Thursday Bolts – 12.5.13
Anthony Slater: “Entering the season, there was an understandable concern regarding Jeremy Lamb’s efficiency. In brief stretches last year, he shot 35 percent. And in the preseason, that number dipped even lower. So smart money suggested that Lamb was destined to be a high-volume scorer in the making, needing plenty of shots to pile up substantial points. But 17 games in, it hasn’t been that way. Lamb is shooting a respectable 46 percent overall and 40 percent from three. And lately, he’s been even more impressive, making 54 percent of his shots (37-of-68) over the past eight games.”
Ben Golliver of Blazersedge: “Stotts and his players weren’t sold on the notion that the angry outburst turned things, and indeed the Thunder were in position to potentially win until the very end, thanks to Durant and 20 combined points from Jeremy Lamb and Reggie Jackson off the bench. If the technical foul wasn’t a fulcrum, it was a jolt, at the very least. The Blazers committed just four turnovers in the second half (after committing seven in the first half) and allowed just five second-chance points (after conceding 15 in the first half). Portland shot 50 percent in the second half after shooting 40 percent in the first half.”
Phantom cam of KD’s and-1 dunk.
Sam Amick of USA Today: “Westbrook had, in some weird way, spoiled the public with his presence since coming into widespread hoops consciousness. Before going down in Game 2 of the first round against the Houston Rockets, he had enjoyed an incredible run of health that spanned his high school days in Los Angeles County, his two seasons at UCLA and the first five seasons of his pro career. That’s 394 out of 394 possible regular season games, and 45 out of a possible 45 games in the playoffs. When Westbrook was no longer there, the Thunder – who were already adjusting to life without James Harden after he was traded to the Rockets at the start of last season – no longer looked like a team to be reckoned with at the highest levels.”
Ballerball on Batman and Robin.
Tom Ley of Deadspin: “There goes Serge Ibaka soaring in from the weak side to swat away a lay up; there’s Russell Westbrook pushing the ball up the court with one quick dribble before unleashing a bullet pass toward a streaking Kevin Durant; and then there’s Durant, catching the ball with one hand, launching himself toward the rim for a dunk, and absorbing the foul all in one motion. How silly is it that one of the league’s best shooters is also a freaking warhead on the fast break? Pretty cool basketball team you’ve got there, Oklahoma City.”
