Thursday Bolts – 4.14.16

Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider gives the Mavs a 1.1 percent chance of an upset: “After Blazers-

Clippers, the shots become increasingly long for other West teams to knock off the favorites. Since 2003, the biggest upset in terms of point differential was the 2007 Warriors over the Mavericks (the third time a No. 8 seed upset a No. 1, and first under the best-of-seven format). Dallas’ differential was 7.6 points per game better than Golden State’s — identical to the margin between the Thunder and Mavericks this year. It’s worth noting that the three biggest upsets in that span by point differential (Atlanta over Orlando in 2011 and Memphis over Russell Westbrook-less Oklahoma City in the 2003 conference semifinals) all came when the lower-seeded team had won the season series. And that’s where the news goes from bad to worse for the Mavericks, who got swept 4-0, albeit with a couple of close losses.”

Tom Ziller of SB Nation ranked all playoff players: “We can’t know whether what happens to Durant and the Thunder over the next one to two months actually matters. Perhaps he’s already decided to stay in OKC one more year to line up his free agency with that of Russell Westbrook; perhaps he’s hitting the open market regardless. But you have to believe that how the Thunder do here will impact the color of Durant’s decision, his feelings heading in. As such, all eyes will be on how he and Westbrook carry the team together.”

How did the Thunder change under Billy Donovan?

Chris Broussard of ESPN ranks Russ third: “Here’s how good, versatile and overwhelming Westbrook has been: He actually did something that doesn’t have to be preluded with a “post-merger” or “after Wilt and Oscar, of course” qualifier. For all their triple-doubles, neither of those legends ever recorded one in only 17 minutes, 35 seconds, as Westbrook did against Kobe’s Lakers on Monday. Only the mysterious Jim Tucker in 1955 achieved the feat faster. So, why is he third instead of second? Well, perhaps it’s petty, but here’s the answer: too many turnovers and blown leads, and not enough W’s when you’ve got a teammate named Kevin Durant.”

David Thorpe of ESPN.com on if Greatest Team of All-Time is at stake for the Warriors: “Fiction, in the short term. Fact, if we look farther down the road. The Bulls were already legends when they had their greatest season, while the Warriors are still riding their wave to legendary status. Should they win three titles in a row, or four in five years, it will be likely that we will look back and see this as the best team of all time. Provided they win 16 more games this postseason.”

Dallas Morning News: “Despite being one of the most efficient offensive teams (109.1 points per 100 possessions, 2nd only to the Golden State Warriors at 112.3), they turn the ball over a lot.
Oklahoma City was 28th in the NBA with 15.9 turnovers per 100 possessions which can hopefully help out a Mavericks defense that is ranked 27th in steals at 6.8 per game.”

Ethan Strauss of ESPN.com: “That’s fitting with how it has gone. Curry’s brash, imperious Warriors didn’t wait to disrupt LeBron James’ fairytale ending in Cleveland. They didn’t pause for Oklahoma City’s steady ascent to an inevitable title. They stepped up and took accomplishments few thought them entitled to.”

Scott Brooks is gonna get hired by somebody soon.

Berry Tramel: “Adding two weeks to the season gives you 14 extra days in which to fit games. Start Oct. 20 instead of Oct. 27. Finish April 22 instead of April 15. Or better yet, go ahead and start Halloween week, but finish up at the end of April. Start the playoffs the first of May. That could take the NBA Finals into early July, and what pray tell is wrong with that? June and July are mostly dead months on the sports calendar. Outside the NBA Finals, you’re talking the U.S. Open golf and the baseball All-Star Game. It’s a period crying out for some sporting excitement.”

Zach Lowe on All-NBA: “Thunder fans are mad that LeBron James seems earmarked for a first-team forward spot over Durant. You can’t really go wrong here, but LeBron is still the better all-around player. They are neck-and-neck in most catch-all stats, so the choice is really between Durant’s far superior 3-point shooting against LeBron’s playmaking, defense and versatility with the ball. LeBron wins out, barely, especially because he’s the undisputed lead dog on his team.”