Tuesday Bolts – 12.30.14
Jeff Caplan of Fox Sports Southwest: “It’s time to see if they can deliver the team-oriented game they’ve preached; time to see if longtime coach Scott Brooks, always optimistic, always quick to the defense of his stars, can get them to do it. In those three winnable games turned crushing, questioning defeats, Brooks hasn’t been able to control Westbrook, who admitted to straying from the called play in the final moments against Portland. At Dallas, Westbrook and Jackson alternated ball-hogging duties during the final possessions with Morrow literally jumping to draw his teammates’ attention and Ibaka, Brooks said, being guarded too tightly by Richard Jefferson to get him the ball. Of course, Durant instantly alters that dynamic.”
Darnell Mayberry on crunchtime offense: “Jordan Clarkson. Donald Sloan. Alonzo Gee. Cory Joseph. Evan Fournier. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. What do they all have in common? All of them are averaging more fourth-quarter points than Serge Ibaka. And that’s in a season that has been a career-best year for Ibaka’s offense in the final period. A longtime problem for the Thunder simply isn’t getting any better. Ibaka, one of the team’s most efficient scorers, continues to get shutout by his own team late in games. In fourth quarters, when he mysteriously mutates from asset to afterthought, Ibaka is averaging only 3.4 points on just 2.6 shot attempts. And nobody seems to know why, or at least they’re not willing to say it.”
Andrew Gilman of Fox Southwest: “When you have two of the best players in the NBA – two of the best players in the world – in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant there’s no premium passing. And really, who can blame them? You want the ball out of Durant’s hands? You really want Westbrook passing when it counts most? OK, fair enough, but the downfall of the Thunder in the past isn’t Durant and hasn’t been Westbrook. It’s been the inability of the team to find a consistent, third offensive threat, so without reliability, Westbrook and Durant have done more than their share. Rightfully so. So now, think about this season. Think about the injuries and think about the situation Westbrook was in Sunday night in Dallas.”
What’s OKC’s crunchtime problem?
Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider giving out a Ballon d’Or for basketball: “In April, Durant was a shoo-in for his first Golden Basketball. (I had him second to Bryant in 2010, when he was the best player in the FIBA World Championship.) After Miami lost in the Finals, he was still a clear favorite in June despite Oklahoma City’s Western Conference finals loss to San Antonio. Since then, however, nothing has gone right. Durant passed on the opportunity to play in the World Cup, withdrawing from the USA roster at the last minute, and has been limited to nine games in the 2014-15 regular season by injuries.”
Marc Stein has OKC 15th: “The Christmas Day win in San Antonio was Oklahoma City’s first triumph in six tries this season against teams currently at or above .500. The Thunder had previously suffered road losses to the Trail Blazers, Clippers, Raptors, Pelicans and Warriors and then added another one Sunday night in Dallas.”
John Schuhmann of NBA.com: “A month ago, we were wondering if the Thunder would make the playoffs. Two weeks ago, we thought they had answered that question. Now, having struggled down the stretch of close games, they’re back in a three-game hole. That’s not too deep and Kevin Durant is on his way back, but Wednesday’s visit from the Suns, with a lot of road games looming, is big.”
