Friday Bolts – 1.29.16
Jeff Caplan of FoxSports.com: “Westbrook will make his fifth All-Star appearance in a couple of
weeks and his first as a starter for the Western Conference. His numbers — 24.1 points per game, 9.8 assists and 7.3 rebounds (most among guards) — suggest the fans knew what they were doing when they cast their votes. Westbrook is practically in a league of his own right now. A season with at least 24 points and nine assists has been accomplished only 14 times by four players since 1946-47. Oscar Robertson did it nine times, Jerry West and Tiny Archibald did it twice and Michael Adams snuck in there once in 1990-91. Before that was Archibald’s 1972-73 season — more than 40 years ago.”
Amin Elhassan of ESPN.com’s All-Star snub: “Not many of us had the Blazers challenging for a playoff berth after their offseason reimagining, and although they probably won’t punch a ticket to the postseason, Lillard is a big reason why they are still in the conversation at this stage. Ironically, the departure of LaMarcus Aldridge set Portland’s fate in motion, and I can’t understand how he made the team after a decent but hardly noteworthy half season.”
Steph Curry is already predicting a win over OKC.
Darnell Mayberry: “I’m not going to sit here and act like it’s a big deal that Curry is confident in his team winning. He’s supposed to be that. Too often we make too big a deal about players predicting victories or calling themselves the league’s best player. This is slightly different. This is the best player on the league’s best team completely overlooking another championship contender and callously calling out that team. It’s straight up disrespect, and in the most flippant way possible. It’s fun for the fans. It’s telling for the Thunder.”
Cameron Payne is out tonight with a concussion.
From Elias: “Excluding rookies, Kevin Durant is just the second player in NBA history to score 20 points in 30 straight games in a season after appearing in fewer than 40 games the previous season. Michael Jordan did it in 1995-96 after appearing in only 17 games in the previous season.”
Erik Horne: “With Waiters pushed into the starting lineup, the move afflicts an already limited bench. Not only did the Thunder lose its best perimeter defender in Roberson, it now faces the prospect of having to play arguably its worst. Roberson’s 97.5 defensive rating is second best on the team behind Steven Adams’ 95.7. When Roberson’s not on the floor, the Thunder’s defensive rating is 104.4, or nearly seven more points per 100 possessions. Anthony Morrow and D.J. Augustin are each skilled offensive players, but they struggle defensively. Throw in Cameron Payne’s recent concussion, and the Thunder’s bench is weakened even more.”