Daily Thunder.com

Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider on how players age: “One of the most important discoveries of sabermetrics was that the peak age for baseball players was much younger than conventional wisdom held. For the most part, basketball research has found a similar prime to baseball, with a peak age around 27. However, the answer depends on the metric of choice because different skills age differently; players grab fewer offensive rebounds from the time they enter the league but shoot more accurately. Defense might peak latest of all because of the importance of experience. The continued success of this generation’s veterans, such as Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, also is forcing us to rethink how players decline in their 30s.”

Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com in a 5-on-5 on OKC’s biggest hurdle: “The San Antonio Spurs. Same as it was last season. The matchups are mostly the same but don’t think Gregg Popovich hasn’t spent a long time thinking about how he’ll construct his strategy in a rematch.” Keep Reading…

Via Ball Don’t Lie, the Thunder have the cheapest beer in basketball: “What’s warming more than the previously stated findings is that the two most entertaining teams in basketball – the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder – offer the lowest beer prices of any team. The Miami Heat may be the championship favorites, but they lose points not only for their tardy fans but an annoying public address announcer and the second-highest (tied, with Washington and Boston, at eight bucks a brew) beer prices in the NBA. The Thunder and Spurs are on a fast track to yet another Western conference finals showdown, one that hopefully will go beyond the six games we saw last year between each team. It’s true that two beers (excluding tip, and please tip) during one of those games will cost you as much as that 30-pack of cans you used to buy in your early 20s, but you also weren’t allowed the opportunity to see Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook in person, going back in forth, in your apartment’s living room back then. Not a bad deal, Spurs and Thunder. Cheers.”

Darnell Mayberry: “I’ve not been a proponent of Perk guarding point guards. Seems pointless to have “the league’s best low post defender” D’ing up 40 and even 80 feet away from the basket. But he was terrific tonight. Perk pestered Vasquez and forced him into wild shots and quick decisions. Perk was so good it looked like a mismatch in favor of the Thunder. Rarely, if ever tonight, could Vasquez blow by Perk. On one second half possession when Vasquez tried, Perk soundly slid his feet to stay in front of him and blocked his shot once Vasquez forced up a shot near the paint.” Keep Reading…

J.A. Adande of ESPN.com on the NBA’s best closer: “Whoa, don’t be so quick to bail out on Durant. I saw firsthand the way he finished off the Lakers in Games 2 and 4 of the conference semifinals last year. Before that he beat Dallas with a jumper that won their first playoff game and sent the Thunder on their way to a sweep. Durant has the range to force defenders to guard him out to 28 feet, and he’s constantly getting better at going past them with the dribble. The problem was, as you mentioned, Durant’s inability to command the ball in fourth quarters against the Heat. LeBron, CP3 and Irving have an advantage in that they almost always start the offense with the ball late in games. Durant has to get it from Westbrook. Westbrook is more deferential in crunch time than people give him credit for; in Game 4 against the Lakers, for example, he had a 37-point game going and still let Durant take the wheel down the stretch. But there’s always the possibility Westbrook might decide it’s his moment to shine.”

Berry Tramel: “I guess everyone remembers that Fisher wasn’t the Thunder’s backup point guard in the 2012 postseason. James Harden was. When Russell Westbrook took a rest, Fisher slid over and played shooting guard, while Harden initiated the offense. If the Thunder believes Reggie Jackson isn’t ready for the playoffs, then Fisher has to be the backup point guard. I think Jackson is the better option, but either way, there’s no Harden this time. So unless Westbrook plays 48 minutes a game, someone must initiate the offense.” Keep Reading…