Tuesday Bolts – 11.26.13

Russell Westbrook is “cool” with sitting out: “It’s planned throughout the season,” Westbrook said. “It’s 82 games of nonstop, and right now is the best time for me to take a break regardless of who we were playing. But on the schedule, we sit down and look at the schedule each month and try to find the best way to get me recovered.” Asked if he agreed with the philosophy, Westbrook said “Yeah, I’m cool with it. I don’t know if it’s going to happen every time. But I just know that was the best thing for right now,” he said.”

Kevin Durant Increases Oklahoma City Home Asking Price: “NBA star Kevin Durant, who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, has upped the price of his Oklahoma City home by a quarter million. The residence is now asking $2.19 million, according to some news reports. Durant listed the home sometime in September for $1.95 million. However, looks like he is quite the real estate watcher and believes that the home is much more worth than what he initially listed it for.” I guess this means Royce and I can’t buy his house now. I mean, we probs could have afforded it for $2 million but $2.19 million is pushing it. For shame.

Thunder’s half-court shot winner might not get to keep $20,000: “Cameron Rodriguez, a sophomore basketball player at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan., might not be allowed to keep $20,000 he won for hitting a half-court shot at a Nov. 18 game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets at Chesapeake Energy Arena. According to a story on SFGate.com, Southwestern College officials are asking the NAIA if Rodriguez, 6-foot-6 forward out of Elk City, could use the money as a scholarship to help pay his tuition. “I didn’t really think about it at first because I was way too excited,” Rodriguez told SFGate.com. “After things settled down, I realized we might have an issue because I was receiving a large amount of money.”

Derrick Rose out for season after knee surgery: “Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is out for the season after he underwent successful surgery to repair his torn medial meniscus in his right knee, the team announced on Monday. Rose, the 2011 NBA MVP who missed all of last season after tearing his left ACL in the 2012 playoffs, played in 10 games this season, averaging 15.9 points per game and 4.3 assists in 31.1 minutes. Rose injured the knee in the third quarter of the Bulls’ loss in Portland on Friday night. Bulls team physician Brian Cole, who also repaired Rose’s torn ACL, performed the surgery Monday morning.”

Lakers sign Kobe Bryant to two-year extension: “Bryant, 35, continues his recovery from surgery to repair his torn Achilles tendon suffered last spring, and had spoken of a resistance to take a paycut. The Buss family had made several public statements over the last few months that they intended to ensure Bryant retired as a Laker, and this extension obstensibly accomplishes that. It’s a pretty amazing leap of faith for the organization to extend a 35-year-old player who has yet to return to the court from one of the most devastating injuries in the sport without seeing him play a single game. But it does wonders for their goodwill with the fanbase and gives them security entering this summer’s piovotal free agency period. They don’t have to worry about convincing Bryant to return and add a star, now they can just pitch the top names while having Bryant inked on paper. ESPN reports the deal is for nearly $50 million, with $23.5 in 2014-2015 and $25 million in 2015-2016.”

I guess KD’s restuarant is open: I find it very interesting who he cropped out. Let’s look at what we (probably) know about this picture: Whoever took the picture obviously didn’t take it in square mode. Look people, the iPhone update happened like, ages ago. Get with it. If said person had taken the pic in the correct mode, Reggie would be in it all the way. And I guess that’s PJIII on the right (whatever), Thabo clearly wasn’t ready and of course Fish is wearing a scarf that way. Great style, dad! The rest of them look great. OH, I REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HASH.