Monday Bolts – 8.29.11
KD’s movie will be shot in Baton Rouge, not OKC, partly because of the lockout: “Because of the lockout, as well as the small window before the start of the film’s production, the studio and other deal brokers were unable to communicate directly and effectively with key Thunder sponsors to gauge whether they’d be interested in supporting the movie. “With the NBA lockout,” Simpson said, “there are so many restrictions to what the NBA will allow and won’t allow that at the last minute we found out that some of the people we brought to the table would be unable to participate.”
Rob Peterson for ESPN.com on Serge Ibaka: “As Durant and Westbrook did with Team USA in its run to the 2010 world championship, Ibaka should gain invaluable experience that could help him turn OKC’s big two into a Great Plains version of the Big Three. Which, if you think about it, is a nice summer job if you can get it.”
Darnell Mayberry writes that leaving the old practice facility is kind of sad: “Collectively, it formed the backbone of a franchise that in three years has gone from 23 to 50 to 55 victories and a Western Conference Finals appearance. After climbing each step, the Thunder showed up the next day at the same place to put in more work. It never mattered whether the milestone was the first victory in Oklahoma City, the first playoff berth, the first playoff win or the first division title. That dedication built a bond with the building.”
KD’s playing in another league vs. league game. Against LeBron, CP3 and Melo this time.
An extra bit to the 5-on-5. Me talking to myself.
Kelly Dwyer of BDL on the NBA’s PR war: “It’s on them. This is the owners’ mess. And this is the players’ duty. The percentages in their favor have to come down. They have to help buy gas, on that jet ride from Orlando to Memphis. They have to fall back. Again, this lockout is the owners’ fault. But if the NBA doesn’t play a game in November? That’s on the players. Don’t stop for a second before blaming anyone else.”
Legend vs. Star: Gervin vs. Durant.
Beckley Mason of HoopSpeak talking with Tom Ziller about relocation: “But as you may be finding out, it’s not up to you, the whipped fan. As a long-term decision, there’s no way the NBA will be a more prosperous league with a team in Oklahoma City rather than Seattle. Seattle has more, wealthier fans, a rich tradition, and me. The NBA could have bought the team to prevent it from moving, as they did in New Orleans, but my sob story is the result of a power play to inform cities that if they wouldn’t pay for stadiums in which millionaires and billionaires could make big money, teams would vanish. In that sense, perhaps it was a worthwhile business decision.”
