Monday Bolts – 1.9.12
Unsettling tweet from Mark Rodgers of the Sports Animal: “One early season thought. Becoming readily apparent that a decision looms for Thunder mgmt between Westbrook and Harden.”
Darnell Mayberry: “I’m wondering if Westbrook is ever going to get back to the level we saw last season. He had 13 points on 13 shots tonight and finished with just five assists in 24 minutes. We’re 10 games in and Russ has only had about two really good games. At what point does this become an issue? (Note: I’m not saying it should be. I’m simply asking the question. Because, clearly, he’s not the same player.)”
Mayberry on Reggie Jackson: “With Keefe, Jackson has undergone rigorous sessions of shooting and conditioning, as well as simulating a transition game and the team’s sets on offense. During games, to most of which he’s had a front-row seat, Jackson said he challenged himself mentally. He thought about things like the clock situation and point differential, who’s hot and who’s not and timeouts and fouls.”
The Czar breaks down the Thunder.
My column for CBSSports.com on the Thunder’s mental toughness following their win over the Spurs.
Berry Tramel: “This was an interesting intersection of the season. The finale of the Thunder’s only back-to-back-to-back assignment, coupled with the first game since the news that Maynor is gone for the season. The Thunder responded well, against the venerable Spurs. In the 8-2 Boomers’ only two losses, they’ve been scoring deficient past the big three: only six players total scored at Dallas; only Durant, Harden and Westbrook reached double digits against Portland.”
Did you know, the Thunder and Wizards are about the same age?
Marc Stein’s power rankings have OKC three: “Six teams have had a back-to-back-to-back set already, and all six, bizarrely, won the third game after teams went 28-36 in that situation during Lockout 1999. Only OKC, though, went a perfect 3-0 … despite losing Eric Maynor for the season in the middle of it.”
From Elias: “The Thunder posted its third win in as many days, defeating the Spurs, 108-96. The last time an NBA team won three games in three days was 1999 — not coincidentally, the last time the league played a tightened schedule following a lockout. There were eight such instances of 3-for-3 in the shortened 1999 season. For the record, it was done somewhat regularly over the NBA’s first 40 years of operation. But with the exception of last night and the 1999 season, the last team to win three games in three days was the Lakers in February 1985.”
48 Minutes of Hell broke down last night’s game.
A week from today, Thunder watch party at Brix in Bricktown. Be there.