Thursday Bolts – 3.20.14
Bill Simmons on the Rockets: “They head to OKC for a message game, to play a team with only Steven Adams and Nick Collison to handle Dwight. He should foul both of those guys out in 20 minutes, right? So what happens? Dwight no-shows. Nine points, 10 rebounds, 25 “Does Dwight know this game is being televised?” moments. Meanwhile, Durant knows no Rocket can guard him — he eviscerates them for 42. That’s the difference between Dwight and Durant: One guy goes into that game thinking, This is a huge game, we gotta send a message, they don’t have anyone who can guard me. The other guy just goes into the game.”
Darnell Mayberry on KD chasing Jordan: “You might have never guessed that Durant has averaged fewer points against the Raptors than any other team. But it’s true. Some of that might have to do with lopsided final scores, because KD’s 35.6 minutes against Toronto also is his lowest against any team. But this year, the Raptors are actually a quality defensive team, ranking sixth in defensive efficiency. But if Gerald Green can score 28 on them, which he did Sunday, surely Durant can reach 25.”
Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider on NBA cycles: “Despite the many outside factors that affect a team’s record, like quality of management, injuries and market, the numbers do actually show a slight cyclical pattern. While this season’s best teams are likely to have been bad in 2008 and 2009, they were more likely than not to be good in 2004 and 2005, two talent cycles ago. (Coincidentally, 2005 was the last time the Lakers were in the lottery.) The Spurs stand as the exception to this rule. Thanks to the quality of San Antonio’s coaching and scouting, along with the way Gregg Popovich has managed the minutes of his stars to extend their productive careers, the Spurs keep cranking out 50-win seasons. This is their 15th consecutive such campaign, a streak broken only by the 50-game post-lockout season in 1998-99. Count that season — when San Antonio won the equivalent of 61 games en route to the title — and the franchise has done so all 17 years of Duncan’s Hall of Fame career. Eventually, the Spurs will be forced to contend with rebuilding in some form to replace their retired stars — especially if Popovich follows through on his threat to retire when Duncan does. Even San Antonio can’t entirely overcome the cyclical nature of the NBA.”
The Starters talking MVP and such.
Last chance to be in the prestigious DT bracket pool.
Mayberry on the potential of Westbrook sitting: “More importantly, though, sitting Westbrook on Thursday will give him another three days of rest. The Thunder hasn’t played since Monday at Chicago, a game Westbrook also entered with three days in between contests after sitting out against the Mavs. Westbrook could enter Friday’s game at Toronto having played just one game in seven days. It explains these peculiar nights off. They’re nothing more than the Thunder managing the schedule and hoping rest ultimately helps Westbrook sustain peak performance come playoff time and throughout his career.”
