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Wednesday Bolts – 2.27.13

by Royce Young on February 27, 2013 at 10:35 am 319 Comments

BoltsLogoNew1J.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…

Practice Report: Derek Fisher will ‘definitely’ play

by Royce Young on February 26, 2013 at 2:36 pm 1,122 Comments
Screen Shot 2013-02-26 at 2.07.20 PM

Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images

I saw the addition of Derek Fisher as a great thing, as a perfect move to bring in a great locker room voice and added roster insurance. A very sensible, smart thing to do with an open roster slot available.

But that was assuming he wasn’t going to be jumping right back into the rotation because surely not, right?

“Definitely, he will play,” so says Scott Brooks.

Oh. Keep Reading…

Tuesday Bolts – 2.26.13

by Royce Young on February 26, 2013 at 11:26 am 280 Comments

BoltsLogoNew1Jeff Caplan of NBA.com writes the Mavs aren’t pumped about Derek Fisher’s return: “Owner Mark Cuban did not reply to multiple emails on Monday, but one league source said the best way to describe the mood of the Dallas front office is “agitated.” The source said that Fisher and his representatives never contacted the Mavs during his decision-making process to discuss a possible return to Dallas, the team that, in good faith, initially signed him. The source said that Fisher’s departure before Christmas seemed to come out of the blue. Of course, in 2007 when Fisher played for the Utah Jazz, he did have a family emergency in the playoffs. His 11-month-old daughter suffered from cancer in her left eye and required surgery in New York. After the playoffs — where Fisher had an iconic moment in the West semifinals — Fisher asked the Jazz to release him from his contract so he could concentrate on finding the best care for his daughter. After saying, “life for me outweighs the game of basketball,” Fisher would soon sign a three-year deal to return to the Lakers.”

Darnell Mayberry on why OKC brought back Fisher: “Insurance: The No. 1 reason this deal went down. OKC shipped reserve point guard Eric Maynor to Portland at the trade deadline last Thursday and was left with only Russell Westbrook and Reggie Jackson at the point guard spot. Teams generally like to have three point guards for emergency purposes. For a team that expects to make another deep playoff run, entering the postseason with only two lead guards would have been risky. Fisher also brings stability to the position in the event that Jackson, still in just his second season, struggles under the playoff spotlight.” Keep Reading…

Player Power Rankings: OKC wins when…

by Royce Young on February 25, 2013 at 4:44 pm 898 Comments
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Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images

WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6| WEEK 7 | WEEK 8 | WEEK 9 | WEEK 10 |WEEK 11 | WEEK 12 | WEEK 13 | WEEK 14 | WEEK 15 | WEEK 16

A back-on-track week of sorts for the Thunder, breaking a three-game skid with two solid home wins. Time to start cranking up for the postseason, time to start finding that standard of performance they want to play with.

Enough of that. Here are some stats I found interesting on the Thunder’s record when they achieve certain things. The Thunder’s record when… Keep Reading…

Why are the Thunder bringing back Derek Fisher?

by Royce Young on February 25, 2013 at 12:56 pm 219 Comments
Screen Shot 2013-02-25 at 1.59.24 AM

Ronald Martinez/NBAE/Getty Images

Simple question: What do the Thunder want 38-year-old Derek Fisher for?

He seemingly retired after a nine-game stint with the Mavs that ended with him hurting his knee. He hasn’t played a game since November. He’s 38. He’s not that great. But now he’s back to join up with Oklahoma City a second time? Why?

Here’s why: insurance.

The Thunder traded away Eric Maynor at the deadline to Portland for a trade exception, leaving them with an open roster spot and light at the point guard position. You don’t want to roll into the postseason with just two point guards on the roster, especially when you don’t have a player like James Harden anymore that could assume the duties. A rolled ankle for Reggie Jackson and you’d be left with just one point guard, something that’s not ideal. Keep Reading…

What is Russell Westbrook: A cat or dog?

by Royce Young on February 25, 2013 at 11:56 am 23 Comments

A TBJ investigation to solve one of the season’s most pressing issues: Is Russell Westbrook more like a cat, or more like a dog?

Westbrook’s take: “A wolf.”

Touche, Russ. Touche.

Monday Bolts – 2.25.13

by Royce Young on February 25, 2013 at 11:29 am 107 Comments

BoltsLogoNew1Darnell Mayberry: “I couldn’t understand why the Thunder didn’t push the pace in the early stages. After nearly every stop early on, the Thunder walked the ball up the court only to find itself in a much more difficult halfcourt situation. The Bulls are a great defensive team, and part of that is their ability to get back in transition. But the Thunder, it seems, wasn’t even trying to push the tempo.”

Berry Tramel on KD: “Let’s not pretend Durant is in some kind of slump. Not since December has he gone back-to-back games shooting under 50 percent, and even then his percentages were in the mid-40s. But last Wednesday in Houston, when Durant made just four of 13 shots, he still produced just the second triple-double of his career, with 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Similar game Sunday night, and Durant might very well have tripled-doubled again, had the Bulls been courteous enough to make this a ballgame and require Durant to play the fourth quarter.” Keep Reading…

Thunder suffocate the Bulls, 102-72

by Royce Young on February 25, 2013 at 12:09 am 59 Comments

BOX SCORE

With a winter storm supposedly set to roll in to Oklahoma City tonight, apparently it hit the Chicago Bulls a few hours early. Because they were ice cold.

(See what I did there? So good, right?)

Seriously though, “inept” isn’t even a good enough word for the Bulls’ offensive performance tonight. By quarter: 6-30, 4-18, 7-20, 8-18. For a grand total of 25-86 from the field, or a 29.1 percent. The Thunder’s defense has been a question as of late as they’ve allowed four straight teams to score better than 105 points. They went to the other extreme tonight, allowing the Bulls just 72.

“Defensively, it was probably as good as we’ve played in the last five or six weeks,” Scott Brooks said.

Now, before you start being impressed, realize the Bulls are a very weak offensive team and were playing without Kirk Hinrich who, yes, actually matters quite a lot to them offensively. Still, 72 points on 29.1 percent shooting is 72 points on 29.1 shooting. Officially, it’s the lowest percentage (actually 29.06 percent) from any team this season topping 29.11, which the Bobcats put up against… the Thunder. Keep Reading…

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