Wednesday Bolts – 4.13.11
Doc Rivers on Kendrick Perkins: “Like I jokingly told Perk, he should renegotiate again,” Rivers said. “His value keeps increasing by each loss. It’s amazing.”
David Berri of Wages of Win on how much the Perk trade helped: “So yes, adding Perkins has helped some. But the increased time given to Ibaka – coupled with the removal of very unproductive players from the team — has been the big story in Oklahoma City. So next time someone goes on and on about Perkins in Oklahoma City, remember the name Ibaka (and also, where Green and Krstic are now sitting).”
TrueHoop is coming up with new awards and Perk was nominated for best teammate: “Mason’s candidate is Kendrick Perkins: “His departure left an entire locker-room in tears. Since he’s come to the Thunder, he’s emboldened their whole squad to be tougher, communicate more actively on defense and play an even more fearless brand of ball.”
Chris Palmer of ESPN.com: “The Denver Nuggets will upset the darlings of the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in seven games. Since the Melo trade, the Nuggets have had one of the top records in the league thanks to a versatile offense that shares the wealth and one of the league’s deepest benches. They’re an extremely well-coached defense with the league’s most underrated defender (Wilson Chandler), who’ll give Kevin Durant fits.”
Kevin Durant is seventh in jersey sales and the Thunder are sixth as a team.
Summer League has been canceled. What a bummer for Kyle Weaver.
Andrew Bynum went down last night for the Lakers. If he’s injured (MRI today), things change a lot in the West. If he’s hurt, then you DEFINITELY want that three-seed.
Britt Robson of SI grades the NBA: “Oklahoma City, like Chicago, has assembled a roster in which the roles are clear-cut, filled by a productive blend of youthful playmakers and passionate defenders. Ironically, the Thunder’s strength at the beginning of the season — the one-two punch of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook — has been complicated by Westbrook’s desire and ability to score more, while the interior defense that was a weakness in the first half is now rock solid with the addition of centers Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammed. Put another way, Durant and Westbrook are the dazzling showpieces that can excite fans and on their own make the Thunder competitive. But Perkins and the enhanced roles for power forward Serge Ibaka and sixth man James Harden fortify the foundation and make OKC formidable in the playoffs.”
A bunch of charts and graphs telling you how much better OKC is with Perk and Nazr.
John Rohde on Oklahoma City’s bench: “In terms of enthusiasm, support and entertainment value, OKC has the best bench in the NBA. It might not even be close. No team in the league celebrates each other’s success more than Thunder players. They give standing ovations for darn near every point a teammate scores. Whether you’re in uniform or street clothes, if you’re on the Thunder bench, you’re part of the party. Every timeout, those who are playing are greeted halfway to the bench by those who are not.”
