Wednesday Bolts – 9.16.15
Jeremy Woo of SI.com: “As for Westbrook, he hauled in a 94 player rating, one point behind Chris Paul and tied with Stephen Curry at their position. Unsurprisingly, he’s the game’s fastest player and strongest and best-dunking point guard. When he finally tests out gameplay, a room-stopping primal scream punctuates his first fast-break slam. He’s playing as himself, of course. Westbrook is all smiles as he carves up the digital Clippers. For once he seems relaxed, a critical season for Oklahoma City hiding somewhere in the back of his mind. But when asked if he always plays games as the Thunder, for a moment, the guy we’ll see in October makes an appearance. ‘100 percent,’ Westbrook says, nodding his head. ‘I don’t know, I think we’re the best team in the game. Why would I play as anybody else?'”
Dan Feldman of PBT: “But the Wizards’ success is only raising expectations at a pivotal time for the franchise, when perception – specifically Kevin Durant’s – matters. Can they keep it up? Washington has been building toward the summer of 2016, when Durant becomes an unrestricted free agent. So, next season is the last chance to leave an impression. Sure, the Wizards playing in Durant’s hometown got their foot in the door. But he won’t sign just because of that. You think LeBron James signed with the Cavaliers only because he wanted to go home? Or did ditching an aging Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for a team with Kyrie Irving the resources to land Kevin Love have something to do with it? Everything matters.”
Westbrook talking about NBA Live.
Daniel Leroux for Sporting News: “Since an actual contract amount replaces the hold, there are times when teams have a strong incentive not to sign valuable young players to extensions a year before free agency. For example, the Wizards and Bradley Beal agreeing to a contract at or close to his maximum would take almost $10 million of cap space away for their pursuit of Durant, making it that much harder to assemble a strong team around the D.C. area native.”
Harden still trying to wear Nike, but Adidas says nope.
David Aldridge of NBA.com: “The D-League’s evolution over the last decade has been profound. It is far from the repository for rehabbing players and no-hopers it was in its first few years. Development is indeed at the league’s core now, with teams like Boston, Golden State, Houston, Oklahoma City and San Antonio fully committed to collaboration with their affiliates. At the end of last season, 38 percent of players on NBA rosters had D-League experience. The need to make your own players better has never been more valued, and controlling the means to do so more important.”
