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Russell Westbrook: ‘I still have a voice’

by Royce Young on May 9, 2013 at 1:49 pm 179 Comments
Screen Shot 2013-05-09 at 1.04.48 PM

Christian Peterson/NBAE/Getty Images

For the first time since his surgery, Russell Westbrook spoke with the media Thursday morning. Westbrook, who is known for his oft surly demeanor and cold attitude with the media, was especially charming and polite during the near 20-minute session.

Westbrook came hobbling in on crutches with a big brace/cast thing and struggled to get seated at the table. His attitude was incredibly uplifting, because as we all know with Russ, that dude wants to play and compete. But he’s either moving on, or he’s really good at putting on a happy face.

Obviously a wide range of topics covered, from what his rehab looks like, to what it’s been like for him to sit and watch, to what he wants to accomplish when he comes back and what the process  he went through was.

After the jump, full audio and the full transcript of Westbrook’s availability: Keep Reading…

Thursday Bolts – 5.9.13

by Royce Young on May 9, 2013 at 8:57 am 362 Comments

BoltsLogoNew1Henry Abbott of TrueHoop: “This season they looked untouchable much of the year, then things didn’t just to a little south with the loss of Russell Westbrook. They got up 1-0 in this series but to my eyes, looked nervous all along. Their swagger broke, and you have to wonder about history repeating itself. Now it’s 1-1. A couple of times, late in the close loss of Game 2, Kevin Durant quit on plays. Once he was not really fouled by Tony Allen, and fell to the floor in a bitter heap, complaining to the refs, as crunch time took off without him. In the closing seconds, the win still theoretically possible, he wanted an inbound pass but didn’t get it. Thabo Sefolosha rightly raced the floor with the ball in his hand and time of the essence. When Sefolosha was ready to pass to a shooter … Durant was barely over half-court and out of position. I feel like I can see the “not this again” movie playing in Durant’s head. He needs a Joakim Noah gator-blood transfusion to get his head right to bang out these next three wins. If Durant doesn’t believe that’s possible … it’s not.”

Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com: “They’re not so much an underdog as an unknown quantity, and not just to the rest of the league or to a team like Memphis that’s trying to scout them, but I think even to themselves. There’s this period where you have to search for an identity. So I don’t think it’s so much as an underdog as we’re all trying to figure out who they are minus Westbrook, because it’s just not the same team.” Keep Reading…

Wednesday Bolts – 5.8.13

by Royce Young on May 8, 2013 at 11:21 am 1,194 Comments

BoltsLogoNew1Matt Moore of CBSSports.com: “Oklahoma City still has a remarkable wealth of talent. That’s what makes this series so close. If the Thunder were at full strength, it might not even be much of a contest. But Westbrook is not with the Thunder on the floor. And as a result, Oklahoma City is going to have to out-work everyone they come across from here on out. But that’s Memphis’ strength, their identity, their motivation. And that situation is in large part why the series is 1-1 headed to Bluff City.”

Lee Jenkins of SI.com: “For 45 minutes, Chesapeake Energy Arena was Rucker Park writ large, Kevin Durant doing to the Memphis Grizzlies what he did to those poor saps in Harlem two Augusts ago: dribbling the ball unencumbered up the court, letting it fly, and back-pedaling as a delirious crowd writhed all around him. But this is the NBA playoffs, not the amateur summer league, and that’s the problem with Durant’s one-man show. It makes for great entertainment, but against these opponents and these defenses, it probably can’t last. Over 45 dizzying minutes, Durant was everything for the Thunder, their ball-handler and sniper, their rebounder and finisher. He scored 36 points and no one else on the roster cracked 20. He pulled down 11 rebounds and no one else topped six. He dished out nine assists and no one else even had half as many. If this sounds familiar, it’s because the Thunder box score was almost as imbalanced in Game 1 and they escaped, a testament to Durant’s all-around brilliance. But he cannot make every play, and without Russell Westbrook, that’s essentially what the Thunder is asking him to do.” Keep Reading…

Thunder fail late in Game 2 and Memphis evens up, 99-93

by Royce Young on May 8, 2013 at 1:52 am 378 Comments

BOX SCORE

Two minutes, 41 seconds left, and Kendrick Perkins puts the Thunder ahead, 90-89. Kevin Durant is cooking, Oklahoma City’s defense is swarming and after a white-knuckle back-and-forth affair, a 2-0 series lead finally appears to be within range.

