Thursday Bolts – 7.28.11
J.A. Adande of ESPN.com on James Harden: “Does any team need the 2011-12 NBA season to happen more than the Oklahoma City Thunder? If this year gets lost it would be like the projector breaking during the hotel sequence in “Inception” — there’s still another level to go. That’s all I could think about while watching James Harden play in the Real Run earlier this week. Harden’s creamsicle-orange Nikes were the only familiar aspect of his attire; nothing about that black uniform said “Thunder.” But watching Harden’s combination of deep 3s and drives to the hoop reminded me of how much fun that Thunder playoff run was, of how close they came to reaching the NBA Finals (like the Heat they won two games against the Mavericks and were within a couple minutes of winning two more).”
KD told SI that he’s 50-50 about playing overseas: “Last weekend he traveled to the Philippines with Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Derrick Rose, among others, to play in a series of exhibition games. While there, players discussed the possibility of looking overseas for work during the lockout. Like many players, Durant said it’s “50-50” that he’d play overseas, but he won’t make any decisions until at least September. “I love playing in the States,” he said. “But I want to play somewhere. If you have an opportunity to [play overseas], it’s something you have to think about.”
Chris Palmer of ESPN.com ranks Durant second behind LeBron: “Durant is the purest scorer in the league and one of its most versatile shooters. He uses an extensive repertoire of shots to score in every conceivable fashion. Just by looking at him, it’s easy to see his best attribute: those long arms. His wiry length allows him to get off that silky jumper with little fear of having it blocked. Even with a casual jump on his pull-up he can release the ball above rim height.”
Nate Tibbetts will be coaching the D-League in the Pan-Am Games: “With the 2011 Pan American Games less than three months off, USA Basketball and the NBA Development League today announced plans that call for the USA Men’s Pan American Games Team roster to be comprised of coaches and players from the NBA Development League. USA Basketball also announced that Tulsa 66ers head coach Nate Tibbetts has been selected to serve as the USA’s head coach and that 66ers assistant coach Dale Osbourne will fill one of the team’s two assistant coach positions. One additional assistant coach and the players who will contend for roster positions will be announced at a later date.”
Billy Hunter seems prepared for a lost season. But with negotiations starting next week, Ben Golliver of CBSSports.com looks at the stakes: “As we look ahead to next week’s negotiation, the critical question becomes: Will the NBA publicly budge on anything? Will we find out that the time away from the negotiating table and the dead month of news — without a free agency period — made the league come to its senses about the harm it is doing to its reputation and the future of the game? Or, will the league come back even more entrenched, feeling empowered because international clubs haven’t exactly been lining up to cherry-pick NBA stars? Hunter, and the players, seem ready for the give and take. The league, at this point, just seems happy to take. Let’s hope that finally changes, after all these years.”
Technique of the week is going straight up.
Serge Ibaka got one vote for most promising power forward on ESPN’s 5-on-5 from some guy on Facebook: “It has to be Serge “ima block ya” Ibaka! Led playoffs in total blocked shots, has good range on his jump shot, humble and team-first kind of guy, not to mention his outstanding community service work all over the world! Now that he is a Spanish citizen expect his game to evolve!”
A Thunder fan begging for the owners and players to get something resolved (some PG-13 language): “Just don’t let this season get cancelled. Don’t let this season get shortened. Let a disgruntled and oft disgusted Okie be proud of his state, his city. Let them play. David, you gotta do this man. You and the owners, do what you have to do. We need those sick nasty Westbrook to KD alley oops to feel alive. We need that taste of $1 awful keg beers in Thunder Alley. We need to see the expression on Serge Ibaka’s face when he smacks a ball out of the air like it was his red headed step kid telling him to go fuck himself. We need to see that Kendrick Perkins’ death stare that can make your head do the Scanners thing if you look for too long.”
