Thursday Bolts – 10.18.12

Ben Golliver of SI.com on the new 90-second rule: “The push-back from players is to be expected. This new time limit comes off as a bit petty and random. Tip-offs can be delayed at the last minute to accommodate television partners and games can be halted over and over for television timeouts, but players can’t take a few extra seconds to pump each other up? Not only does this have the appearance of yet another nickel-and-dime rule on a long list of them (dress code, can’t leave the bench area during skirmishes, jerseys must stay tucked in, taunting technical fouls, new anti-flopping rules, etc.), but it also cuts into a very personal time for players. Durant lays out that feeling nicely: Some long-standing traditions and team-building exercises must now be modified.”

Zach Lowe of Grantland with ideas to shorten games: “The mandatory under-9:00 timeout in the second and fourth quarters is the single worst thing about the league — worse than Vinny Del Negro screaming at opposing shooters; worse than Jordan Crawford’s shot selection; worse than Carlos Boozer receiving an All-Defensive team vote last season; worse than Kobe Bryant’s cartoonish jaw-jut; worse than the general experience of watching Tyler Hansbrough play; and worse than Rasheed Wallace’s current level of conditioning. It interrupts the game just when it has gotten started again, and the fact that the league hasn’t squeezed it into all four quarters is in some way a recognition of how disruptive it is.”

Cole Aldrich on his summer: “I met Verne Troyer, who’s Mini-Me [in the 'Austin Powers' movies], Quinton Aaron from ‘The Blind Side,’ Christopher McDonald, who plays Shooter McGavin in ‘Happy Gilmore,’ and some more great celebrities at The Starkey Hearing Foundation gala in Minneapolis. It was really an amazing event and an amazing organization.”

Jeremy Evans, wow.

Darnell Mayberry on DeAndre Liggins: “But what the box score didn’t show were the endless hustle plays Liggins produced or the numerous floor burns he earned. The most impressive of all his plays came on an early second-half defensive possession. When the Thunder entered the half leading the woeful Bobcats by a mere four points — turning Charlotte over only twice — it was clear the game plan to start the second half was to crank up the defensive intensity. Liggins led the way. Almost single-handedly, Liggins forced a shot-clock violation, applying so much pressure on Michael Kidd-Gilchrist that this year’s No. 2 overall pick had no room to breathe and nowhere to turn.”

Shirts go on sale Saturday!

John Rohde on Liggins: “While Liggins unfortunately is on the chopping block, he’s also worthy of starting for the Thunder. Should Sefolosha, heaven forbid, go down with an injury, Liggins would be the perfect candidate to replace him in the starting lineup. Liggins is a mirror image of Sefolosha — unselfish, focused, determined, tough, relentless.”

Mike Prada of SBN on James Harden: “Which legacy does Harden want to live? It’s an interesting question. Both Johnson and Ginobili have experienced plenty of professional success in different ways. Johnson has become a perennial all-star player and has made a ton of money in his career. Ginobili has earned less money and received fewer all-star appearances (two to Johnson’s six), but he also won two more championships after signing his contract. Moreover, when you combine his accomplishments with his international resume with Argentina, he’s much more likely to make the Hall of Fame than Johnson at this stage.”

Golliver on MVP: “I’ll take Durant. He has the upward momentum from last year’s second-place finish. He’s been in the conversation for long enough to be embedded in everyone’s mind. He’s taken the next career step, leading his team to the 2012 Finals, and doing so with plenty of attention-drawing late-game dramatics. His statistics are guaranteed to be eye-popping and it would qualify as a fairly major upset if someone besides him winds up as the league’s scoring champ. The Thunder have a great chance to post the league’s best record and his health has been excellent. If the voting winds up becoming a “We’re bored with LeBron” sweepstakes, and it easily could, Durant seems positioned as the clear favorite there. His gracious personality and global star power don’t hurt his case, either.”

J.A. Adande of ESPN.com on OKC: “Compete with the Lakers? OKC might very well lap them. The average age of the Thunder’s starting lineup is still seven — seven! — years younger than the Lakers’. And this team is nothing if not battle-hardened. In the past two seasons, the Thunder have played 37 postseason games, more than any other Western Conference team. Plus, they have the kryptonite for Superman. Dwight Howard has scored fewer than 20 points in seven of 13 playoff games against Kendrick Perkins.”