Thursday Bolts – 2.20.14
Sam Amick of USA Today: “So why am I here, again? Other than the chance to try out Kevin Durant’s new Southern Cuisine restaurant, of course (pork ribs highly recommended). By the sound of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Durant, the front-runner for the NBA MVP, Thursday’s rematch against reigning MVP LeBron James and his two-time defending champion Miami Heat is overhyped and unimportant. And by the way Thunder coach Scott Brooks talked about the expected return of his All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, who hasn’t played since Christmas Day because of knee surgery, he may not play at all and perhaps spend his time ordering said ribs from the locker room to pass the time. Nothing to see here, it seems. Except for everything.”
Per Marc Berman of the NY Post: “According to a source, Oklahoma City has expressed interest in both Shumpert and rookie Tim Hardaway Jr., though the latter is viewed currently as a virtual untouchable.”
Kevin Durant on the trade deadline: “I don’t think anyone in this group is on the trade wire,” Durant said. “I hope not.”
KD said he was just joking about “The Servant” nickname.
Serge Ibaka comes to the aid of a fallen biker in OKC.
John Hoover of the Tulsa World: “These days, bringing back Russell Westbrook at any time seems like a scary proposition. The fear lies in a simple question: Is he ready. Really ready this time? Is his knee healed? Is there any danger of another relapse? But bringing him back Thursday against the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat carries with it a special kind of dread — and not the obvious one, the one that suggests Westbrook’s re-return should come against some lesser NBA team, a junior varsity warmup. No, the fear in bringing back Westbrook now, against the Heat, is more esoteric than just a fear of reinjury. What does Westbrook’s return to the lineup do to the team chemistry, and how long does that reintegration period last?”