Tuesday Bolts – 3.19.13
Michael Pina of Red 94 wonders why Houston’s defense is so bad: “Before we finish up with one more play from Harden, I’d like to point out that the Rockets would be in the lottery if not for his work on the offensive end. Harden’s defense needs work, sure, but his effort with the ball is an irreplaceable commodity, and it’d be an honest shame if he didn’t end up in fourth or fifth place in the final MVP ballot. For all the gushing praise Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant receive for their play this season, Harden undoubtedly belongs in their class at the shooting guard position. Okay, now back to jumping on his defense.”
Ken Berger of CBSSports.com on Miami’s hunt for history: “The record could fall on April 9 at home against the Bucks, which would give the Heat exactly one week to come down from this unanticipated regular-season high and gather themselves for the playoffs. Is it bad timing? An unnecessary distraction at a time when the Heat should be coasting to the No. 1 seed and sizing up potential first-round opponents who are all disintegrating before their eyes? Yes, and yes. But sometimes, greatness is as undeniable as the lack of parity in the watered-down NBA.”
Matt Moore of CBSSports.com on MVP: “The fact that he plays so few fourth quarters should weigh in here. Durant has played in just 53 of 67 possible fourth quarters with a lead that high. And his scoring total remains that high. Just absurd.”
Hasheem Thabeet talking to HoopsHype.
John Rohde on Ty Lawson and KD being friends: “On March 4, 2006, national prep powerhouses Montrose Christian (19-2) and Oak Hill Academy (40-0) played before a crowd of 4,000 at Coolidge High in Washington, D.C. It has since been regarded as the greatest high school game played in the D.C. area since Lew Alcindor’s Power Memorial team faced Morgan Wootten-coached DeMatha before a capacity crowd of 14,500 at Maryland’s Cole Field House in 1965. Durant had transferred from Oak Hill to Montrose Christian, where he was teammates with Greivis Vasquez of the New Orleans Hornets. Lawson was still at Oak Hill, where he teamed with Michael Beasley of the Phoenix Suns. Montrose Christian upset Oak Hill, 74-72, ending the Warriors’ 56-game winning streak and knocking them from the No. 1 ranking in USA Today. The game-winner came from future Maryland forward Adrian Bowie on a putback off a Durant miss as time expired, which completed a 16-point comeback in the final quarter from the Mustangs. Durant finished with a game-high 31 points, while Lawson finished with 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.”
Klay Thompson on the Harden trade rumor: “I had no idea. Even if I did, (Simmons) can say what he wants,” Thompson said. “All I know is we’ve got a better record than them at this point. I seem to play well against him. So, yeah, it don’t effect me. All I can control is what I do out there.”
Sandridge’s departing COO severance package includes lots of money, and Thunder tickets.
OKC is third in Stein’s power rankings: “See? Miami isn’t leading in everything. Sunday night’s Thunder victory in Dallas marked the league-leading seventh time this season that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook each crossed the 30-point barrier … compared to a mere four such instances for LeBron and D-Wade. Score!”
And third in NBA.com’s: “Kevin Martin has been invisible, averaging just 8.4 points on 36 percent shooting, in the Thunder’s last five losses. And Monday’s defeat in San Antonio was a clear bench loss, as OKC was a plus-10 with their starting lineup on the floor, but a minus-22 when at least one of the five starters sat down. That’s an obvious cause for concern if you anticipate a Spurs-Thunder conference finals.”
