Monday Bolts – 6.2.14
Amin Elhassan of ESPN Insider on the ideal roster for OKC: “I’ve chosen a more conservative route to retooling the Thunder, especially in light of my decision to amnesty Perkins. Although the payroll is extremely low at about $64 million, there’s still another $9.4 million in cash going to Perkins’ checking account. This still gives Oklahoma City considerable flexibility in terms of spending for wing defenders Rush and Sefolosha, or spending more for a Luol Deng perhaps. Adreian Payne as the 21st overall pick (owed to OKC by Dallas) would be a nice addition as a backup 4/5 who can shoot the ball from distance and rebound as well.”
Ethan Strauss of ESPN.com: “Perhaps it’s unfair to compare a guy to LeBron James, and the Thunder are the envy of the league for having a younger player who’s at least comparable. Durant might very well be at the point LeBron was after the 2011 Finals. He’s a brilliant player, blessed with gifts you rarely see in a lifetime. He just hasn’t yet honed those gifts to the point of having a solid counter to whatever defense comes his way. I, for one, will enjoy the process of seeing him get there.”
Shameless re-plug of my ESPN.com postgame thing from Game 6.
Another: I put together as exhaustive a list as I could to recap the Thunder’s stupidly crazy postseason. And watch the TrueHoop TV with it!
Great stat via Marc Stein: “Most playoff games for trio of NBA players under 26: 61 for OKC’s Durant/Westbrook/Ibaka. Next in line: Boston’s Rondo, Perk and Baby at 54.”
Sorry about the brevity, but the wifi at the practice facility is ridiculously horrible.
