Monday Bolts – 2.23.15
Andrew Gilman of Fox Sports Southwest: “If not for the hand of Kendrick Perkins, Russell Wesbtrook would be the leading candidate for MVP this season. So much to consider this season where the Thunder started 3-12, have had Kevin Durant in just 27 games and have turned over their roster on regular occasion. But consider this: Westbrook’s play – with and without Durant – is why the Thunder are in position to be the best team in the NBA threading into March, April and the NBA playoffs.”
Darnell Mayberry: “A fabulous first quarter was quickly coming undone. Six empty possessions, marred by four missed shots and two turnovers, to start the second quarter were all Scotty Brooks needed to see. All the momentum the Thunder had constructed in closing the opening period on a 24-6 run was being squandered before his eyes. An 18-point lead had been trimmed to 12. And so Brooks did what any sensible coach would do. He reinserted Russell Westbrook. And Westbrook proceeded to do what he’ll need to do for at least the next week while Kevin Durant recovers from a second surgery on his troublesome right foot. He dominated play.”
Reggie Jackson threw up on the court in his debut.
Berry Tramel: “The hapless Denvers had to be thinking, who are these guys? Sorry, we don’t know. Not yet, anyway. But this much we do know. They’re looking good. The Thunder’s peculiar season continues. Extreme Makeover: Thunder edition. Kevin Durant is laid up again, cut on to fix soreness in his foot, but in the two most recent games, without Durant and with four newcomers traded in from Salt Lake and Detroit, the Thunder has prospered.”
Anthony Slater on Enes Kanter: “But, clearly, this newfound joy goes a bit deeper for Kanter. In the past few weeks, much like the Reggie Jackson situation in Oklahoma City, Kanter’s relationship with Utah management grew a bit sour. The two sides handled it “cordially”, Steve Novak said. But days before Kanter and Novak were shipped together to Oklahoma City, Kanter had requested a trade. He said the “fit” wasn’t right. He forced his way out.”
Bethlehem Shoals for GQ on the trades: “Enes Kanter. D.J. Augustin. Kyle Singler. Steve Novak. While not exactly a world-ending collection of talent, these are the complementary players that the Thunder have always badly needed. Instead of trying to (literally) max out the team with another Harden, Presti filled out the roster and like that, the Thunder are deeper than they’ve ever been. Kanter is a low-post threat. Augustin is a super-sub who can score or run the offense. Singler and Novak are long-range threats. Between Durant and Westbrook, the Thunder has plenty of star power. What’s always been missing is role players to complete the team picture. Maybe it’s blind optimism but this certainly feels like a quiet revolution for OKC. They’ve got a new template in place for how it is they might make a title run. Now all they need to do is see if it works.”
Brandon Jennings nominating Westbrook for MVP.
ESPN Stats and Info: “The Elias Sports Bureau notes that Westbrook is the second player in NBA history to have at least 20 points, 15 assists and five rebounds in a game in which he played less than 30 minutes. The other is Magic Johnson, who did it twice — once in 1984 against the Sacramento Kings and once in 1989 against the Indiana Pacers.”
