Tuesday Bolts – 3.6.12

Designer of KD’s shoes, Leo Chang, talks about working with Durant: “He may not be interested in the numbers and some stuff, but when it comes to design, he loves it. He really focuses in and gives us a lot of insight. Each year, we get more and more from him, too. He understands the shoe process a little bit more. Last summer we actually went to China, and he had the chance to see his shoes being made. That was an eye-opener for him, so getting to experience that with him, like “See how they’re making that right there,” it was a great education on how sneakers are made for him. Most people just assume—like he even said, “Oh, I thought you just a press a button and the shoe comes out,” so it was a really good experience, and I think he learned a lot. We continue to kind of help him out with that.”

NBA.com power rankings: “OKC has the league’s second-most efficient offense despite the highest turnover rate, thanks to free throws and shots in the paint. They got to the line on Saturday in Atlanta, but struggled in the paint (13-for-29), putting the spotlight on their 21 turnovers in one of their worst offensive games of the season.”

Marc Stein of ESPN.com’s rankings: “Perhaps we made his All-Star Weekend scoring outburst sound a little too inevitable. Before Durant’s MVP-clinching 36 points, then his 38 on Thursday night to power OKC’s come-from-behind win over the Magic on TNT, KD averaged just 15.3 ppg on 31.8 percent shooting in four previous games in Orlando.”

OKC has climbed to third in Hollinger’s rankings.

You almost assuredly don’t care, but I did an interview with 20 Something Magazine.

Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas: “The Mavs couldn’t secure their first winning streak since mid-February as they lost for a sixth time in eight games and dropped to 22-17. In the bigger picture, Dallas lost the season series to OKC, 3-1, but it was far more even than the ledger indicates. The Thunder needed a buzzer-beater 3-pointer from Durant in the first meeting, and OKC and certainly had all kinds of trouble separating from Dallas on this night.”

Jeff Van Gundy on TrueHoop TV.

Zach Lowe of SI.com properly notes to watch for the Grizzlies: “The Grizz have survived, but they are not a threat to do real damage in the Western Conference in this state. A healthy Randolph makes them a threat. It’s popular to suggest the Grizz might be better off with just one of the Randolph/Gay duo, since Memphis made its playoff run last season without Gay. But that’s hogwash. The Grizzlies, even with Randolph doing his superman act of last season, need perimeter offense badly, and they don’t get enough of it without Gay around creating shots and drawing attention. Go back and watch the Memphis-Oklahoma City series from last season, and you’ll see the Thunder happily ignoring just about every Memphis perimeter player in order to crash down on the Grizz big men. Teams can’t do that to the seem degree when Gay is available.”

Matt Moore of CBSSports.com: “The Thunder won the free throw differential, again. The Thunder had some bizarre offensive possessions again. But when the Thunder absolutely needed to shut down the Mavericks, they did. The defense for OKC has come miles in the last three weeks. They blanketed Dirk and disrupted Dallas’ playsets enough to completely block out any chance of a miracle tying bucket. They allowed too many Dirk Nowitzki threes early in the fourth, but their recovery down the stretch was championship level.”

Kurt Helin of PBT: “There are moments this season when you think maybe Dallas — or at other times the Spurs or Lakers or Clippers — could challenge the Thunder in the West. But when you watch OKC closing out close games with great defense and two of the best pure scorers in the game, you have to question that. You can pick apart the end-of-game Thunder sets or whatever you want, but nobody has this package of players. They are the best team in the West and legit title contenders. Unless somebody makes a big move before the March 15 trade deadline, it’s hard to see anyone else coming out of the West.”

Jason Kidd thinks the Mavs are entitled to calls because they won a title: “We don’t get the benefit of the whistle,” Kidd said. “I don’t think we’re looked upon as champions, but that’s a whole other story. Dirk (Nowitzki) should live at the line if they would call it the way it’s supposed to be. But, he doesn’t.”

Rick Carlisle the same: “I’m in disbelief that there was a foul call on Mahinmi,” Carlisle said. “I just watched the play five times; I mean it’s a block. It’s an enormous play. And then Nowitzki gets hit on the arm at the other end and there’s no call. So, I’m at a loss. I apologize for that.”

Darnell Mayberry: “Looks like I’m going to have to be the one to tell the Fox Sports Oklahoma crew to cut it out with the courtside interviews during close ballgames. Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire fame sat down with Brian Davis and Grant Long during the second quarter tonight. The Thunder was up 28-25 and yet another meaningless interview was being conducted. Add Bailey to the list of Jim “J.R.” Ross and others who have, for reasons only God knows, joined the broadcast team to serve as only an interruption to what is undoubtedly the most entertaining show in basketball.”