Friday Bolts – 1.30.15
I found this interesting from Kevin Arnovitz in writing about the Grizzlies: “The arrival of Jeff Green from Boston has been a catalyst for this current self-examination. When a group has been together as long as the Grizzlies’ core has, staleness can seep into the practice gym. What more can we learn about each other? After nearly five seasons, is there really any magic to getting Z-Bo the ball on the right block or finding driving lanes for Conley from the left slot? At a certain point, preparation becomes rote and a team can resemble an old married couple.”
Sean Deveney of Sporting News on Josh Huestis: “In 20 games, he is averaging 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds. Offensively, he has been focused on getting comfortable making NBA-length 3-pointers, and though he is still inconsistent with that (33.1 percent), he has improved. He is putting up 5.5 3-point attempts per game, and just 4.0 shots from inside the arc. Most important, he is making the transition on the defensive end, from power forward to small forward. The Thunder are under no illusions that Huestis will be a star, but the goal is to maximize him as a role player—again, think Sefolosha. Huestis has a 7-1 wingspan, and if he can make open threes and be a shutdown perimeter defender, he will have a place in Oklahoma City’s rotation.”
Tom Thibodeau could eventually be available hmmmm.
Dan Devine of BDL on the Durant-Knicks crap: “Maybe Durant’s growing weary of Oklahoma City’s ownership electing not to spend top dollar and exceed the luxury tax to retain talent and give the Thunder the best possible chance to win a championship. Maybe he is, as Isola suggests, beginning to grow weary of running buddy and catalyst Russell Westbrook (although every time this has been suggested in the past, Durant has instantly balked at the insinuation and reaffirmed his love for the explosive guard). Maybe he secretly longs for a more imaginative and expansive offense than the one Scott Brooks runs. Even if all those things are true, though, it’s hard to see Durant looking at his options — which, again, should be just about every team in the league — and deciding that the Knicks are the most attractive one on the table.”
One report says Scott Brooks’ job is safe.
J.A. Adande of ESPN.com on surprising All-Star picks: “We brought him up earlier, but his inclusion gets more astounding the more you think about it. He’s played at an All-Star level (25 points, 39 percent on 3-pointers), he just hasn’t played often enough to keep the Thunder among the top eight in the West. The Thunder could turn into the most disappointing story of the season, and even though it’s not Durant’s fault, he’s the main reason behind it. Not exactly a strong case for an All-Star spot.”
Zach Lowe and Jeff Van Gundy with a good Thunder discussion about 57 minutes in.
Anthony Slater: “That isn’t to say Ibaka’s been bad. He hasn’t. The big man is the only Thunder player to appear in all 46 games – a quality that’s especially important during this injury-riddled season. Among power forwards, his points (14.6) and rebounds (7.6) per game remain in the top 15. And though his best skill, shot-blocking, has declined a bit, he’s still among the league’s elite. Each of the past four seasons, Ibaka led the NBA in total blocks. This year, he’s third behind Anthony Davis and DeAndre Jordan. At $12.25 million per season, Ibaka remains a bargain in this market. But he’s not as big a bargain as he’s been in years past. And that’s the problem. A team that has come to rely on, and maybe even take for granted, Ibaka’s uber-efficiency is no longer getting it.”
