Monday Bolts – 1.7.13
From Elias: “Russell Westbrook scored 23 points and Kevin Durant added 22 in the Thunder’s 104-92 win at Toronto. It was the fifth consecutive game in which both Westbrook and Durant scored at least 20 points. They had two such streaks of at least five games last season. Only two other pairs of teammates did so even once during that time: Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum (5 games last season) and Stephen Curry and David Lee (5 games last month).”
Marc Stein’s power rankings: “Tough to move the Thunder up after the shock of (A) OKC getting spanked at home by the Nets and (B) Kevin Durant getting ejected near the end of that spanking. Can’t get too worked up about it, though, when KD & Co. are 17-3 in their last 20 games and 23-1 when they score 100 points.”
NBA.com’s: “Reggie Jackson is the back-up point guard du jour for the Thunder. Individually, he’s played better than Eric Maynor, but the Thunder’s efficiency numbers are better with Maynor on the floor. As long as Russell Westbrook is scoring as efficiently as he has the last five games (25.6 points per game on 52 percent shooting), the identity of his backup doesn’t matter much.”
Darnell Mayberry: “One thing I love about Reggie Jackson: the way he barks instructions. He’s the most vocal point guard on the team. Westbrook doesn’t call out orders like Jackson, and neither does Eric Maynor. Westbrook’s calling the play one time. If you don’t get it, sorry for ya. Maynor does a little better but still is not great. Jackson? He’s shouting instructions and pointing all over the place. If you never saw him cross the 3-point line, you’d say ‘Now that’s what a point guard looks like.’”‘
Darnell Mayberry on the rise of Serge Ibaka: “Ibaka’s recent rebound rate perhaps provides the blueprint for how he might someday reach his still unfathomable ceiling. Though he’s polished his post game, mid-range jumper and 3-point shot, Ibaka still must take a backseat on offensive to Durant, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Martin. But as we’ve seen over the past three weeks, Ibaka is more than capable making an impact with hustle plays that lead to points off putbacks. And while pleased with his development, Ibaka still isn’t satisfied.”
KD tweets: “3 techs in 3 games, not like me…@kendrickperkins is a bad influence on my life lol jk..I will be better, sorry guys”
David Aldridge of NBA.com: “Thunder will make up for a light road schedule so far with 10 of their next 12 games on the road, including three trips to Staples Center — two games against the Lakers, one against the Clippers — along with games at Portland, Denver and Golden State before the end of January.”
Raptors Republic: “This just in: Kevin Durant is really, really, really good. He just adds more to his game every year. This will be his league sooner than later.”
Watching the 60 Minutes feature on FC Barcelona sort of in a roundabout way made me think about the Thunder. Their motto is “Mes que un club” which translates to “More than a club.” I think you could apply a similar motto to the Thunder.
