Wednesday Bolts – 4.2.14
Darnell Mayberry looks at the Spurs: “They have a weakness. And it’s turnovers. While it’s not a huge deficiency, turnovers have been a bit of an issue for the Spurs. They’ve finished with more turnovers than their opponent in half of their games during this streak and have ended with the same amount twice. San Antonio’s 13.9 average giveaways during the streak are actually less than the 14.3 the Spurs average on the year. So, again, it’s not a huge deficiency. But there is more. San Antonio hasn’t forced many turnovers. The Spurs are getting just 13.5 turnovers a game out of opponents, which is below average. That means if the Thunder can take care of the ball and spook the Spurs into coughing it up, OKC could have a good chance at cooling off the hottest team in basketball.”
Bradford Doolittle for ESPN the Magazine on tanking: “Fast-forward a year: It’s 2009-10, Durant’s third year, Westbrook’s second, Harden’s first. The ascendance of Durant and growth of both Westbrook and Harden leads the team to 50 wins and a second postseason appearance since 2002. In the four years since? How about a .710 winning percentage? How about four consecutive playoff appearances? How about an NBA Finals appearance with a starting five with an average age of 24.4? Simply put, losing (read: tanking) is a prelude to success.”
KD is happy the Redskins signed DeSean Jackson.
The Thunder are the fourth healthiest team in the league this season.
Zach Lowe of Grantland of Westbrook’s defense: “Westbrook’s defense has always leaned toward the hyperactive, but he’s crossed into borderline out-of-control territory at times since returning from injury. He’s leaping into passing lanes for steals he has no chance to get, jumping himself out of position before pick-and-rolls, gambling on those Rondo-style reach-around steals that leave him way behind the play, and generally hopping around like a madman. Westbrook isn’t quite a minus defender, and hyperactivity is part of what makes him a force as a help defender and nabber of surprise steals. But he has never lived up to expectations that he might become a stopper, and when he veers off the rails, he can hurt Oklahoma City. He just needs to channel the aggression in the right way, at carefully selected times.”
Some pictures from Russell Westbrook’s Why Not? bowling night.
A breakdown of the West’s playoff seeds.
Anthony Slater on a player to watch for Thunder fans in the Final Four: “For the sake of some diversity on this panel, I’ll stray away from Shabazz Napier. Give me Patric Young, the bruising power forward from Florida. He’s currently 35th on Chad Ford’s big board and should be available whenever the Thunder pick. He doesn’t project as an elite player at the next level and his offensive game is limited. But he’s a large interior body, relentless on the glass and would seem to fit into a winning culture. Maybe it’s the school, but I see him having a Udonis Haslem type career. The Thunder would gladly take that late in the first round.”
Check out Thunderbloggin, which kicked things off with a Walking Dead/Thunder survival mashup.
