Thursday Bolts: 01.16.20
Joe Mussatto (The Oklahoman) has five takeaways from the loss.
It’s astonishing how comfortable Paul George seems to be living up to his “Loose-Lipped Paul” moniker, as evidence by his latest interview with Ramona Shelburne (ESPN): “It started innocently enough, with George calling Leonard — whom he’d known since their high school days in Southern California — a few days after the Raptors won the championship. “It was congratulating him on winning,” George says. “That’s how it started … then it took on a life of its own.” Once the two Southern California boys began talking, “it just trickled from there,” George says.”
I know the cheating/loyalty trope is a tired a prism from which to view player movement, but it’s hilarious to me how the euphemistic language players use to talk about it could be lifted from an adulterer’s diary.
Toronto head coach Nick Nurse told Mussatto that he remembers his time as a USBL coach in Northern Oklahoma fondly: “I loved it. I loved my time in Enid. Mark Price Arena was fun.” Nurse was an assistant under Bryan Gates, who’s now an assistant coach with the Timberwolves. “That was a neat little setup we had,” Nurse said. “A lot of Oklahoma State guys, a lot of Oklahoma guys, and that little arena was rocking.” Nurse is in his second season as the Raptors head coach. Last season, he led Toronto to its first NBA title. “Believe it or not,” Nurse said of his time in Enid, “sometimes I recall some plays we were running from way back then.”
Erik Horne (The Athletic) on basketball and family for Danilo Gallinari: “We shoulder each other, foul each other,” Federico (Danilo’s brother) said. “No blood, no fouls. It’s good for me because in the NBA you get hit, in college you get hit.” These are the Gallinari brothers. Despite their age difference and different paths to their basketball futures, their bond has remained as strong as the days when Danilo was changing Federico’s diapers.”
Adam Zagoria (Forbes) notes that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a prominent part of Canadian basketball’s recent upswing: “Wiggins certainly was impressed by Gilgeous-Alexander after Sunday’s performance. “He’s tough. He’s very tough,” Wiggins said. “He’s a big guard that can put it on the floor and create for others, and he’s a bucket. He can make a bucket when he needs to.” The last year has seen tremendous achievements for Canadian basketball — and Canadian sports in general. In June, the Raptors won the first NBA title for a team outside the United States. One week later, a record six Canadians were selected in the NBA Draft.”
Add Luke Adams (HoopsRumors) to the number of those convinced that the Thunder will trade Justin Patton this season for tax purposes: “He’s not a difference-maker for the Thunder and wouldn’t be more than a project for any team acquiring him. However, with the Thunder approximately $922K over the tax line – per Early Bird Rights – the idea of moving Patton might appeal to the team. Trading away the 22-year-old at the deadline and then replacing him with a player on a prorated minimum-salary within the next couple weeks would allow Oklahoma City to get out of the tax for the 2019/20 season.”
Speaking of Patton, the center looked awfully overqualified for the G League when dropping 45/13/9/6 the other night:
Ahead of his return to the court, Victor Oladipo talked to Shams Charania (Stadium) about, among other things, questioning his career trajectory during his disappointing stay in OKC. Here’s the Thunder-related bit:
Is it too soon to draft Kendrick Perkins’ son?