Friday Bolts – 4.11.14
Interesting from Josh Ezekowitz on Stats GMs versus former player GMs: “Of course, none of the scouts who’ve won NBA titles as GMs would be described as dilettantes masquerading as having advanced degrees in the game of basketball. The war between old-school basketball guys and new-school analytics guys in front offices is largely a fiction, a product of a shift in the way general managers are being hired in the league. While it is too early to assess the tenures of Hennigan, McDonough and other young GMs, and indeed too early to assess the full impact of advanced metrics on the NBA, it is clear that, on average, former NBA players do not have some magical insight that makes them better GMs.”
Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas: “For most of the season, it appeared that the Mavs would simply have to make the playoffs to avoid having a top-20 pick because the East was so inferior. However, the Bulls and Raptors have both pulled even with the Mavs in the loss column with 46-32 records. Right now, with the 48-32 Mavs sitting in eighth place in the West, they would get the No. 21 pick and give it to the Thunder. But, like their fight for a playoff spot, their hopes of staying out of the top 20 could go down to the wire.”
A 2007 redraft has, brace yourselves, Kevin Durant going No. 1.
Per ESPN Stats and Info: “Kevin Durant is on pace to be 1st player to avg at least 32 pts, 7 reb and 5 ast in a single season since Michael Jordan in 1988-89.”
Scott Brooks on if he’ll rest KD: “It’s nothing that I’ve talked about and worried about. Fatigue is not an issue with our group,” Brooks said. “His minutes are right at 38 to 39 minutes a game. During this stretch, we’ve had eight games in 12 nights so there’s some time off that we give in practice and shootaround. We’re talking 39 minutes of your day. I think he can handle that at age 25.”
Jason Dufner rocked some KD VIs yesterday at The Masters. And he shocked an eight-over 80.
Anthony Slater: “Adams remains a work in progress, an athletic 7-footer still trying to hone his raw skills. And Roberson’s lack of an outside shot can disrupt offensive flow. But when surrounded by superstar scorers, the weaknesses can be masked and the strengths shine through. And because of that, the Thunder won at a steady enough rate to maintain one of the league’s best records. OKC is 7-3 this season with both rookies in the starting lineup and 9-7 with just one of the two. An impressive rookie season and recent stretch for both Roberson and Adams, where they clearly weren’t the stars, but proved to have an early ability to soundly play their roles.”
