Tuesday Bolts – 11.2.09
Chad Ford on the Class of 2006 and extensions: “Rajon Rondo pocketed $55 million over five years. Thabo
Sefolosha landed a four-year, $14 million deal. And Renaldo Balkman inked a three-year, $6 million contract. That still means that the first round draft class of 2006 had a record low number of players earn extensions. The previous low was the class of 2005. It had seven players get extensions. In contrast, the class of 2002 had 16 players agree to extensions.”
Interesting little story about Russell Westbrook: “Last season Westbrook struggled, as many players do, with communication. He lacked confidence in his own ability to speak, and so struggled in interactions with the media as well as his teammates. He spent some time this summer with Steve Shenbaum at game on media, and has already reaped the benefits of being better able to express himself. “It’s definitely helped me, not only in the locker room, but on the court, too. When somebody makes a mistake you can’t just run up on them steaming, you’ve got to approach them a different way and make sure they understand what you’re talking about. (Shenbaum) really helped me to be able to tell my teammates what I think in a way that doesn’t sound like I feel like I have to be right all the time.”
Marc Stein’s power rankings (OKC up from 21 to 19): “We repeat: Give ’em time. A 2-0 launch was nice, especially when it includes a 1-0 road record, but Sunday’s home test against Portland was an early reminder that the NW Division’s young darlings are still evolving.”
NBA.com’s power rankings (OKC up from 21 to 16): “The Thunder had 13 more turnovers than they did assists in Sunday’s pitchers’ duel with the Blazers. Their defense has been very solid to start the season, but it will be tested when they host the Lakers on Tuesday and Magic on Sunday.”
FanHouse’s power rankings (OKC at 14): “As Kevin Durant goes, so goes the Thunder? KD had 25 and 11, then 25 and 12 in his team’s first two games — both victories. He struggled a bit against the Blazers with 16 and 5 (on a miserable 3-21 shooting), and OKC managed just 74 points in their first loss of the season.”
HoopsWorld’s power rankings (OKC up from 24 to 19): “Slower start than expected for star Kevin Durant (22 points on 32.8% shooting) but the Thunder pull through 2-1.”
Dime’s power rankings (OKC at 17): “James Harden is off to a real slow start in his Rookie of the Year campaign: 4.3 points on 29 percent shooting in just 15 minutes a night.”
Stuff going on at tonight’s game: “The Oklahoma City Thunder will host a Rolling Thunder Book Drive on Tuesday, Nov. 3, prior to the Thunder vs. Lakers game at the Ford Center. Each fan who donates a new, elementary level children’s book will receive a voucher for two tickets to an upcoming game. The book drive supports the Thunder’s Read to Achieve program and the Rolling Thunder Book Bus, presented by American Fidelity Assurance Company. Book donations will be accepted at both Ford Center entrances and at the Rolling Thunder Book Bus, which will be parked on Reno Ave. In addition, at Tuesday’s game the Thunder Community Foundation will host a silent auction outside Section 119. Thunder items up for auction include a signed team ball, D.J. White and Shaun Livingston autographed shoes and a framed and signed photo of Thabo Sefolosha blocking a Kobe Bryant shot during last season’s Thunder vs. Lakers game at the Ford Center. The auction will begin at 5:30 p.m. and conclude at the end of halftime.”
A story from HoopsWorld on KD.
Everybody has been talking about Manu Ginobili’s swat of a flying rat last week. Well now, he’s getting a rabies shot: “Manu Ginobili’s Halloween run-in with a bat made for entertaining news fodder for a few days. Ginobili, however, isn’t laughing anymore. Team officials could not locate the bat after Saturday’s game against Sacramento, so it could not be tested for disease. Which meant Ginobili will spend the next month getting a series of precautionary shots to protect against rabies. “It was pretty funny at the time,” Ginobili said before practice this afternoon. “Now, it’s not. I have to get like a million shots.”
Oh and one more. PETA is upset with Manu and actually sort of compared him to Michael Vick: “To bludgeon a 4-ounce animal to death, it takes either a small man or a totally unthinking one—with no respect or consideration for lives humbler than his own. This is a time when athletes in particular need to be on their best behavior around any animal and show that they have brains and a heart, not just reactionary brawn.”