Derek Fisher comes up with a steal on the Grizzlies’ next possession, 2:29 left. A big opportunity for the Thunder to put a little space between them and Memphis, to create a much, much-needed cushion. A scrambled possession results in a reckless Fisher fadeaway jumper, and apparently his deal with the devil expired, as it came up short for an airball.

The Grizzlies come back with a quality set, and Reggie Jackson gets caught helping just a beat too long, and Mike Conley makes OKC pay with a go-ahead 3, 92-90, 1:58 left. Timeout Thunder. Keep Reading…

Grizzlies vs. Thunder: Game 2 Pregame Primer

by Royce Young on May 7, 2013 at 5:50 pm 2,897 Comments

m grizzlies vs. okc-thunder

Grizzlies (4-3, 1-3 road) vs. Thunder (5-2, 3-1 home)

TV: TNT
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 8:30 CT

Thunder lead 1-0

View from the enemy: 3 Shades of Blue

People are looking at Game 1 one of two ways: 1) The Thunder stole one they shouldn’t have, and are lucky to have a 1-0 lead; or 2) the Grizzlies are vulnerable because of their inconsistent offense, and Kevin Durant can beat them three more times. Keep Reading…

Tuesday Bolts – 5.7.13

by Royce Young on May 7, 2013 at 10:26 am 803 Comments

BoltsLogoNew1Tom Ley of Deadspin on KD: “Durant put a stranglehold on the fourth quarter, scoring 12 points, grabbing four rebounds, and dishing three assists while rallying his team to a 93-91 victory. He scored six of his team’s last seven baskets while sinking a variety of impossible-to-defend layups and jumpers. Most impressive of all, though, was how little hesitation Durant showed while taking over. Every time he got his hands on the ball he just let loose, allowing his instincts and infinitely long limbs to take over and win the game for his team. He never stopped to think over that stretch of time. He just played. We’ve seen Durant hit teams with scoring barrages before, but we’re used to seeing those shots interrupted or bookended by flashs of brilliance or thickheadedness from Russell Westbrook. But now we get to see what happens when Durant is really allowed to stretch out and play the game entirely on his own terms.”

Jeff Caplan of NBA.com: “Allen played less than 21 minutes in Game 1 and fewer than seven minutes came with Martin on the floor. And during a three-minute stint in the second quarter when Martin scored 15 of OKC’s 33 points, he burned Allen backdoor for an and-1 layup and then buried a 3-pointer. During the season with Westbrook in the lineup, Martin’s shooting often told the story of OKC’s outcomes. When he scored in double-digits, the Thunder largely won. And when he didn’t, they struggled, particularly against playoff teams. Now it’s a question of consistency. Martin won’t average 25 points as he has in the last two games, but for OKC to beat Memphis — and beyond — he must continue to be a multidimensional playmaker and shoot at a high percentage.” Keep Reading…

Derek Fisher, playoff hero

by Royce Young on May 6, 2013 at 2:26 pm 1,840 Comments
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Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images

On March 29 in Minneapolis, in the first half against the Wolves, Derek Fisher missed a 20th consecutive shot. No, not in that game, but over a span of seven. He joined the Thunder for a second time on Feb. 27, and after that 20th miss, he was just 16-51 from the floor. That’s 31.3 percent. He was playing about 14 minutes a night, flying in the face of sound reasoning, it seemed.

Fisher finished the regular season shooting 33.3 percent from the floor and 35.1 percent from 3 in 24 games with the Thunder. He played 14.4 minutes a game. And with him playing shooting guard, which resulted in him defending other shooting guards, everyone outside of Scott Brooks was left scratching their heads as to why the 38-year-old guard was on the floor.

Brooks’ only answers included things that don’t have anything to do with actual basketball. Leadership, experience, rings, Brooks would say in defense of Fisher. It seemed like either someone was taking crazy pills, or Fisher had used his Veteran Leadership Jedi mind tricks on Brooks. Keep Reading…

Film Study: KD’s game-winner in Game 1

by Royce Young on May 6, 2013 at 12:03 pm 228 Comments

Have I told you lately how much I love the NBA’s phantom camera? I love the NBA’s phantom camera.

So combine that, with a gorgeous Kevin Durant game-winner and oh my goodness I need to sit down and fan myself.

Watching the phantom video though, a lot happened to get to KD’s go-ahead jumper. Scott Brooks made a great decision to play it out, and Durant made a great decision to go for a quick shot before the Grizzly defense could set. Here’s a breakdown of KD’s shot to seal Game 1: Keep Reading…

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