Tuesday Bolts – 5.10.11
Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus: “This is all at least as much a credit to the Memphis defense as it is criticism of Durant, but to ignore this factors in comparing Westbrook’s shot attempts to Durant’s is folly. Scott Brooks did a much better job of mixing in some other offense down the stretch, using Daequan Cook’s shooting ability and giving the ball to Harden to run pick-and-rolls at times, but often the Thunder’s offense came down to Westbrook improvising after the play broke down. Given the circumstances, he did more than a credible job.”
John Hollinger of ESPN.com: “It also marked one of the first times the Thunder had dictated the match-ups, and while it didn’t work quite as well in the fourth quarter against the Grizzlies’ starters, it afforded Oklahoma City a series-saving advantage in the second quarter against the Memphis bench. One presumes they’ll go back to the well in the second quarter of Game 5 unless the Grizzlies can adjust.”
Chris Mannix of SI.com: “The truth, Brooks said, was that somewhere along the line the Thunder forgot how to close out games. Westbrook got sloppy. Durant struggled to get free. But when Mike Conley and Greivis Vasquez tossed in improbable shots to prolong Game 4, Oklahoma City refused to fold. In the second overtime it was Westbrook (seven points) taking over and in the third OT Durant (six) was there to close the show. In each Thunder huddle in the overtimes was Perkins, his low voice bellowing “lock in” over and over in their ears. “I saw toughness in their eyes at the end,” Brooks said. “They could have easily said ‘this isn’t meant to be.’ They were exhausted. Our guys have an amazing ability to play with a competitive spirit. I haven’t been around many young players like that.” Oklahoma City reclaimed home court advantage on Monday. Keeping it, however, won’t be a simple task. They know Memphis will be there on Wednesday, pounding the ball inside, beating on them with blunt force and brute strength.”
NBA Playbook details the real reasons KD didn’t get the ball late: “On these three plays, Kevin Durant takes a total of zero steps when moving off of the basketball. Despite the Thunder scoring on two of these plays, this isn’t good for Oklahoma City, because Durant is developing a bad habit of standing behind the three point line and watching. The most interesting aspect of this is that Durant’s man leaves him (or at least turns his head) on all three plays. Durant needs to make the defense pay for this and cut right off of his man’s back. Instead, he stands and watches.”
Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk: “And then they ran in to the same problem — a nine-minute stretch where Kevin Durant did not get a shot off. Russell Westbrook took a lot of heat for this the last few days around the Interwebs, and he deserves some of the blame. He can get tunnel vision on shots. But Durant becomes a spectator, not moving to get open, not doing his part to get into position. Coach Scott Brooks deserves part of the blame. Everyone deserves some blame for not getting James Harden the ball as a shot creator more in this situation because he is the best passer, best pure point guard they have. Harden was a beast in this game.”
KD’s nasty dunk over Zach Randolph.
Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com: “Russell Westbrook — the Thunder’s sometimes unstoppable, other times unwatchable point guard — had shots to win the game at the end of regulation and second overtime but missed both jumpers and finished 15 for 33 from the field for a game-high 40 points. The UCLA product alternated between creating incredible plays and inexcusable possessions, and if it’s possible to frustrate while scoring 40, Westbrook did it, because he couldn’t stop trying to close the game — even though he’s not Oklahoma City’s best closer. That title belongs to Durant.”
Crest Foods is rooting for OKC.
An amazing Thunder graffiti wall from Dusty at Tree and Leaf.
Tom Schrapling for GQ on KD: “I have no idea why Durant isn’t standing up to Westbrook. I can only speculate that on some level he feels that everything else is ultimately secondary to the game itself. He’s not wrong—after all, everybody is a fan of music, but only assholes are fans of the music business. But he’s not right, either. No matter how much he keeps his head down and just PLAYS—to the extent where he’s the first player of color in ages to get the crypto-racist term “gym rat” favorably tossed his way—the unfortunate and frustrating part of the equation is not going to go away no matter how many points you score.”