Tuesday Bolts – 2.1.11
Scott Brooks says Ibaka isn’t in a doghouse or anything. And I like Ibaka’s quote: “Everybody in the league has a bad game sometimes. Kevin Durant is the best scorer in the world. He has a couple of bad games, too. But the next day, he’s working hard for the next game. That’s what I try to do, too. So we’ll see.” That just shows you KD’s leadership and what kind of impact he has on these guys.
Zach Lowe of SI: “If there has been a single dimension of one team that has been most disappointing, it might be the Thunder’s defense, which finished last season in the top 10 but has sunk to 17th in points allowed per possession this season. In retrospect, perhaps we should have expected some regression despite the general trend of young teams getting better. The Thunder last season were a mediocre defensive rebounding team that fouled at about an average rate. In other words, their defensive success was based heavily on forcing turnovers (only six clubs forced them more often) and, more than anything else, opponents missing shots. Guess what? The Thunder are still a mediocre defensive rebounding team that fouls at an average rate. They’re forcing a smidgen fewer turnovers, and opponents aren’t missing as much anymore.”
John Hollinger’s All-Star reserves: “Westbrook’s defensive attentiveness fades in and out, which is why I rank him behind Williams on this list, but it’s hard to argue with the rest of his performance. Like Williams, Westbrook has improved both is usage and his efficiency on offense. He’s blossomed into a star by averaging a staggering 25 points per 40 minutes from the point and upping his TS percentage to a respectable 53, mostly by a constant attack mode that has sent him to the line over eight times a game. Westbrook adds to that by leading all point guards in rebound rate, offsetting what are still shaky credentials as a true point guard.”
Jenni Carlson’s take on KD’s Bosh thing: “I suspect Durant was speaking a bit out of frustration. The Thunder had chances to win, to knock off the Heat in front of a packed arena and a national television audience, but it couldn’t get the job done. The loss was no doubt weighing on Durant, who looks as devastated after losses as any professional athlete in sports today. But Durant is also a smart guy. He doesn’t say things without thinking them through, doesn’t shoot off his mouth for no reason. His reason for this: to send a message not only to the Heat but also to the Thunder. His message: I’m not backing down.”
Westbrook’s dunk against the Heat was really, really good.
Power rankings from SB Nation: “OKC’s humbling week should remind us all how young and fragile the Thunder core is. Too-close-for-comfort wins over the Wolves and Wizards gave way to a thrilling loss to the excellent Heat. That said, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are averaging 58 points per game in their last 10.”
Stein’s power rankings: “Dear KD: Please resist any urge to be your usual impeccable self and retract what you said about Bosh after Sunday’s showdown. Let it sit. We all loved this one: “Lot of fake tough guys in this league, and he’s one of them.”
NBA.com power rankings: “Kevin Durant’s 87 points on 54 percent shooting against the Wolves and Wizards were sandwiched by 55 points on 37 percent shooting against the Hornets and Heat. He’s shooting 37 percent (22-for-60) in three games against New Orleans, who the Thunder face for the final time on Wednesday at home.”
Darnell Mayberry on the shooting guard situation: “I expect Thabo Sefolosha to return for Wednesday’s game against the Hornets. If that happens, Cook will go back to being the third shooting guard in the rotation. And it’s hard to play three. Almost unwise. So regular minutes will be a stretch. But I think his last two games have instilled more confidence in Scott Brooks to go to him in certain situations, especially if Sefolosha or James Harden aren’t producing.”
Fran Blinebury of NBA.com: “Playoff preview No. 1: Hornets at Thunder on Wednesday night. OKC’s temporary team and its permanent one could be on track for a first-round match in the 4-5 spots. And has there ever been a quieter 10-game winning streak than the one rolled recently up by the Hornets before it ended in Sacramento?”
KD finally moving up a little in the MVP talk: “Another first-timer among the All-Star starters in the fan balloting. Durant, who nearly doubled his vote total of last season (from 870,567 to 1,736,728) averaged 33 points and 12.7 rebounds in a 2-1 week.”