2 min read

Wednesday Bolts – 8.26.15

Wednesday Bolts – 8.26.15
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Fran Blinebury of NBA.com on his comeback player: “What could be a more impressive comeback than winning a fifth scoring title, a sixth All-NBA First Team and winning a second MVP award? A visit with Durant at the Orlando Summer League showed a man with a fire in his eyes and hunger in his voice to get back out on the court and wipe away the disappointment of last season’s foot injuries. If you thought losing in the Western Conference finals to the Spurs was hard for K.D., not even taking part in the playoffs was harder. He’ll be blazing starting on opening night.”

Lee Jenkins of SI.com with his preferred rule change: “I’m tired of watching DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard shoot free throws, talking about watching DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard shoot free throws, and listening to broadcasters talk about watching DeAndre Jordan and Dwight Howard shoot free throws. I understand why the NBA doesn’t want to change a rule to cater to a couple of guys, but those guys aren’t going anywhere, and their long walk to the charity stripe will continue to hijack otherwise wildly entertaining games. Call intentional fouls intentional, give the teams possession plus the free throws, and see more Chris Paul lobs and James Harden pull-ups.”

The Clippers got hit with a $250,000 fine.

Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider on Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s extension: “Paradoxically, each unexpectedly low deal we see gives other extension-eligible players more incentive to wait for restricted free agency. Not only have the Valanciunas and Kidd-Gilchrist deals set the market relatively low for extensions, they also reduce the number of contenders for the pile of cash teams will have available to spend next summer. Having them off the market means it’s more likely that a desperate team throws a max offer at a player like Harrison Barnes of the Golden State Warriors.”

Thunder talk on THTV.

A totally serious translation of KD comments from Jake Whitacre of Bullets Forever: “Moving all my possessions out of Oklahoma ahead of the free agency announcement will be difficult, but I’ll deal with that once I get there. My main focus and goal is to be the best player in this world or any other world so that I can reach my peak for the start of the 2016-17 season, and lead my team and have fun playing the game again in Washington. That’s really all I’m focused on. You guys have to do your job and ask those type of questions, but I’m just trying to focus on being 100 percent committed to moving all my stuff out of Oklahoma City and being the best leader that I can be at moving all my stuff out of there.”

ESPN Forecast has OKC as the top turnaround team.