Monday Bolts – 10.24.16
What can Russ do? ESPN Stats and Info: “Twenty-five field goal attempts per game? In games
without Durant during the past two seasons, Westbrook averaged 23.9 field goal attempts per game. No player has averaged 25.0 field goal attempts per game in a season since Bryant (27.2) and Allen Iverson (25.3) in 2005-06. Tiny Archibald is the only point guard in NBA history to average 25.0 shots per game in a season. He took 26.3 shots per game in 1972-73.”
Keith Pompey of Philly.com: “Embiid isn’t talking about turning Wednesday’s season opener against the Thunder into a no-holds-barred affair at the Wells Fargo Center. Embiid just knows that Adams is a strong and physical post player. The 7-foot-2, 276-pounder is going to try to use his quickness against the fourth-year veteran. But Adams is much more than a brute who gets under opponents’ skin. Lately, he has been Oklahoma’s most impressive player not named Russell Westbrook. An improved shooter, Adams scored 17 points on 8-for-12 shooting in OKC’s final preseason matchup on Tuesday. The New Zealand native made his first five shots, three with his new, hybrid, one-handed floater.”
ESPN Insider has OKC at 45.7 wins. 538 projects OKC with 50.
Erik Horne: “While Thunder coach Billy Donovan said that evaluation will continue throughout the season, it can still capitalize on the most advantageous 20-game starting stretch in the Western Conference. Of the Thunder’s first 20 games, 12 are at home, the most among Western Conference teams. In its first 20 games, Golden State and Minnesota each play a conference-high 11 games against teams who had sub-.500 records last season. The Thunder and Memphis are next in the West with 10. From Nov. 5 to Nov. 20, the Thunder plays eight out of nine games at home. The only road game is against Detroit, which won’t have point guard Reggie Jackson (knee tendonitis). In a conference that figures to have Golden State at the top and tightly-contested battles for playoff seeding below, Oct. 26 to Nov. 30 could prove critical.”
Brett Dawson: “With Monday’s 4 p.m. deadline fast approaching for NBA teams to trim rosters to 15 players — the Thunder had 19 as of Sunday afternoon — McGary should know more soon. With McGary’s injury history and a looming suspension, the Thunder likely found it difficult to find a suitable trade. The skilled 6-foot-10, 255-pounder being waived seems imminent, in which the Thunder would be responsible for the remainder of his salary (minus the time served for the suspension. The league would reimburse the Thunder for those 15 games).”
Matt Moore of CBSSports.com ranks OKC 13th: “Russell Westbrook will be the most interesting individual story in the NBA this season, but preseason has been a nice reminder that they have guys like Steven Adams, Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. There’s a real team here — if they can recover from the heart ache.”
