Wednesday Bolts – 8.29.12
Matt Moore of CBSSports.com on OKC’s offseason: “Re-signed Serge Ibaka on a bargain. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook got better. Drafted Perry Jones III on a steal late in the first-round. What else do you want? The NBA title? Well, that’s going to have to wait.”
Zach Lowe of SI.com on Kobe fitting in with the new Lakers: “But a lot of those plays, especially the isolation attacks, have a lower general efficiency than catch-and-shoot chances, shots off cuts and other spot-up looks. Even an efficient isolation player costs his team slices of points in the long run by overdoing the one-on-one stuff at the expense of better actions, particularly when the shot clock allows for those actions. Toss away enough slices, and you’re down 3-2 to Oklahoma City.”
Five players that should host SNL. What, no Serge Ibaka?
David Thorpe of ESPN.com on the Nuggets matching up with OKC: “With Iguodala, Corey Brewer, and Andre Miller, Denver has the horses to run fast while not sacrificing size, something that could pose a problem for a team like the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder like to go small with Kevin Durant at the power forward spot, so Denver can counter by playing zone and likely not get hammered on the glass — always a challenge when playing zone.”
Russell Westbrook on ESPN Radio. Interesting note: Westbrook says he almost ended up at Arizona State, playing with James Harden. Also, Westbrook managed to say “definitely” four consecutive times at one point.
Police recovered $20,000 in stolen stuff, which included an autographed KD jersey.
Sekou Smith of NBA.com on the Orlando pipe dream: “That doesn’t mean that Magic fans should spend the next couple of years pining away for Durant or any other superstar who might be available in free agency in 2014 … 2015 … or 2016 (which is already being dubbed the “Summer of Durant”). Wishful thinking like that won’t help the Magic in the meantime. It’ll only serve to make these rebuilding years even more painful, especially when the magic trick ends and they realize that it was all make-believe anyway.”
Hey, Danny Green still thinks OKC’s the favorite: “Green believes that this year the San Antonio Spurs will be better than in 2011 and will be contenders for the championship, but says Oklahoma is a big favorite over Los Angeles Lakers. Green noted that the Lakers have made a great team in the offseason, but still have to see them on the court.”
