Friday Bolts – 5.21.10

KD finished runner-up to LeBron in Sporting News’ Player of the Year: “Cavaliers forward LeBron James was easily the league’s most dominating player during the 2009-10 season, so it was no surprise he also dominated the player of the year tally, finishing with 148 votes from NBA players, 82 more than No. 2 Kevin Durant.”

Nike seriously puts out the absolute best ads in the world. Like I said on Twitter yesterday, if Nike had a 30-minute show of just ads, I’d watch it religiously. The new Write the Future ad should be nominated for Best Picture next year. It tells a story with a deep plot in just three minutes. And I don’t really even like soccer.

If you choose to buy this shirt over our new Air Congo design, you’re no longer my Internet friend.

A mock draft from the KC Star: “Larry Sanders (VCU), Power Forward – The Thunder are very skilled on the wings and in the backcourt so they will be looking for another big body. Sanders has the length to be a help on the defensive end and the boards.”

I’m just getting this out there now and will expound on it more later: I think Andy Rautins would be a tremendous fit for the Thunder, especially as a second round guy: “The big question for Rautins is what his natural position will be at the next level. At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds he appears to be a classic tweener, which has NBA player personnel people questioning whether he can ever truly thrive at either the point or the two-guard spot.”

Some notes from Day 1 of the NBA Combine: “Yesterday DeMarcus was surrounded by all of the media in attendance, and one of the first questions asked was about his reputation and temper, and in almost comical fashion he not only proved the rumors to be true with his answers – think Rasheed Wallace on his worst day. DeMarcus created enough of a stir that his fellow Kentucky teammates ultimately were asked about playing with him and their answers were not flattering.”

Daryl Morey was fined by the league for something he said on the BS Report: “Rockets GM Daryl Morey and his team were fined undisclosed amounts in February after Morey made comments on collective bargaining on the podcast of ESPN.com writer Bill Simmons, the NBA has confirmed. The New York Daily News’ Frank Isola first published news of the fine this week. Isola reported the fine was for $100,000, and discussed it in relation to Knicks GM Donnie Walsh’s avoidance of potential tampering.”

Some are handing John Wall the Rookie of the Year already. Austin Burton of Dime says not so fast my friend: “We know this much: Griffin is without question the most talented big man in the rookie class, and probably the most talented player overall. Griffin, Wall, and Evan Turner are the only three rookies who could be immediately crowned their team’s No. 1 guy, but Griffin has the best supporting cast around him. He’s my early pick for Rookie of the Year.”

A pretty neat campaign to keep LeBron in Cleveland.

The Thunder’s official site has started a neat series looking at die-hard, regular Thunder fans. Well, not all are regular, seeing as the first one is Bill Clinton.