Ben Detrick of Grantland on James Harden: “Is Harden better at basketball than Kobe and Melo? Probably not. Efficiency and usage rating (a percentage of team plays used by a player when he’s on the floor) are negatively correlated, and Harden is asked to dominate the ball far less than either of them. Still, when Harden does have it, he’s more effective in a game that rewards free throws and 3-pointers while punishing missed mid-range jumpers. When you look at how the Thunder dispatched opponents last year, Harden’s fingerprints are all over the murder weapons. Oklahoma City was first in free throws made per field goal attempt, second in effective field goal percentage, and second in offensive rating. Harden might be the third option, but even on a team with Kevin Durant, he tops all three of those categories, and cutting loose the man whose DNA interlocks most closely with the team’s genetic code is unwise.”
John Hollinger of ESPN.com on Kobe Bryant: “Bryant led the NBA in usage rate by a wide margin (see chart) and very nearly led it in points per minute as well, finishing a 10th of a point behind Kevin Durant in points per 40 minutes — an amazing feat for a player age 33. Bryant looked spry coming out of the lockout in particular, racking up four straight 40-point games in January. However, he cooled off considerably the rest of the way, most notably while shooting 38.7 percent in March. He was in the top five in player efficiency rating (PER) in the first half of the season but finished 17th.”
KD’s restaurant is getting delayed.
John Schuhmann of NBA.com on the Northwest: “The Thunder didn’t make any significant additions this summer, but they will be getting back guard Eric Maynor, who played just nine games before tearing his ACL last season. And when Maynor was on the floor two years ago, the Thunder were an excellent defensive team. Maynor’s return will help, at least with the Thunder’s issues in the regular season. James Harden was the Sixth Man of the Year and gave OKC a huge offensive boost, but they were at their worst defensively when he was on the floor. The previous season, however, Harden and Maynor were a very good defensive combination.”
The Spurs will debut a new alternate uniform against OKC on Nov. 1.
Blake Griffin talking about the Western Conference.
Ian Thompson of SI.com: “To turn the question the other way, I also like the fact that Oklahoma City didn’t mess with its core rotation. Rookie forward Perry Jones and center Hasheem Thabeet will fit in along the edges as long-term projects, but the Thunder maintained their investment in their ever-improving foundation. Their underrated move was to show patience and wisdom, because to make any changes to their core would have set them back.”
Scott Brooks talking about Derek Fisher.
KD was named as one of the top 100 Twitter accounts by SI.
Sporting News ranks the top small forwards: “Durant remains a deadly scorer from pretty much anywhere on the floor, but has rounded out his game with improved playmaking, rebounding and defense. If not for James, he would easily be the league’s top player.”
Does anyone think we will sign Harden? I just couldn't really see him on another team because we let him go in free agency.
@All Sham No Wow I think there's a 33% chance we sign him for less than the max before the 31st of October. That said, I think there's probably a 75% chance that we sign him to some sort of contract.
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@CP2 Sweet vid! Very cool that they did that.
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/09/dt-mailbag-beardemic/
Had a dream the other night....That the Thunder re signed Derek Fisher.
Oh god.
@C-Wil This is what you get for listening to scott brooks motivational speaker videos.
@f5alcon Yeah I was coming onto DT and the top post was "Thunder re sign Veteran Favorite Derek Fisher" and peeps were posting comments of disgust like crazy. I was like this can't be real.
Phew.
@C-Wil @f5alcon Don't look at the Scott Brooks article then...
LETS GO THUNDER!!
Definitely. Missing. Hoops.
@ThunderBelize
I see what you're doing . . .
Seeking. Easy. Likes.
@ThunderChick2010 @ThunderBelize Except it's not really working... usually that's good for 6-8 likes, he's only at 4 at the moment.
@ou_sas @ThunderBelize
There's time and hope for you yet. :)
@ThunderChick2010 @ThunderBelize You're right. I'm clearly not an Okie.
