Kevin Durant named Western Conference Player of the Month

@anonymous
no

@Joshua G

Crawford has given us a few favorble calls in the past. Dress him up in a black robe and he'd look like Palpatine from Star Wars.

Of course once I share the Bolts arrive. :P

I love this discussion about tiple-double-gate...

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/03/the-works-how-lebron-james-destroyed-the-mvp-award/

"EF: So our resolution here is that the Thunder are only more awesome because they broke an unwritten rule and Josh Smith is a whiner? I could not have predicted this.

BS: Except Durant didn't break any rules. He is holding them back. Or rather, his presence allows them to be somewhat edgy because he always restores sanity. So there's no way that Westbrook and Ibaka are pure evil."

@Bryan
I can Haz?

kfmsooner :
OK…I looked around on the site but couldn’t find an answer…how do I add a pic to my profile when I post?

http://en.gravatar.com/

Boltz?

OK...I looked around on the site but couldn't find an answer...how do I add a pic to my profile when I post?

@Anonymous
Especially considering how we played last game. I expect a lot of intensity from our guys tonight.

Still not a gimme game though. The Grizz have given us problems before.

Wherefore are thou, Bolts? Man, Royce, hire an intern or something. What am I paying for?

@John-o

I didn't indicate anything like that but I guess you're just trying to be funny, so I won't respond seriously. :)

@justin

I think you are applying the concept of "crumble" over the simple premise that the Thunder would "lose a few games" during the transition.

And since winning an MVP is actually a measurement of team performance (based on team record as you indicated where 2 or 3 wins makes all the difference), I contend that a JG trade would send a torpedo through KD's MVP hopes.

John-o :@eore
What about Green + Cole? It’s not paying much in the long run assuming there is a 0% chance of retaining Green this off-season.
I still think any trade involving Green is going to mess with team chemistry and send a torpedo through KD’s MVP hopes.

Send a torpedo through his MVP hopes? Are you guessing that if Green is traded and KD plays next to a competent PF or C, KD will play worse? Not sure I understand how trading an average player getting 38 minutes per game for a more productive player (or just giving Serge more minutes) kills KDs MVP play...

DizzyDai :@Bryan

I’d be really frustrated if I was a fan of the other team. Especially on the 3pt rips.
One other thought. It’s always a bit of a gamble. The foul could not be called and KD could lose possesion.

I'm just amazed that it still works. Teams review game tape do they not? We can see it coming from Loud City so why can't the opposition.

@John-o

These are professionals. If trading a player causes the team to crumble, then I'd question the team's fortitude to win anything meaningful in the first place.

@DizzyDai

The other night, he tried the rip move and Joey Crawford didn't give him the shot attempt.

Side note: Is Joey Crawford not the most egocentric, self-serving ref from any sport?

@eore

What about Green + Cole? It's not paying much in the long run assuming there is a 0% chance of retaining Green this off-season.

I still think any trade involving Green is going to mess with team chemistry and send a torpedo through KD's MVP hopes.

Anonymous :

justin :
Well deserved, but the team will have to play better if KD wants to get the MVP trophy.

New York Times headline: “World Peace Achieved!”
1st comment: Justin–People will still die of cancer.

Can we achieve World Peace with Jeff Green still on the Thunder roster?

@Bryan

I'd be really frustrated if I was a fan of the other team. Especially on the 3pt rips.

One other thought. It's always a bit of a gamble. The foul could not be called and KD could lose possesion.

But really, the shooter has the right to fire a shot any old time he wants to. If your arms are out and not up when that happens.... well, sorry buddy.

Well, since we have the best in the business, I'm all for it. But I know that if I was an opposing fan, it would drive me crazy. I would never compare KD to Ginobli, but I imagine the frustation of the Rip Move is equal to that of floping.

We've never really discussed KD's rip move. How do you guys feel about it? I do like that it forces defenders to give KD a little more space.

@eore

That could be an okay deal. I'd be okay with Green and a 1st, but I'd have difficulty giving up Harden.

@anonymous

there were rumors of mcgee being on the block, but I don't think that is the case any longer. he would generate a hefty price. green, harden, and a first maybe.

@anonymous
thunder yes,wizard no

Hollinger's thoughts about the play offs (could be a little old).

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=PERDiem-110103

"My best guess is that Utah and Oklahoma City will get in easily (and give us a 4-5 playoff matchup that's much desired here at Hollinger HQ, with Deron Williams and Russell Westbrook squaring off in one of the most physical point guard battles ever)"

I'm not patient enough to be a GM. Everyday I hope to hear about some genius Presti trade.

jeff green for javale mcgee -- yes or no?

