Thursday Bolts – 4.17.14
Tom Haberstroh of ESPN Insider: “This HabersTrophy is a little twist on the Most Improved Award, which no one actually understands. For this, I looked at the player who had the greatest jump in PER before and after the All-Star break. And that honor belongs to Westbrook, who went from 20.2 PER before to 28.7 PER after (plus-8.5). It’s amazing what some time off and not playing on back-to-backs will do for a player’s efficiency. And guess what: no back-to-backs in the postseason. Buckle up, y’all.”
Anthony Slater: “The Thunder, though, cause problems, too. But Memphis has some solid counters. Westbrook is a nightmare for anyone, but Conley can be a defensive pest. Durant is playing the best offensive basketball in the world, but the last time we saw him in a series against Memphis, he looked a bit bewildered. Without Westbrook, Durant struggled to fight through the physical and frantic Grizzlies defense, led by Tony Allen. But this time Durant will have Westbrook. And this time the Thunder will be looking for payback.”
Zach Harper of CBSSports.com with a quick look at OKC-Memphis: “This time, the Thunder are healthy and this is a different Durant than we’ve seen in the past. Who on the Grizzlies is capable of keeping him in check? Who will be able to score at a relatively similar clip to keep pace with this Thunder team? Which role players will step up and provide some outside shooting? Grizzlies need to answer these questions to advance past OKC again.”
Get in on the DT playoff bracket.
Tom Penn of ESPN says Russ and KD lack synergy.
Matt Moore of CBSSports.com on MVP: “He is unguardable. He is unstoppable. You don’t shut down Durant anymore. You just try and live with what he does. He’s a better defender this year, a great one. He’s a better rebounder. He sees the floor better. He knows the veteran moves. He leads his team and talks to the young players to make them better. LeBron James is the best player on the planet. Kevin Durant had the best season, and is your MVP.”
LeBron tops in jersey sales this season, KD finished No. 2.
Watch Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook fight in NHL 14.
Rob Mahoney of SI.com: “Still, the Grizzles have the caliber of defense necessary to slow down a team as explosive as the Thunder. Marc Gasol’s ability to contain pick-and-rolls and wall off the basket could be pivotal in the series. Players like Tayshaun Prince and Tony Allen might wind up as a valuable assets in defending Durant or a wholly exploitable pieces for their lack of offense. Mike Conley might be one of the few guards in the league that can keep track of Westbrook, though that in itself might not be enough with Durant now capable of running the show as needed. Bottom line: There’s a lot of fun tension in play between the workings of a hyper-athletic, highly efficient offense and a hunkered-down, incredibly formidable defense. It’s a stress test for both teams carried out over seven games.”
Really interesting stuff about late shot clock possessions.
Zach Lowe of Grantland: “After a change of possession favoring Oklahoma City, you’ll sometimes hear the Thunder public-address announcer shout, “Whose ball is it?” And then the crowd chants in response: “Thunder ball!” For some reason, this annoys me. It seems like a kid’s routine.”
