Thursday Bolts – 12.1.11
LeBron’s team topped KD’s in flag football 70-63 in last night’s game. KD’s team came back from a 21-point deficit to tie it at 63-63, which was sparked by a 108-yard interception for a TD by Durant, but it wasn’t enough. Big winner though: Everybody’s ACLs — no injuries. Phew. (If you want to watch the whole thing, it’s right here.)
John Hollinger and Chad Ford break down the long-term impact of the new CBA for OKC: “It just got a lot harder to keep Serge Ibaka two years from now, since the price on the max deals for Durant and Westbrook just went up and I’m guessing Harden will be the first priority from the 2009 class. While revenue sharing will help a bit, it’s hard to imagine this small-market franchise retaining four players with $10 million-plus contracts and a fifth (Kendrick Perkins) not too far away.”
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports says the Thunder didn’t work on a buyout for Nate Robinson: “The Thunder didn’t discuss a contract buyout with Nate Robinson on Wednesday, but he desperately wants to get out of the final year of his deal, a league source said. He’s just not going to play much for the Thunder. Orlando could be a landing spot for Robinson, should he become a free agent.”
Kevin Arnovitz of TrueHoop with tips for enjoying the full NBA experience: “Before you leave the house, declare it — best throwback jersey in the crowd, least tolerable song most likely to be played during a timeout, over-unders on number of blocked shots by players under 6-foot-5 and player on the floor most likely to win a gauntlet match. These diversions come in particularly handy if you’re staring at a 24-point game midway through the third quarter.”
Quality post from J.A. Sherman of Welcome to Loud City on the Parker-Westbrook stuff: “The last element that underscores the difference between Parker and Westbrook is what I call the “in-between game.” Parker has never been a dead-eye outside shooter in the way that Steve Nash is, but over time he developed both a medium-range game and a teardrop shot that he can make with regularity. This in-between game enables Parker to put defenses completely on their heels, because if they play his drive, he can pull up and make the 12 footer. If they crowd Parker out high, he will drive past them with ease.”
KD on losing last night: “Damn I’m so mad we lost to @KingJames team in flag football, we fought back hard but couldn’t get the win! Had so much fun tho.”
J.A. Adande on revenue sharing: “Small-market teams are worried about getting dragged into higher payrolls by the large markets. When the Lakers or Celtics sign mammoth local television contracts it drives up the basketball related income for the entire league, which increases the salary cap. And with the new agreement calling for all teams to spend at least 85 percent of the cap in the first two years and 90 percent afterward, the small markets fear their payroll will rise at a faster rate than their income.”
Brian Windhorst on the flag football game: “There are plenty of positives coming out of the NBA lockout ending. Here’s another one: it’ll reduce LeBron James and Kevin Durant’s free time. Spurred by boredom and quite clearly a longing for competition, Durant and James staged perhaps the lockout’s most over-the-top sideshow Wednesday night. It was a flag football game, theoretically. But really it was sort of the super bowl of flag football complete with enough organization, equipment and production to make it an event worth remembering for its logistical complexity as much as the actual contest itself.”