@ThunderChick2010 @ou_sas @ThunderBelize The only time I have been in Chickasha was for a little league tournament or something. I just remember getting screwed royally by the crappy umps.
@DustinMcWilliams @ou_sas @ThunderBelize
Fightin' Chicks!
@DustinMcWilliams @smallhandedthunder @MisterJohnsonOKC @ou_sas @ThunderBelize
Like the Tim McGraw song: Well I'm from a map dot / A stop sign on a black top.
@ThunderChick2010 @ou_sas @ThunderBelize Fear the Fighting Chickens
@ou_sas @ThunderBelize
I may be mistaken, but I don't think Chickasaw is a city -- more of a tribal entity as in Chickasaw Nation. And you don't know what you've been missing out on here in Chick-town. :)
@smallhandedthunder @MisterJohnsonOKC @ThunderChick2010 @ou_sas @ThunderBelize I'm from a speck on the map called Blue, but we will just say Durant so people know what I am talking about.
@MisterJohnsonOKC @ThunderChick2010 @ou_sas @ThunderBelize Nope. I had to move to Norman to get it :)
@ThunderChick2010 @ou_sas @ThunderBelize I'm from Duncan. I guess we are mortal enemies.
@ThunderChick2010 @ThunderBelize That's right. I always get Chickasha and Chickasaw mixed up. Haven't been to either place. :(
@ou_sas @ThunderBelize
Chickasha (CHICK-uh-shay)
:)
@DustinMcWilliams @ThunderBelize @ThunderChick2010 I have a weird amalgamation of mainly flat Midwestern, with some slight Canadian and Scouse highlights that mainly come out in the way I pronounce certain words.
@ou_sas @ThunderBelize @ThunderChick2010 Who has what accent? I have that Southern Oklahoma drawl, kinda.
@ThunderBelize @ThunderChick2010 Chickasaw*
@ou_sas @ThunderChick2010 It's because I don't talk like I'm from Chicasaw (sp?) !!
@ThunderChick2010 Trying to keep pace with your greatness! I see, however, that your off season point regime is far superior to mine!
@ThunderBelize
Greatness? (I have to give credit to cemitten, Crow, and an overzealous parity-driven spree by Barry for several hundred of those points!) I'd probably do better to pay more attention to my off-season workout routines, housecleaning routines, book-reading routines . . . but I'm afraid of what I'd miss. :)
*Without James, Durant would easily be the league's top player*....Duran't is one of my favorite players but I'd take Chris Paul and Dwight Howard on my team before I take him.Durant is a great shooter but his basically a taller Reggie Miller IMO whose shot is unblockable and is too hard to contest...His playmaking is average at best and at rebounding is ok and Defense is average...His one of the best shooters I've ever seen but the best player not named James thats false IMO..feel free to disagree with me but its my opinion
@kennygee90 Cause Reggie Miller could dunk on Javale and Roy Hibbert right?
@OBoymuzik @kennygee90 I didn't know Durant had an older sister, either.
@kennygee90 Either you're a troll or you're a stupid-face. Because I can kind of see an argument for Howard before Durant: but I cannot see any argument for Paul over Durant. Durant's 23. He's already lead his team to the finals. He's only getting better. One of the most unique scoring talents of this generation. So...you suck.
Durant would beat Howard in a likability contest.
@Arent durant beats everybody in a likeability contest.
@kennygee90 Calling Kevin Durant a taller Reggie Miller is a cop-out. Durant's game is a lot more diversified on the offensive end, he creates so much more of his own offense for example. Reggie didn't have any advanced dribble moves he used consistently to get by anyone, either, and that's a staple of Durant's game now. I wouldn't call Durant just 'ok' at rebounding, either. He was 24th among all forwards last season in DRB%, ahead of many full time power forwards such as David Lee, Amar'e Stoudemire, Elton Brand, and David West. Also ahead of good rebounding SF's like LeBron James and Shawn Marion. In fact, his DRB% was tops among SF's.