@justin
Stuckey was out. Thats why there was so much Tmac

Yea, what IS the deal with Kuester?

Hopefully Westbrook can hold his own tommorrow. I mean they only got one true PG. Could just keep stinkin it up

Detroit must have the worst coach in all of history. They need a three pointer to tie the game and don't have Ben Gordon (3-6 on the night from 3PT range) in there. They didn't play him at all in the fourth quarter.

What a weird team. Tracy McGrady ends up taking a contested three for the tie (and misses). I don't even think Stuckey was on the court.

Bizarre stat of the night: Tracy McGrady with a Kidd-like near triple double of 11/9/11.

I think Justin needs to get some sort of award for most visits of the site,most comments, or most time on the site. He definitely deserves it.

I'm not to worried about Denver. I think Melo will be traded by the deadline. I think we might need a few small changes even to give us a better record than Utah.

Dang, both Utah and Denver hold on tonight.

Byron out with stomach virus. Maynor out with sprain foot, day to day. May see more time from Harden and Ivey.

@justin
Nuggets with a slim lead on Houston also.

Detroit with a slim lead on Utah.

@Bryan

Nazr is a decent enough rebounder, better than anyone on our team. Plays defense, can score a little when he gets the ball down low. I think he'd be a nice veteran presence to add, but I don't see how we could get him. Just a nice role player.

If Kd doesnt win the MVP. He will be top 2

@gr8ball83

I'm not sure what our potential is anymore with this group, they've played bad defense about as long as they played good defense. I think a lot of it depends on the actions of the coaching staff, and changing rotations around. Not sure that will happen. I'm mostly real discouraged that nothing has improved team-wise from the end of last season. I think the defense can and might improve from where it is at now, but probably not to where it was at the start of last year.

I guess I look more from the perspective of, if this team plays at this level for the duration of this season they will probably win less than fifty games. I think that's accurate.

@justin
Oh I agree, we haven't looked good at all, but I'm taking the positive of, we haven't played close to our potential and we're still 23-12 rather than the negative of, what if we play like crap the rest of the year. KD is coming around, hopefully the team will as well. Agree with top 3 though, assuming he doesn't go back in to a slump

@justin
What is it you like about Nazr Mohammed? Seems like we either need more size and rebounding, or more post offense. He doesn't seem to offer either and plays pretty limited minutes on an average team.

Even if KD doesn't win MVP I think he'll be top five for sure, probably top three.

@gr8ball83

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/preview2010/news/story?page=Predictions1011-Thunder

Only one analyst predicted we would not win the division. If Utah beats us, it would be seen as somewhat of a disappointment to lots of media folks. I don't think Kevin Durant would win it in those circumstances.

Sure the Thunder and Bulls are on pace for similar win totals, but it's not all in the wins and losses... the Bulls are playing much better basketball overall. I'd feel more comfortable projecting them out to a high win total than the Thunder who have been kind of like Jekyll and Hyde this year.

@justin
I would disagree whole heartedly if you think Dwight Howard was more valuable last year than KD, but I was talking about win pace this year, and I said as much, Bulls on pace for 56 currently, Thunder 54. Not a huge difference.... And I would think that 54 wins would have the Thunder contending, I think Zombie Simmons was the only one that had them pegged for 60?

@gr8ball83

Expectations figure into it... one of the reasons Kevin Durant was so high on MVP voting was that the Thunder weren't expected to be a playoff team last season. Was he more valuable as a player than Dwight Howard last season? Probably not.

The Thunder were expected to be a contending team this season by a lot of pundits. If they don't win the division, unless Kevin Durant has a monster season, I can't see him being rewarded with the MVP trophy. It's why guys like Dirk or Rose are ahead of Durant right now in a lot of those races, their teams are meeting or exceeding those expectations.

The Bulls could easily finish with more wins than the Thunder, they've certainly played far better to start the season.

@justin
Everyone was just starting to love KD, and maybe you're right about switching the records (61 wins is a ton) but the bias against Dirk will keep him from winning it, pretty sure Lebron isn't gonna win his 3rd in a row, and what makes you think the Bulls are going to win more than 54? I could see Wade before any of those.

Bryan :
So it’s just a big expiring contract? Would he provide anything of value?

Comedy value. Like Byron Mullens.