Wednesday Bolts – 3.20.13
Darnell Mayberry: “The sounds after the game were potentially troubling. It’s uncertain because you never know who’s being truthful and who’s simply supplying cliches to get on with their evening. But three different people I questioned ha three different responses to the same questions. Durant, in my opinion, hit the nail on the head about the style of play. Sefolosha, I thought, adequately summed up the second-half offense. But Thunder coach Scott Brooks didn’t express concern over either of the two. That very well could have been a product of Brooks simply protecting his team. But then Sefolosha sort of disagreed with Durant’s assessment about the pace. It led me to wonder if these guys are all on the same page and whether they have an understanding of who they really are and what it takes to get to where they want to go. Again, three-minute interviews aren’t the end all be all. There’s a number of reasons the message might not have been the same. But it certainly raised a red flag.”
ESPN Stats and Info: “The Thunder isn’t the best team in its own conference, yet it is pushing its way towards some historical heights. They currently have a league-best +9.5 PPG differential, which would be 8th-best all-time. In fact, 8 of the other 9 teams with the highest scoring differential went on to win the title: only the ’71-72 Bucks failed to win, though the team with the highest scoring differential that season, the Lakers, did prevail.”
Are the Thunder better this year? A statistical analysis.
Aaron McGuire for the Dime: “After a 20-point thrashing in their first meeting, the Nuggets have pulled out three consecutive impressive wins against their former tormentors. They’ve beaten them twice in Denver and once in Oklahoma City, each time with increasing levels of comfort. This time, they played the most impressive game of their season to date — Oklahoma City lost the lead in the third quarter and barely challenged down the stretch. Winning a regular-season series against a bitter rival that’s dominated you in recent seasons is hardly the same as winning a playoff series, but it’s a welcome jolt of confidence all the same.”
This Chris Paul flop is hilarious.
Roundball Mining Company: “The Denver Nuggets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on the second night of a back-to-back after a very exhausting overtime game in Chicago, and extended their win streak to a franchise record 13. Against odds that were dauntingly stacked against them, they got the job done. Mentally the Nuggets were in this game from buzzer to buzzer, not intimidated in any way, clearly confident they can not only hang with but beat the best of them. They were completely prepared to win this game, and they executed. This is just one of those cases where nitpicking rotations, time outs, inbound plays and the like just gets outshined by the results.In looking at the box score, it almost might be inferred that Karl’s game plan was essentially to let Durant and Westbrook get theirs but put a stranglehold on the production of the rest of the team.”
Denver Stiffs: “No one particular Thunder played poorly, but the Thunder starting point guard Westbrook – because we collectively hate him – gets the Stiff of the Game for not delivering a home victory against a team playing the second of a back-to-back with a sick point guard and a 37 year old back up point guard, no less. Suck it, Westbrook!”
Perk tweets: “Blame perk right. It’s all good bro”
