Tuesday Bolts – 4.1.14
David Aldridge of NBA.com: “Kevin Durant was mad. More than mad, but I can’t type that in a family Morning Tip. This was just a few weeks ago, right after All-Star weekend. The Thunder entered the break having won 15 of 17 games. But when OKC came out of the break, its defense was, in Durant’s words, “a little iffy there.” Miami came into Chesapeake Energy Arena in the first game after the break and drilled the Thunder by 22. OKC then gave up 125 points to the Clippers. Then it lost at home … to Cleveland. Three games at home, three losses. This was not a team tightening things up for the stretch run. Durant was mad at his teammates, mad at the coaches, mad at everybody. Brian Keefe told him to get over himself.”
Scott Brooks on wanting home court: “If you ask me if I’d rather have a choice to have four home games over three, yes, I’d rather have that.”
Darnell Mayberry on OKC catching the Spurs: “Following their road game at Indiana on Monday, the Spurs returned home to prepare for Golden State on Wednesday. San Antonio will then come to town on the second night of a back-to-back. The Spurs end the week with Memphis on Sunday. It’s the toughest stretch the Spurs have had in their current scorching streak. From there, the Spurs end the season with games against Minnesota, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers. Three of those final five are in the playoff hunt. The Thunder has a relatively easier finish, although four of the next five come on the road. But Oklahoma City is 14-3 against its final eight opponents. It’s a success rate that suggests Thunder still has a good chance to claim the top seed. If the Spurs cool off.”
Derek Fisher could be in the mix for the Knicks job next season.
However, Fisher says if the Thunder don’t win a title, he doesn’t want to retire.
The Skirvin has claimed another team, this time spooking the Jazz.
Marc Stein has OKC No. 2: “If the Thunder can manage a 7-2 finish, they’ll have improved their winning percentage for a sixth consecutive season, tying Minnesota’s NBA-record streak from 1992-93 through 1997-98. Those Wolves, though, topped out at .549 during that span. KD & Co. have to better last season’s .732.”
John Schuhmann of NBA.com has OKC No. 3: “The Thunder will have the rest advantage against the Spurs on Thursday, but the situation will be reversed when they play the Rockets (on Friday) and Clippers (in L.A. next week). OKC is 12-2 (allowing 97.2 points per 100 possessions) with a rest advantage and, after Tuesday’s loss in Dallas, 6-5 (allowing 105.8) with a rest disadvantage. After Thursday, they just have two more games at home.”
