Tuesday Bolts – 3.10.15
Rob Mahoney of SI.com on Westbrook: “For too long, every Westbrook shot attempt has been regarded as one that Durant could have taken. Hopefully the evidence of this past month and a complete, brilliant season in all help to show the error of that characterization. Balance between the two stars is crucial, but Westbrook is an offense unto himself. He leads the league in per-game scoring and assist percentage, doing everything for the Thunder not only because he can but because he should. Some calibration will be in order once Durant returns for the stretch run. Yet in a broader sense, Westbrook and his evident greatness are immutable. His approach might tweak or turn slightly, but there’s no stepping back from his success at full blast.”
Berry Tramel on the schedule: “A standard way to look at schedule is this. A team the caliber of the Thunder should win every home game against losing teams, at least three fourths of its home games against winning teams, at least half its road games against losing teams and at least a quarter of its road games against winning teams. If the Thunder follows that standard, it should finish no worse than 13-6, which would give OKC a final record of 48-34. If New Orleans follows that standard, 11-8 seems likely, which would put the Pelicans at 45-37.”
Joey Conger of WTLC is scouting OKC’s D-League players: “As an absolute ceiling, I’d say Josh Huestis could become Ron Artest, formerly Metta World Peace, now Panda’s Friend. He has the size and length to be a versatile defender. At his peak, Artest was a guy that could guard four positions and give you 15 on the other end. If everything, and I mean EVERYTHING works out right, that could be Huestis. As a more likely comparison, I’d say, the one and only, master of pump fakes, Thabo Sefolosha. If Thabo put on about 20 pounds, and Huestis developed a shot, then lost it, then got it back, they’d be twins. Both are good defenders, however, I do think Huestis can be more versatile, only because he can guard fours.”
The DT comment section has a fun podcast going.
Anthony Slater: “For the Thunder to reach its full potential and possibly win a title, Kevin Durant must be healthy. That’s not breaking news. But for fans of Westbrook’s wildly productive 40-11-11 type nights – which he averaged this past week – KD in a suit is a benefit to the cause. Without Durant, Westbrook’s usage understandably skyrockets. This season, he has averaged 24.4 shots per game with Durant out of the lineup and only 19 with him in it. Seven of his eight 30-plus attempt nights have come without KD. Durant needs shots, gets assists and grabs a lot of rebounds. Without him, Westbrook shoulders a heavier load in nearly every facet of the game. That shows up in the numbers.”
