Monday Bolts – 8.22.16
Erik Horne on the Olympics: “While Abrines is a good shooter (41.7 percent 3-point percentage
for FC Barcelona last season) he was stuck behind a five-guard rotation for Spain with an average age of 30 and a combined 14 years of NBA experience. Even as the second-youngest player in the Spanish team, Abrines wasn’t completely out of coach Sergio Scariolo’s mind. Abrines was called on in the second quarter of Spain’s second game against Brazil before picking up an apparent knee injury that forced him out of the next game. After averaging 20.0 minutes per game for FC Barcelona last season, Abrines played an average of just 2.0 minutes over three games in Rio, logging four DNPs (did not play). In Oklahoma City, Abrines won’t get 20 minutes a game, but with the Thunder’s need for outside shooting, Abrines will play, health permitting.”
LeBron on KD: “I think everyone had the “wow” thing. My [reaction] was no different from the average person who doesn’t know basketball to the person who watches it or covers it every day. So, I think it’s all great for our league. Our league is very competitive. It’s continued to grow, and [NBA Commissioner] Adam Silver has done a great job of picking up where David Stern started, so it’s pretty cool.”
The Thunder signed Semaj Christon. He’ll be in the D-League most likely.
Ross Bentley of Uproxx on Russ singing in his car: “It’s entirely possible that Westbrook just loves the song, but it’s tough not to take something out of the repetitive lyrics as well. With Durant gone, there is absolutely no one to stop Westbrook from doing what he wants in OKC next season, and even though the team likely won’t contend for a championship next season, we will get to see Westbrook be able to take over as the franchise’s unquestioned leader. Just make sure you’re keeping your eyes on the road there, Russ.”
Erik Horne on Adrian Griffin: “In the eight years since, Griffin has developed a reputation as a defensive-minded coach, molded under the tutelage of Skiles and Thibodeau, as well as former Thunder assistant Ron Adams, who coached alongside Griffin in Chicago for three years. From 2009-2013, Griffin was a part of coaching staffs in Milwaukee and Chicago that never finished lower than sixth in the NBA in defensive rating (points per 100 possessions). But Griffin’s style is closer to the unassuming, reflective Adams than the intensity of Skiles and Thibodeau. Jones described Griffin as a listener. Blaney said at Seton Hall, Griffin could talk to players and give the coaches the “temperature of the team.'”
