Thursday Bolts – 3.14.13
Darnell Mayberry: “Durant just didn’t look into it tonight. If anyone deserves a pass it’s Durant. But he wasn’t available to the media at shoot-around this morning for unknown reasons — he asked off — or prior to the game. Then he came out and looked lethargic from the start, almost like he didn’t want to be here. Again, if I’d played my tail off for 64 games I would be mentally, physically and emotionally spent as well. But when Durant checked out of the game for the first time with 4:45 left in the first period, he sauntered to the bench, sulking almost. When Sefolosha drilled a 3 moments later, Durant, typically the captain of the cheerleaders on the bench, barely budged. Something just wasn’t right with him in this one.”
SLC Dunk: “While the Thunder should be credited for good defense, Utah simply seemed off their game nearly all night: Hayward airballed two shots (though finished with 20 points), Al Jefferson was only 4/13, Millsap finished 1-5 (albeit went 5-8 from the free throw line), Mo Williams shot 2-7 and had 4 turnovers. The Thunder also deserve some credit for fighting through the early offensive struggles by Kevin Durant, who had 6 TOs by the end of the half.”
The Utah Jazz visited the Memorial yesterday.
From Elias: “The Jazz’ five starters, Paul Millsap, DeMarre Carroll, Al Jefferson, Randy Foye and Mo Williams, combined to score just 26 points in Utah’s loss to the Thunder on Wednesday night. That ties the second fewest points scored by a starting lineup this season. Washington’s starting unit scored 24 points against Boston on November 3rd and Phoenix’ starters combined for 26 points against Oklahoma City on February 10. Prior to Wednesday, the last time Utah got as few as 26 points from its starting lineup in a game was on March 14, 2006, when Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, Jarron Collins, Deron Williams and Milt Palacio combined for 26 against Miami.”
Ronnie Brewer on his situation: “Obviously he (head coach Scott Brooks) has been doing something right. I mean, this team is a phenomenal team,” Brewer told The Oklahoman. “Different guys step up every night to play well other than KD (Kevin Durant) and Russ (Russell Westbrook). When the time comes I just got to be ready. I don’t let it get me down. If I don’t play, you can do other things. You can cheer your teammates on.”
Cole Aldrich did things last night for the Kings.
Hey, Chad Ford’s big board is actually relevant to the Thunder this year.
Andrew Gilman for Fox Sports Southwest: “We’ve never seen Kevin Durant like this. For that matter, I bet Kevin Durant has never seen Kevin Durant like this before. While Thunder higher-ups insisted Durant wasn’t sick or hurt, and Durant said the same, it sure looked like he was one or the other, or both, Wednesday night inside Chesapeake Energy Arena. Sluggish and disengaged. Noticeably struggling and frustrated. Worse than a teenager on a Monday morning.”