Thursday Bolts – 3.1.12
Via Blazersedge, Blazer president Larry Miller: “We beat OKC twice, really. The second time we got robbed by the refs… I look at that as a win. OKC I’m sure would be a little nervous about seeing us in the playoffs if our guys are playing the way we have played.”
Skip Bayless: “Thunder survive in Philly b/c 1) locked down on D 2) Westbrook quit gunning, KD & Harden took over in 4th. Still, “PG” 2 more shots than KD.” Of note: Since he started complaining about this after every game, OKC is 6-0.
Cousin Sal likes the Thunder to go to The Finals.
Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com in a 5-on-5 on if OKC could beat Miami: “Could they? Sure, but I don’t make that bet until the Thunder can demonstrate a consistent ability to defend in transition — a shortcoming that would eat them alive during two weeks of basketball against Miami. The clear winner in a seven-game series between the Thunder and Heat — Joe Viewer.”
Reggie Jackson tweeting after last night’s game: “I love critics n haters. Brings a smile to my face.”
One of Ellen’s writers went to All-Star Weekend and tried to box out KD.
Darnell Mayberry on last night: “The way Westbrook started the game offensively was a thing of beauty, too. He was ultra-aggressive and got to the rim at will against fellow UCLA Bruin Jrue Holiday. In truth, neither could guard the other. But on this night, Westbrook won the battle and the war. Russ hit one pull-up jumper in the first half that maybe two other players on the planet could make — Ty Lawson and Derrick Rose, because those are the only two players I can think of that could go as fast as Westbrook was going, stop on a dime and rise for a rhythmic jumper.”
Serge Ibaka is looking for the ultimate baller.
Evan Turner on his altercation with KD: “He threw a hissy fit. He said some words. I said some words. [Not] anything to go nuts about.”
Matt Moore of CBSSports gave OKC a B for its offensive rebounding: “They only pull in a B because the Sixers simply don’t have a good team to control the glass with, especially against the athletic riot the Thunder employ, but Russell Westbrook did some downright incredible things in tracking down misses, both his and others’. The Thunder ground the Sixers into dirt late in this game when the Sixers were in a great position to steal it. It’s the kind of game they would have lost last year, albeit only by a handful of points. This time they won it in emphatic fashion, and their ability to create extra possessions and frustrate the Sixers was a big reason why.”
From Elias: “Kevin Durant ended February with an average of 29.1 points per game and Russell Westbrook averaged 26.3 points per game. Over the last 25 years, only two other pairs of teammates each played at least 15 games in one month while averaging at least 26 points per game: Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant did it twice (December 2000 and March 2003); and LeBron James and Dwyane Wade did it last March.”
Berry Tramel says Charles Barkley isn’t all wrong: “Another usual answer — insert Harden — helped a little. Scotty Brooks didn’t pull the trigger on Harden until 4:28 remaining in the quarter. By that time, the Thunder had scored just seven points (counting two Westbrook foul shots right after the substitution) but scored just three after Harden’s entrance. All in all, a horrible display of halfcourt offense. The Thunder will see such defense come the playoffs. From Memphis, or Dallas, or whoever. The Thunder has got to be ready to stay aggressive and stay uptempo. Or risk hearing Charles Barkley say, I told you so.”
