Friday Bolts – 2.13.15
Darnell Mayberry: “At what cost? In a whirlwind weekend laced with community appearances and media circuits, promotional events and parties, the game itself might be the least of Durant’s concerns. He’ll be on his feet all weekend, being pulled and pushed, prodded and pleaded with to attend anything and everything. As recently as Sunday, Durant was still wearing a small walking boot to alleviate pressure from his left big toe, which he sprained in the final minutes of a game at Cleveland on Jan.25. By Wednesday night, when he had shed one protective boot and one tennis shoe for two Nike slippers, Durant’s shoe selection screamed one step forward and one step back.”
Russell Westbrook to Esquire on being part of True Religion: “Actually, I think it is a perfect choice for me. My dad is a huge True Religion fan and has always worn their jeans so I grew up with the brand. Right now True Religion is the process of a brand transformation. I think a lot of people have an outdated idea of what the brand is all about and I am excited to be working with them to help change people’s minds. They are all about fearless style which is exactly who I am.”
Reggie Jackson’s name is popping up a lot in trade talks.
Steve Aschburner of NBA.com on Adam Silver: “Silver, long involved in the league’s broadcast negotiations, did right by them all again by tripling the current fees. That created one of the happiest possible problems for himself and Michele Roberts, new executive director of the National Basketball Players Association: how to phase the bonanza into the system without destroying salary structures and rosters in the short term. (The players will get every dollar of their share, approximately 51 percent of revenue, but some will come via union-approved disbursements rather than an abruptly ballooned salary cap.)”
Shoals for GQ comparing the opposites of Westbrook and Curry: 1a. Stephen Curry is a master technician. 1b. Russell Westbrook is the NBA’s Drunken Master. 2a. Curry is always in complete control. 2b. Westbrook is a gambler who does his best work on the verge of chaos. 3a. Curry only puts up shots when he knows he’s hot. 3b. Westbrook needs a few errant attempts to get himself into rhythm. 4a. In Curry’s hands, the most absurd decisions lead to smart basketball. 4b. Even in success, Westbrook’s play feels like mistakes were made. 5a. Curry intimidates simply by playing it cool. 5b. Westbrook is raw, vocal emotion asking for trouble.”
Quick thought on Durant participating at All-Star: I don’t like the question “should he play?” because that insinuates we have some kind of information about what the state of his injuries are. We don’t have the X-rays. We don’t have the MRIs. We don’t know the discomfort he’s feeling. So to ask this question acts as if we have some kind of knowledge to even answer it. Durant knows how he feels. The Thunder medical staff knows the situation. And if they’re comfortable with it, you shouldn’t even blink an eye. They wouldn’t dare risk the season. That should go without saying. But with the way things go, if Durant plays and then two weeks from now has some kind of foot setback, are you going say, “Well, it was because he played at All-Star! Had he not, he would be fine right now!” That’s just using hindsight to try and confirm something you couldn’t ever know.
