Wednesday Bolts – 10.14.15
Pablo Torre of ESPN the Mag on James Harden: “She was there in grade school, when James was a little-used reserve on his AAU team. She was there at Artesia High, where coach Scott Pera resolved to optimize a chubby freshman, dangling fast food as a reward for every game with more than six free throw attempts (so at least we know whom to blame). She was there at Arizona State, where James became an All-American. She was there in Oklahoma City, where she came to enjoy her son as the NBA’s most overqualified sixth man. ‘He would never get the ball playing with Kevin [Durant] and Russell [Westbrook],’ Monja says. ‘He would always be told, We don’t want you to shine. We just want you to be a part. So now he’s in Houston. And he’s shining.'”
Austin Peters of Hardwood Paroxysm: “That being said, there will be some spillover from how Donovan played at Florida into this Thunder team. Billy’s teams always pressed on defense full court. Last season, they finished with one of the highest full court press rates in the country along with one of the highest defensive efficiency in the nation. While it is extremely rare to see a team pressure full court full time in the NBA, it isn’t crazy to think that the Thunder will continue to have the aggressive scheme that they’ve had success with in recent years past. They have length and athleticism at just about every position but center, but even Enes Kanter can be hidden by a hyperactive defense. If they can have a championship contender while fielding Kendrick Perkins at center, then I’m sure they’ll do just fine with Kanter.”
Just wanted to note it: This is some great writing from Jeff Passan.
Shaun Powell of NBA.com: “The Oklahoma City Thunder must feel lonely in the Northwest. They’re the only team not on a youth movement and realistically playing for the future. That’s not so bad; with a healthy (fingers crossed) Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the Wolves are playing for now. Meanwhile, Utah, Minnesota, Denver and the Blazers are squirreling away assets, with the Jazz leading the youth movement for now.”
Russell Westbrook on Mountain Dew.
Ramona Shelburne discusses her Thunder piece with Brian Windhorst.
Erik Horne: “The Thunder’s third preseason game was certainly harder than the others defined by double-digit leads and hyperefficient first quarters. For the first time this preseason, the Thunder looked uncomfortable in a 100-88 win at the BOK Center. Durant jumpers halfway down the cylinder rolled out to the sharpshooter’s dismay. Russell Westbrook bullet passes caromed off hands. The Mavericks won the free-throw battle. The Thunder to-do list didn’t get completely checked off after three preseason games.”
