Monday Bolts – 12.19.11

It’s season preview week here at DT. You know why? Because the real season kicks off in just six days. So get ready for some stuff to read previewing the season. Hence, season preview.

Beckley Mason of HoopSpeak on how to get KD open: “The Thunder and Kevin Durant are lucky to be at a point where enormous improvements are a thing of the past–Durant led the league in scoring and the Thunder had a top 5 offense in terms of efficiency. Neither has peaked, but small refinements are what make a top 10 team or player into the best one. This is one such adjustment that can make the Thunder and Durant more complete and dangerous come playoff time.”

Perk tweet: “Our team got all the pieces nothing less than a championship or it a bust season I love my team and coaches.”

Darnell Mayberry with thoughts: “It was the halfcourt offense that was the problem for the Thunder. When OKC was able to get in transition, it was a thing of beauty. It’s amazing how good this team is on the break. Just a joy to watch. The Thunder scored 18 fast break points, converting all five of its chances. Look for that to be a theme this season. When the Thunder plays like that, OKC will be tough to beat.”

Mayberry on how Westbrook sped up OKC’s growth: “As soon as Westbrook arrived, he immediately shrunk the development time of a rebuilding Thunder franchise. Before he was taken fourth overall in the 2008 draft, the Thunder was stuck in no man’s land, a 23-win outfit that had no true escape route. Then, just like that, the franchise hit the jackpot. A once unheralded and underappreciated guard out of UCLA became the backbone of the Thunder’s transformation.”

Kurt Helin of PBT has OKC fourth in his power rankings: “This is a team that won 18 of 22 down the stretch last year and went to the Western Conference finals. Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka make them able to match up with the big front lines in the West and they have that Kevin Durant guy.”

Britt Robson of SI.com previews the Northwest: “Even if it had been a typical offseason, the Thunder would have been regarded as prime title contenders (and heavy favorites to repeat as Northwest Division champs) based on their unique blend of playoff-tested young talent and near-complete roster stability. But with the turmoil generated by the lockout and condensed free agency buffeting their most fearsome conference rivals, and with added weeks for center Kendrick Perkins to further heal his aching wheels, the path to the Finals is a little wider and brighter for stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and their versatile running mates Serge Ibaka and James Harden.”