Daily Thunder.com

UPDATE: Have a listen to today’s B.S. Report as Bill talks with Joe House about HORSE. Bill was there and has some interesting stuff about interacting with KD. The best was Bill trying to talk Durant into a trick shot and KD said to him, “Nah man, I’m winning this thing.” (Starts at about 25 minutes) And also, Bill mentions OKC by name at the 64:27 mark. Victory!

Along with Tyson Chandler, OKC is also reportedly after Marquis Daniels: “Hornets center Tyson Chandler is one of  three players “who might be on the verge of joining the Thunder,” according to The Oklahoman. The Hornets are one of the NBA’s many teams trying to avoid the luxury tax, as SN’s Sean Deveney reported last week, and Oklahoma City is reportedly offering Joe Smith, Chris Wilcox and one of its five first-round picks over the next two seasons, according to ESPN.com. Wilcox ($6.75 million) and Smith ($4.8 million) have deals that expire after this season. Chandler is set to make $11.85 million in 2009-10 and holds a player option for 2010-11 at $12.75 million. The Oklahoman reports the Thunder are in the running for Kings guard John Salmons and Pacers guard Marquis Daniels.”

Chris Colston of USA Today says the ’08 draft class ranks up there pretty high:  ”Another comer is Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, the fourth overall pick. He has averaged 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals since becoming a starter Nov. 29. “Rookie wall? I don’t know what that is,” Westbrook says.”

Since us Oklahomans are trying to be hip basketball fans, do your civic duty and read this, ahem, lengthy piece by Michael Lewis (Moneyball author) on the importance of Shane Battier. Everybody’s doing it: “To him the only pleasure in these sounds — the name of his beloved alma mater, the roar of the crowd — was that they marked the end of the worst part of his game day: the 11 minutes between the end of warm-ups and the introductions. Eleven minutes of horsing around and making small talk with players on the other team. All those players making exaggerated gestures of affection toward one another before the game, who don’t actually know one another, or even want to. “I hate being out on the floor wasting that time,” he said. “I used to try to talk to people, but then I figured out no one actually liked me very much.” Instead of engaging in the pretense that these other professional basketball players actually know and like him, he slips away into the locker room.” Keep Reading…

Oklahoma City didn’t have anyone in the game last night. And though we all know Kevin Durant deserved to be there, it kind of didn’t matter. After KD dropped 46 in the Rookie Challenge along with Uncle Jeff Green throwing down multiple dunking slam jams and Russell Westbrook flying around the hardwood and then KD winning HORSE, for a moment, OKC was the center of the basketball universe. For just a second, we knew what it felt like to be the Lakers or the Celtics. Every story coming out of Phoenix was about Durant or the young Thunder trio. We were the talk of the town and let me tell you, that felt good. It gave a tiny view of what it could be like in three years if this plan happens to come to fruition. But even though there wasn’t somebody playing in the big game, this All-Star weekend was a smashing success for OKC. Anyway, on to some All-Star weekend Bolts…

Tom Ziller on KD’s big weekend: “Durant scored 46 points, breaking the record by 10. He had a littany of extraordinary moves, leaving teammate (and trash-talker) Russell Westbrook in a cloud of dust time after time. He even played a little defense to help the sophs pull out a victory, ignoring the legend that playing defense in the Rookie Challenge is like walking under a ladder. And as many have noted in the aftermath, Durant has been doing this since New Year’s Day. No one in the league is scoring more per game since January 1. K.D. is doing it efficiently, with an inventory of rebounds, blocks, steals and assists, as well. That Durant sits on the sidelines while someone like David West (a solid player, but a winner) made the Main Event … that says more about the coaches than it does Durant. There is an unfortunate pecking order, with youth and losing pushing stars like K.D. and Al Jefferson (R.I.P.) down the list. But Durant started a fire Friday, I suspect he’ll stoke it tonight during H-O-R-S-E, and the whole world will see the smoke next February.”

John Hollinger: “The feeling was mutual. Tonight’s game was a coming-out party for the Thunder’s entire rebuilding program as much as it was for Durant. They don’t see much daylight outside their pint-sized market thanks to a brutally awful start, but they’re quietly playing decent basketball of late behind their three young stars. The public has been a little slow on the uptake regarding the rapid ascent of each, with Durant getting little All-Star attention and Westbrook a nonentity in most Rookie of the Year discussions, but this, perhaps, will get a few people’s attention. Westbrook soared and finished at the basket, and created havoc on D, while Green showcased his vastly improved jumper at several key moments. And then there was Durant. He soared in for flying dunks over the rookies’ bigs, and then stepped outside and effortlessly rained in long J’s, showing the total package that seemingly has the 20-year-old forward (yes, he’s just 20) headed for a scoring title in the very near future.”

Latest trade talk from around the league has OKC talking with NOLA: “Our freshest non-Amare scenario: Sources say Oklahoma City is going after New Orleans center Tyson Chandler, with the Hornets known to be seriously interested in slicing payroll and with the Thunder capable of offering the Hornets two replacement big men with expiring contracts (Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox) as well as one of its five first-round picks in the next two drafts. You’d like to think that the Hornets would first try to get through this season, see how far they go in the postseason and then shop Chandler closer to the draft if moving him remains their best money-saving option, since trading its interior defensive anchor — in spite of Chandler’s struggles this season — would force us to reevaluate New Orleans’ status as a contender. Yet it remains to be seen if the Hornets can pass up such a payroll-friendly proposal. Word is he remains very much available if the right deal presents itself.” Keep Reading…

Alright, stop right there. Don’t proceed any further unless you’ve already made your significant other some heart shaped pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. Ok, done? Good, proceed with the Bolts:

• Over at Basketball Prospectus, Kevin Pelton, super stat guru breaks down his award winners at the All Star break:  Rookie of the Year

1. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City
2. Kevin Love, Minnesota
3. Brook Lopez, New Jersey

The depth of this year’s rookie class makes this a wide-open field, and I realize my order looks entirely different than conventional wisdom, which has Derrick Rose and O.J. Mayo as the favorites. Neither would be a bad pick; I just happen to like these guys (and maybe even Greg Oden) a little better. Nobody has been more efficient while playing a major role for his team than Westbrook, who has been a revelation for the Thunder. Westbrook’s unconventional game makes it easy to pick at his flaws (limited shooting range and questions about his ability to run the point), but he contributes in so many ways that he has still been very valuable. Westbrook is a lot like Rajon Rondo in this regard…….there’s more, including a certain number 35.

• I can’t give this away, but you absolutely HAVE to click here and look at the picture featuring our own Jeff Green. I refuse to comment any further.

• Every week the Draftexpress geniuses get together and tell us where and when the college b-ball games of the week are found. With March Madness just around the corner, these guys make sure you don’t miss a beat. Today, you may have to set your DVR and catch Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill against UCLA’s Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday, tomorrow James Harden’s ASU squad against USC and Demar Derozan … some of these guys could be wearing Thunder blue next year with that stack O’ first rounders Presti has stockpiled.

• Over at Truehoop,  Kevin A. gets a chance to ask some of the players at the All-Star weekend who their nightmare defenders are…..
  Kevin Durant
  Ron Artest.  He’s so strong.  He uses his body well, his hands.  He’s very quick. He uses his feet well.   You have to try to shoot over the top of him.  Make him run around a little bit.  Put him in pick-and-roll situations and stuff like that…

• Hardwood Paroxysm breaks out their “Hustle Junkie” of the week, featuring our very own Mr.Green:
  When Green plays basketball it is a celebration. His gruff, fearless style is not born of the cynicism or spite that seems to inspire other hustle junkies. His intensity is driven by respect and love: To work any less hard would be to not give the game the thanks it deserves. One day this joy may fade. As the grind of each season takes its toll, Green’s exuberance may lose a bit of its luster. But for the time being his unique combination of innocence and ruggedness have helped make him the first ever HustleJunkie Player of the Week.

  Jeff Green: In the spirit of Kermit Washington, we salute you.

• The Oklahoman has a few tidbits for you about last night’s boogie fest and the guy holding the trophy at the end of the game: they are here, here, and here.