Monday Bolts – 1.10.11
Darnell Mayberry is ready to ask the question — Is Jeff Green killing the Thunder at power forward?: “If Green wants to remain with the Thunder, everything will work itself out, whether Green accepts a reduction in minutes or a move to the bench. For now, the Thunder continues rolling merrily along toward a second consecutive 50-win season. And that’s satisfactory for the next 44 games. But at some point this summer, the Thunder must answer two burning questions. What is Jeff Green? And what is he to this team as it continues to evolve?”
48 Minutes of Hell looks at why can’t other teams find a Gary Neal: “So to answer Young’s question, it is a sort of mystique. But one that has more to do with the players they are playing with rather than the name on their jersey. All that needs to be known is when Popovich inserts a player that has fans scrambling for wikipedia or media guides into a clutch situation, you might not know his name, but you should already know the results.”
I love how the lede of this story has Kevin Durant in it with Kobe and LeBron.
Big important news: Bill Simmons said “Thunder” in his recent podcast. I KNOW. SO HUGE. (At about the 11 minute mark)
Where does the Thunder’s bench rank?
I really, really wish Carmelo Anthony would just get freaking traded. I love that former Thunder great Johan Petro is one of the things hanging up the deal.
Power rankings from NBA.com: “In the first 72 minutes of their three games this week, the Thunder allowed their opponents to shoot 54 percent. In the last 72, they allowed them to shoot 40 percent. Apparently, Scott Brooks’ halftime speech in Dallas was so good, it lasted an extra game.” That’s a pretty great stat.
Some examples of why it’s not always smart to go and blow whatever cap money you’ve got.
Anderson Varejao is out for the season. The talk of Oklahoma City being interested in him certainly had some legs to it, but it was never at the point of serious. Now, it’s obviously off. Kind of a bummer.
From Elias: Kevin Durant scored 40 points, including an NBA career-high 28 in the second half, in the Thunder’s 109-100 win over the Grizzlies. Durant had twice previously scored 27 points in a half (against the Warriors in 2008 and against the Kings in 2009). The NBA’s season high for points in a second half is 31 by Utah’s Paul Millsap in an overtime win at Miami on November 9.
