, if he were walk up to me, look me in the eye, which would require that he bend over quite a ways, and ask me what I thought of it...I'd probably tell him it was one hell of a nice-looking headband, and that he should wear it as often as possible.
Correction: He got worked out by the Kings, but the 3rd western playoff team that also looked at him were the Spurs.
Ah the all important Tweety Carter media day. Not sure what was actually said, nothing substantive reported on him so far really as far as I can tell, so here goes...
Crazy about shooting 3s (national high school 3-point single-season record and almost 7 attempts a game at Baylor last season) and good at it (college career 38.4% 3 PT FG%).
McDonald's All-American. Played 6 seasons of high school ball (I assume by starting while in junior high) Led team to four state titles in six seasons. Five-time Outstanding Player of the Year in Louisiana.
Last season- fourth team college All-American, (Sporting News). Almost 6 assists per game.
Got six draft workouts, including by 3 western playoff teams (Kings, Mavericks, Nuggets). Not the Thunder. No coverage at draftxpress.
Played a couple summer league games for the Nets. Hit the 3 well and hardly shot anything else. No turnovers in 4 games / 65 minutes.
Could just want extra guys to run the scrimmages. But go Tweety!
Maybe he goes to Tulsa.
Kinda odd they give a guaranteed (I think) contract to Ivey and then both want to bring in several more PGs and convince them it is worth their taking the shot here to be 3rd string.
This is the last post on this, I promise.
Marfan Syndrome. Disorder of Elastin. Weak tendons, low bone density, excessive height, long face with narrow jaw.
Not mentioned on a Wikipedia-type article is premature facial aging. Elastin keeps the skin elastic and young looking. Greg Oden's picture actually turns up on a google image search of Marfan Syndrome.
@Sammy
I have video of it. I'll upload it. He really didn't seem annoyed at all to me.
Taken in context, I think this actually very ominous. I'd think they would have had him rehabbing with smooth fluid motions and not having him do explosive jump squats or practicing his vertical leap, so why is he acquiring thousands of tiny tears in his patellar tendon faster than his body can heal them?
Either he has some sort of problem with his connective tissue or those goofy rumors I used to dismiss about him having one leg longer than the other are actually true. It also means he is at greater risk to rupture it in the future. He's also missing out on developing his game in a big time way. This is not meant to gloat, this is very sad.
Tendonitis wouldn't be that big of a deal if it wasn't Greg Oden's surgically repaired knee we were talking about. It'd be something if Joel Przybilla is available before Oden.
Sources now reporting Oden has patellar tendonitis.
For those not familiar, this is not an unserious condition, taking very long periods of inactivity to recover from, sometimes progressing to the point of requiring radical measures including surgery to rectify.
Message boards are lit up with comments like "Greg Oden has something very wrong with him, physically, he needs every medical test in the book run on him to find the root cause". Also "His (male anatomy) has turf toe"
Lulz I called it already.
The tweedy carter thing is hilarious
Cole Aldrich kinda reminds me of Sloth from Goonies.
@justin Well, we didn't get a weight after his rookie season. Could very well be that he dropped weight in between his combine weigh-in and his mid-season form.
@Royce
Did J.Green sound annoyed by the extension questions? I'm so very curious what's been said behind closed doors. This is Presti's biggest litmus test to date.
KD weighed in at 215 pre-draft. So in just over three years he's put on 16 pounds. If he ends the year at 219 like he said then he hasn't really put on anything, right?
KD's gotta eat more during the season. 231 sounds like a good weight for him.
Did anyone ask Brooks about possible changes to the offense / improvement to the offense?
Sorry for the double post, but we should at least appreciate the fact that our media day is boring.
No Melo drama (get it?) with whether Anthony will show up or not, denying he ever asked for a trade in the first place.
No Rudy Fernandez delivering an incoherent monologue about not wanting to play in the NBA but still being a member of the team after threatening to stay in his hotel room and skip media day altogether.
No forum implosion after Greg Oden says he is still in pain, not cleared for any basketball activity, and unclear and seeming pessimistic on when he will return. I understand playing possum or setting the bar low, but he sounded very legitimately dejected about his health.
I'm actually very sorry for Greg in spite of everything. Being a fan of KD doesn't mean you have to wish ill for a guy who by happenstance will be compared to him for the rest of his career.