There is a place for the argument that Chris Paul and Dwight Howard are better than Durant. Paul had a sneaky-great season that approached his productivity from 2007-2009. Dwight had a down year, but the year before I think he had a season better than any Durant has put up. If we're just counting last year and considering that both Paul and Howard have experienced some injury issues and sub-par (for them) seasons among the last couple years, I'd take Durant going forward and I don't think it's much of a contest. If everyone was assured of playing a healthy 82 games + playoffs? You might have a point, even if not many here would agree with you.
@kennygee90 You're no troll. Antagonistic, yes, but not a troll. You state a reasonable opinion, back it up with a thought process, and you don't attack anyone personally. Your content is the kind of content that should be welcome on a basketball blog.
I know I don't reply to you often, but that's mostly because I'd rather debate a topic using more objectivity in the debate and that isn't your style. But it's not because I consider you a troll. I don't. And neither should anyone else if they're being the least bit objective.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct @kennygee90 I don't subject myself to arguments that involve well reasoned and thought out replies. If i do, I lose.
@kennygee90 Both are older and have had serious injuries in their career. durant was the best rebounding small forward last year, better than lebron. He was 6th last year for SF in APG, 1st in BPG for SFs, 5th is SPG,
@f5alcon His a great player and compared to other sf his the best player not named James and your stats even tell that...CP3 and Howard bring more to the table for a team than Durant thats all im saying..If he becomes a better playmaker where he can be required to make plays for his teammates to get them going on a consistent basis then he'll be at James level and pass howard and cp3
@f5alcon I agree with you in the regard that he's not a one dimensional player..He is average to good at almost everything else but he isn't great..and your second point is exactly what I meant in terms of taking over a game..I do think Durant when he gets better at making plays for other he'll be unstoppable and will be on Lebron's level or even surpass him..his just not there yet tho..his not even 25 so Im sure in his prime at 26+ he'll dominate the league and will definitely be the leagues best player
@kennygee90 My argument was more that he is not a one dimensional scorer, top 6 for his position in all 5 major stat categories, #1 in 3 of 5. chris paul and howard are not top 6 in all 5 categories for their positions.
From a take over the game perspective your argument is certainly fair about CP3 and dwight.
@f5alcon @kennygee90 Howard is so one-dimensional. Yeah he may be a hell of a rebounder and an above-average scorer, but a good defender can take that away.
Paul is great, but he has days where he is so cold, he is useless with his scoring. No doubt he is an amazing passer, but with his small stature and injuries, KD trumps him.
KD is showing that even against the BEST defense, he can still find ways to score. Durant is definitely the second-best in the league, and on his way to being #1.
@DustinMcWilliams @f5alcon *a good defender can take that away*..yet there's no player in the league today capable of that..his not a good defender..his one of the best paint protectors of all time..Durant can score against any defense I agree with that, I didnt include injuries when included cp3..Cp3 is one hell of a scorer when he wants to be..he can tear apart any defense in this league..I know durant is a great player and top 5 today, I just think howard and cp3 are more valuable than him
@kennygee90 "whose shot is unblockable and is too hard to contest"
gotta score to win, and he's the best at that
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@MisterJohnsonOKC dude shut up with that troll crap just cause you don't agree with my opinion..
@kennygee90 @MisterJohnsonOKC dude shut up with IMO crap because you don't understand basketball
@MisterJohnsonOKC can you please explain what i'm wrong about in my statement...I just gave Durant credit which is his one of the best shooters i've ever seen and is one hell of a scorer..everything else is the truth IMO..If you don't like it don't bother to comment on it..If you think I'm wrong then you can make points like most people over here do and sometimes i end up agreeing with them if i come to realize im wrong
@DustinMcWilliams @MisterJohnsonOKC ^^lol
@kennygee90 @MisterJohnsonOKC FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT