Daily Thunder.com

Perry Jones III in a Q&A: “It’s a good fit, especially when they called me and told me that they wanted me to just play basketball like I’ve been playing. They know I’m a very unselfish guy, and that’s what they want the most from me is to be very unselfish. The team already has everything, and I just want to be able to contribute. I don’t care if it’s 15 seconds on the floor or 10 seconds on the floor, I just want to be able to help somehow.”

Nate Silver of the New York Times on the Lin situation: “But if Lin plays even 80 percent as well as he did in February, the Knicks could have a 55- or even 60-win roster. Winning a championship would still be a feat, with dominant teams like the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder in the league. But the Knicks would be on track to be a No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They would also host many home playoff games and would have a puncher’s chance of bringing home their first N.B.A. title since 1973. The Nets might not be an afterthought like they were in New Jersey, but the Knicks would still be the toast of the town.” Keep Reading…

John Schuhmann of NBA.com on Team USA: “You get the feeling that Durant, who scored 24 points against the Dominican Republic on Thursday, is going to be this team’s leading scorer, even though he’s got more talent around him than he did in 2010. But most of his shots are coming off feeds from his teammates. He doesn’t need to control the ball much, and can be that weak-side shooter that makes defenses pay for loading up on James or the point guards.”

Michael Lee of the Washington Post on Team USA: “Krzyzewski was honest and direct with Durant, who was the breakout star and leader of the gold medal-winning world championship squad in Turkey two years ago. After the United States thrashed the Dominican Republic by 54 points, with Durant scoring a game-high 24, the District native joked with his Oklahoma City and U.S. teammate James Harden, the NBA sixth man of the year last season, that he was going to ask Thunder Coach Scott Brooks to come off the bench next season in the NBA.” Keep Reading…

Hasheem Thabeet in a Q&A: “Everybody has different perspectives of the situation. I really don’t dwell on my past. This is a different situation. I’ve got to come in, establish my position and work hard. That’s the only thing I can control. I can’t control my past. I’ve just got to enjoy what I face right now.”

Ben Golliver of CBSSports.com on Team USA’s game: “Was this the beginning of a global revenge tour for the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar? Durant simply couldn’t miss on Thursday night, dropping in five of his six 3-point attempts, making the international 3-point line look like an effortless mid-range jumper time and again. Remember, Durant’s Thunder lost in the NBA Finals only weeks before USA camp opened, so the loss is obviously still lingering. He simply looked like a man on a mission from the moment he stepped onto the court, shooting without a second thought and making a number of nifty moves to send the Dominican defenders reeling. While starting designation really doesn’t mean all that much in this setting, Durant really should be starting.” Keep Reading…