Tom Ziller of SB Nation looks at why no one scores 50 anymore: “The well-rounded superstar is the highest ideal. During the Kobe era, being well-rounded was perhaps not as valued as being incredible at what you do. I imagine Durant doing the Kobe-McGrady-Vince Carter era … and I imagine him taking many more shots, and maybe having a 60-point game under his belt. These days, we opine about completionism in our stars — LeBron and the post game, Durant and the assists. Coaches do, too, and so we have better players. But fewer big game scorers. It’s a net good with a drag on something we enjoy. Are there any current players who could signal a return to prominence for the 50-point game? Durant is an obvious choice, but it’ll take an injury to or trade of Russell Westbrook to make that happen. And vice versa: Westbrook could have a few big nights if Durant misses any time.”
Tony Manfred of Business Insider on how KD is trying to LeBron himself: “His assist numbers have increased as a result. In addition, his slightly reduced scoring role has allowed him to attack the boards more freely, and he’s grabbing a solid share of rebounds despite playing alongside two rebounding specialists in Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka. Look, we’re not saying Durant is going to be as good as LeBron. But it’s clear that he’s making an effort to expand his game by mimicking some of the ways LeBron plays.”
Tyler Parker of Baller Ball writes a story of how Serge Ibaka finds a trampoline: “He jumps and jumps and jumps for what feels like hours until his legs and lungs betray him and he must rest. He starts to walk back to the stream, stopping every so often to look back at the trampoline. Oh, how he loves it. When he reaches the stream, he cups his hands and dips them into the water and sips. Then, when his thirst is quenched, he sits and leans his back against the rough trunk of the shade tree. His eyes are heavy and they want to close. He fights them. He turns to look at the trampoline once more.”
Serge Ibaka takes and makes pretty good shots.
Darnell Mayberry on the Lakers: “L.A.’s average points, opponent points, assists, steals, field goal percentage and point differential are nearly the same as three years ago. They’re averaging more steals and blocks this season, while also holding opponents to a lower field goal percentage. The biggest differences are turnovers and free throws. The Lakers are averaging three more turnovers this year than in 2009-10 and are shooting a league-worst 66.7 percent from the foul line compared to 76.5 percent three years ago. So who are these Lakers? Contenders or pretender?”
Via John Schuhmann of NBA.com on schedule strength: “Toughest schedules thus far using our adjusted formula: TOR, NOH & MIA. Easiest: PHI, MEM & OKC.”
Kobe says he’s never buying an NBA team, but for a pretty funny reason.
Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal on KD closing the Nets: “The undermanned Nets made it close, but it never really felt like they had enough to unsettle the clearly superior Thunder. It’s a little cruel, watching an elite team pull away from a good one, a turbo car putting a commuter in the rear view. After the game, Durant described Brooklyn as a “great, great, great venue,” but it was obvious to everyone that the Nets, while stirring, aren’t yet ready to be a headliner. Oklahoma City is ready. And so is Kevin Durant.”
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/12/lakers-vs-thunder-pregame-primer-5/
Pau Gasol out tonight
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Forget "Durantula" or "KD." Kobe's nickname for Kevin Durant? "I call him Similac," said the 34-year-old Kobe about the 24-year-old Durant.
Wat
@supreme35 @mcten because he's young?
@propsizzle Yeah. I bet he just made that up after KD called him an old fart.
@supreme35 imma start calling kobe, "depends"
@supreme35 @mcten He tried to be funny.
We didnt laugh though.
id rather meet miami in finals then knicks
@OkcBaby i'm hoping to meet the wiz.
at the moment i agree on paper but by June I'd probably change back.
@OkcBaby pray for that. The Knicks have too many weapons. We're worried about our second unit...they have a 3rd unit.
@#sheem @OkcBaby
No team that relies that heavily on 3 pointers will make it through.
@Keith00 @anonymous12345 @okcjim @OkcBaby Keith,
You're playing right. Look at that Roster. Last year it was okay. This year its Not. The Knicks have a solid Roster that even OKC should be afraid of. Miami is not 'OK' with this loss by any means. Spo said it too.
@#sheem @anonymous12345 @okcjim @OkcBaby Miami has had defensive issues all year. Of course, they've also been toying with a lot more different lineups than other teams. Miami already knows what it has going "big," and is using much of the regular season to determine the utility of going "small" long term. I wouldn't take games being played now as overly important to Miami's long term prospects. If going small doesn't become more effective, they'll change. But, they'll also be more diverse in their ability to change lineups on the fly.
@anonymous12345 @okcjim @OkcBaby Is that it? Couldnt they sleep walk through the Knicks without losing to them twice by 20?
Cant blame this one on Sandy.
@okcjim @#sheem @OkcBaby You guys are crazy. Miami is sleep walking through the regular season because no team in the East is close to them.
@#sheem @OkcBaby
Someone posted a stat earlier showing them to be on a pace to shoot and make more 3's than any team in the history of the nba.
@OkcBaby @#sheem
They didn't rely on 3's in the earlier rounds.
