Friday Bolts – 10.8.10

Trey Kerby of The Basketball Jones of KD’s statement about MVP: “Always on point, this guy. And he’s totally right. I’m sure it’s flattering to be called the best player in the league by the guys who make all the decisions, but when it comes down to it, big whoop. Kevin Durant knows that he’s the only one who determines how successful he is, not a bunch of dudes who have been known to make some pretty bad choices filling out a survey for a website. Of course, now that he’s mentioned how all he wants to do is get better, he’ll probably go out and win the MVP. Typical Kevin Durant.”

Neil Paine of Basketball Reference asks if you’d rather have the rest of LeBron’s or KD’s career: “Instead, they’re essentially saying that LeBron is better now, but they would prefer the total value added by the rest of Durant’s career (he’s age 22 this season) over the value from the rest of LeBron’s career (he’ll be 26 this year). Is this the rational choice? Are those extra four years going to push KD’s expected rest-of-career value over James’, or should you side with LeBron because of his superior track record thus far (and, hence, greater expected peak production)?”

Larry Brown made a statement recently calling the Thunder “poster children.” Kelly Dwyer with some thoughts: “Looks like Thunder coach Scott Brooks better watch out, because Larry Brown wants his job. Then again, he probably wants 29 other jobs, too. Just as long as nobody ever has to call him on his bluff of wanting to coach high school hoops.”

I’ve been working quite a bit on the Daily Thunder season preview stuff and I think it’s going to be pretty good. Then again, I’m biased. I think everything I do is wonderfully exquisite. Especially my cooking.

Behind the scenes at KD’s Dime photo shoot:

Shoals intersecting J.R. Smith and Kevin Durant: “Kevin Durant may not have Smith’s raw physical ability, but length can compensate for athleticism and height alike. He scored more than anyone in the league last year, but did so with exactly the formula prescribed for Smith: good threes, aggressive drives, and free throws. Smith is the worst kind of post-Jordan miscreant — looking only to bomb three and pull off highlight moves at the rim. He’s the antithesis of the so-called Right Way. And yet tweak him a little, and put a good head on his shoulders, and he’s a not-so-distant cousin of Kevin Durant, the most potent offensive force in the game, and a model of efficient production. The ability to leave defenders behind, or gasping for air in the lane, isn’t exactly set shots and post moves. When it comes to smart offense, though, it looks a heck of a lot like stupid scoring. Just, you know, smarter.”

Five questions with Elijah Millsap: “You’ve got a fan in Kevin Durant, who was very complimentary of you at training camp. He’s been helping a lot on my defense, showing me things, the little different tricks that he does on offense, how to use your shoulder, how to defend great scorers, things like that … He’s really showing us (rookies) love, making us feel welcome here. He’s been a great teammate.”

Ben Fisher of Hoops Addict previews the Thunder: “The Thunder improve simply by virtue of the growth of a talented, young core that includes Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green and James Harden to go along with Durant. They will be surrounded by a solid supporting cast of Thabo Sefolosha, Eric Maynor, Nenad Krstic, Serge Ibaka and newcomers Daequan Cook, Morris Peterson and Cole Aldrich.”