Tuesday Bolts -1.10.17
Erik Horne: “The Thunder led by just six entering the second quarter, but opened up a 15-
point lead by halftime. In the second, Kanter grabbed the defensive rebound and nearly ran Jerami Grant over sprinting to get out on the fast break. He threaded a pass between defenders to Alex Abrines, who missed the layup, but Kanter was there to clean it up with an offensive rebound. By the break, Kanter and Adams were a combined 12-of-15 for 26 points. Adams reached 20 points for the fifth time this season. Entering this season, Adams had never scored 20 points. Kanter had three assists, his most in a game since Nov. 20. The two scored 20 points each in the same game for the second time ever (Dec. 25 vs. Minnesota) Kanter said he’s playing with the most confidence of his six-year NBA career. It’s showing in his passing, from his assist to Adams to the Russell Westbrook-esque bounce pass on the break.”
Sam Presti was named an Oklahoman of the Year: “People are untapped possibilities of potential, and the more eclectic, diverse and intersectional groups and teams can be, the better for progress, learning and ideas,” he says. “We often look at diversity as a destination or a box to be checked when it’s really a starting point or, better yet, a launching pad. Diversity is an alternate definition for progress.”
Here we go again: Semaj Christon is the worst player in the NBA.
Matt Moore of CBSSports.com had OKC 10th: “The Thunder are in struggle mode right now. The loss to the Rockets was a heartbreaker, and falling to the Hornets was just rough. They have an easier stretch this week (Bulls, Grizzlies, Wolves, Kings) before things get brutal the rest of the month. They need to fatten up on mid-tier teams now.”
Marc Stein had OKC 12th: “Didn’t take long for the well-chronicled concerns about the Thunder’s January schedule to prove justified. They began the new year with three frustrating road losses and will end up traveling more than 12,000 miles by month’s end; road dates still loom against the Clippers (Jan. 16), Warriors (Jan. 18), Jazz (Jan. 23), Cavs (Jan. 29) and Spurs (Jan. 31). Here are some more numbers, meanwhile, that aren’t going in Westbrook’s favor: He’s now 0-for-6 on potential go-ahead shots from 3-point range in the final 10 seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime after that two-point loss in Houston in his latest duel with Harden.”
Enes Kanter gives the ref a tech for throwing the ball to him while he wasn’t looking. The ref that threw it: Sean Corbin, who was on the crew that got Westbrook.
OKC doesn’t make the “dark horse contender” list.
Micah Adams of ESPN.com: “The tug-of-war at the top of the rankings continued this week, with Westbrook moving back into first place ahead of Harden. Westbrook’s average game score of 26.1 last week trailed only Butler’s. Harden came in 20th — enough to drop him from atop his perch. The biggest culprit for Harden continues to be turnovers, as he averaged 7.0 per game in four outings.”