Monday Bolts – 5.20.13
Jonathan Tjarks of Real GM says fire Scott Brooks: “Replacing Brooks after a 60-win regular season might seem rash and unfair, but it would hardly be unprecedented. The Pistons fired Rick Carlisle in 2003, the Bulls let go of Doug Collins in 1989 and the Lakers removed Paul Westhead in 1982. For a coach, growing a young team takes a different skill-set than getting a team through the playoff gauntlet. Sometimes, a front office has to take a PR hit for the long-term good of the franchise. The Thunder made a business decision and parted ways with Harden nine months ago. Now, they need to be just as cold-blooded with Brooks.”
Berry Tramel: “Meet the new sixth man of Thunderland. Fellow by the name of Jackson. Reggie Jackson. Meet your new sharpshooter off the bench, Boomtown. Lamb. Jeremy Lamb. Remember when Sam Presti made all those deals, some in Seattle, some in OKC, to clear galaxies of payroll space for some future day when Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green and James Harden and Serge Ibaka would come of age? That day has come.”
Darnell Mayberry: “Successful regular season. Five days after trading James Harden, the Thunder embarked on a regular season that ended with the franchise earning its third straight Northwest Division crown, its first 60-win campaign in the OKC era and the top seed in the Western Conference. Add to that, individual improvements were made from nearly everyone on the roster. You can’t ask for any more than what the Thunder did in the regular season. As for the postseason, all bets were off once Russell Westbrook went down.”
David Thorpe ranks KD fifth for postseason MVP: “It’s easy to say that Durant missed Westbrook. What player wouldn’t miss All-NBA production at point guard? But without Westbrook, the team also lacked fire, passion, purpose and someone who could always generate a fast-paced game. The Thunder were ultracompetitive in every loss (except Game 5), thanks to Durant’s heroics. But Durant’s “ice” was not as effective without Westbrook’s “fire.” Still, OKC won 60 games in the regular season and played Memphis incredibly tight without its star guard — great signs that the Thunder will be very strong again next season. However, Durant must learn to take the final step from astounding talent to someone capable of making all the right plays to help his team win a title if he wants to approach LeBron’s claim as the world’s best player.”
Anthony Slater says Russell Westbrook is a 2o12-13 season winner: “Anyone doubting Westbrook’s importance to the Thunder’s success any more? *Crickets*. Over the past couple seasons, as a talented scoring machine who never seems to tire, Westbrook made a strong push toward etching his name among the league’s elite. But, ironically, his sudden absence from the court, for the first time since grade school, may have strengthened that case. He’s a top-10, likely top-5 talent and one of the NBA’s most indispensable players. You can use this past month as evidence.”
Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com on Seattle: “There was a small victory for Seattle basketball fans (including me) Wednesday night. The town’s resident NBA team, whatever opponent is playing the Oklahoma City Thunder (in this case the Memphis Grizzlies), knocked the Thunder out of the playoffs. But that was barely consolation for the day’s crushing news. When the NBA’s Board of Governors voted down the proposal by a group of local businessmen to buy the Sacramento Kings and move them to Seattle as the Sonics, it ensured Seattle will be without NBA basketball for at least a sixth season — with no guarantees that will change any time soon.”