Thursday Bolts – 9.20.12

Ben Detrick of Grantland on James Harden

: “Is Harden better at basketball than Kobe and Melo? Probably not. Efficiency and usage rating (a percentage of team plays used by a player when he’s on the floor) are negatively correlated, and Harden is asked to dominate the ball far less than either of them. Still, when Harden does have it, he’s more effective in a game that rewards free throws and 3-pointers while punishing missed mid-range jumpers. When you look at how the Thunder dispatched opponents last year, Harden’s fingerprints are all over the murder weapons. Oklahoma City was first in free throws made per field goal attempt, second in effective field goal percentage, and second in offensive rating. Harden might be the third option, but even on a team with Kevin Durant, he tops all three of those categories, and cutting loose the man whose DNA interlocks most closely with the team’s genetic code is unwise.”

John Hollinger of ESPN.com on Kobe Bryant: “Bryant led the NBA in usage rate by a wide margin (see chart) and very nearly led it in points per minute as well, finishing a 10th of a point behind Kevin Durant in points per 40 minutes — an amazing feat for a player age 33. Bryant looked spry coming out of the lockout in particular, racking up four straight 40-point games in January. However, he cooled off considerably the rest of the way, most notably while shooting 38.7 percent in March. He was in the top five in player efficiency rating (PER) in the first half of the season but finished 17th.”

KD’s restaurant is getting delayed.

John Schuhmann of NBA.com on the Northwest: “The Thunder didn’t make any significant additions this summer, but they will be getting back guard Eric Maynor, who played just nine games before tearing his ACL last season. And when Maynor was on the floor two years ago, the Thunder were an excellent defensive team. Maynor’s return will help, at least with the Thunder’s issues in the regular season. James Harden was the Sixth Man of the Year and gave OKC a huge offensive boost, but they were at their worst defensively when he was on the floor. The previous season, however, Harden and Maynor were a very good defensive combination.”

The Spurs will debut a new alternate uniform against OKC on Nov. 1.

Blake Griffin talking about the Western Conference.

Ian Thompson of SI.com: “To turn the question the other way, I also like the fact that Oklahoma City didn’t mess with its core rotation. Rookie forward Perry Jones and center Hasheem Thabeet will fit in along the edges as long-term projects, but the Thunder maintained their investment in their ever-improving foundation. Their underrated move was to show patience and wisdom, because to make any changes to their core would have set them back.”

Scott Brooks talking about Derek Fisher.

KD was named as one of the top 100 Twitter accounts by SI.

Sporting News ranks the top small forwards: “Durant remains a deadly scorer from pretty much anywhere on the floor, but has rounded out his game with improved playmaking, rebounding and defense. If not for James, he would easily be the league’s top player.”