@okcjim @OkcBaby They dont rely on the 3 they were just hot last night.
@okcjim @#sheem That what Miller and Battier said
Statistical question for you math nerds (Crow). I don't think Toronto will end up with the worst record in the league. If they end up with the 4th worst record, what are the statistical chances that they end up with 1 of the top 3 picks?
@okcjim It depends on how bad the teams are in front of them, right?
@D-MC @okcjim http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Draft_Lottery
@D-MC @okcjim No, the lottery odds are determined only by relative position of record, not the records themselves. That is, a team that goes 1-81 has the same chance of picking first as a team that went 30-52, assuming both have the worst record in the league.
@Keith00 @okcjim Keith00, cracking eggs of knowledge on my head.
@okcjim 38%
@Keith00
If that's legit you are good!
@Keith00
Thanks for looking that up!
@okcjim It's actually on the draft lottery wiki.
1st worst record has a 64% chance getting a top 3 pick.
2nd worst record has a 56% chance getting a top 3 pick.
3rd worst record has a 47% chance getting a top 3 pick.
Unless Toronto is one of the two worst teams in the league, odds are we will get the pick.
@Keith00
What's the percentage chance go up to if you have the 3rd worst record?
Speaking about the Knicks - Iman just dropped another freestyle. Cant y'all pay someone to ghost write for KD. He needs to make better tracks than Iman...
http://www.hiphopearly.com/Iman-Shumpert-Knicks-Clique-Freestyle-t16263.html
@#sheem Maybe when KD tears his ACL, he'll have more time to concentrate on his rap career. Until then, "It's Lonely At The Top".
This comment has been deleted
@#sheem @MisterJohnsonOKC Cmon now, You really think I want KD with a torn ACL.
@MisterJohnsonOKC it wasnt me! I dont want an ACL problem on KD
@AlexR44 @#sheem Knock on wood right now!
@AlexR44 @#sheem @OkcBaby stay away fro KD.
@#sheem @OkcBaby Never know. A torn ACL could lead to OKC's first platinum rapper. Breakin down barriers baby.
Hopefully, it never comes to that.
@OkcBaby @AlexR44 Knock on a blasted TREE
@AlexR44 LOLOLOL I had to 'Like' and then 'Unlike' that comment.
LMAO the mixing and mastering work on that track is amazing. I wouldn't even know its KD based on his interview voice.
@#sheem flagged for posting rap song by a basketball player.
Pau on the sideline tonight...
http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.0/global/swapper/201212/121207.05.jpg
This will probably never happen but what if we used a super small lineup with Maynor Westbrook Martin Sefalosha and Durant at the 5?
@desatt . Martin T. Sefolosha K. Durant R. Westbrook E. Maynor Thunder played 18 seconds and won by 2 pts.
@Crow @desatt *fist pump*
@Crow CMON PRUITI
wtf aren't they paying attention to the numbers? ha
@Crow @desatt well...what are you waiting for Brooks?
@OBoy Jones III @desatt per 48 minutes that is close to +300.
@desatt Do you remember when we were salivating over the Westbrook, Harden (now Martin), Durant, Jones III, Ibaka line up. Yeaaaahh, maybe next season.
@AlexR44 @desatt http://www.82games.com/1213/12OKC9.HTM#5man
looks like zero minutes of Jones - KD so far
@AlexR44 @desatt :(
@okcjim @OkcBaby @AlexR44 @supreme35 @desatt Rookie playing time has everything to do with opportunity. There is a decent chance we could draft a rookie C better than Perkins. But I could easily see Brooks not playing him in favor of stability.
@OkcBaby @AlexR44 @supreme35 @desatt
If you draft the right rookies, they can help you right away. Not a great chance for that though. Damian Lillard is playing great right now.
@AlexR44 @supreme35 @desatt maybe with all of our draft picks, maybe.
@OBoy Jones III @supreme35 @desatt You mean to tell me there's no possible way that we could get Christian Eyenga????
@AlexR44 @supreme35 @desatt Rookies get over estimated. After seeing, Jackson, Lamb and PJIII this season not going to expect alot out rookies. Unless your MJ
@AlexR44 @supreme35 @desatt i'm bored lets trade everyone and start this lineup next year
Devin Harris
Rodney Stuckey
Alonzo Gee
Jeff Green
Perk (we can't get rid of him)
@supreme35 @desatt Hey, maybe next season, we can deploy the Westbrook, Lamb, Durant, Ibaka, (Noel, Zeller, Len, Gobert) lineup.
@desatt We would grab every rebound.
@Sigmund @desatt We would? I can't see Durant at the 5 producing any positives lol.
This isnt FIBA. lol
@#sheem @Sigmund @desatt Oh #sheem, you who speak with logic.
@desatt Maynor, Westbrook, Martin, Durant, Ibaka
@OkcBaby @desatt K. Martin K. Durant R. Westbrook S. Ibaka E. Maynor played 1 minute 28 seconds and won by 3.
@desatt Why?