Tuesday Bolts – 6.10.14
: “Although he had a few solid showings, Thabeet simply didn’t have the same overall impact that he did last season. His reduced playing time certainly played a part, but Thabeet was worse across the board in 2013-14 and never put pressure on the coaching staff through his play to carve him out more minutes. It’s unfair to expect a ton out of Thabeet in limited minutes, many of which came in mop-up duty. But there’s no doubt that Thabeet could have done more to stand out.”
Chad Ford on Kristaps Porzingis: “He’s just not ready — yet. He needs to add a lot of strength and toughness and polish his low post game. But as many of the teams that passed on Antetokounmpo learned last draft, sometimes it’s better to go for the upside and be patient. The Bucks now look like they have a guy who should’ve gone No. 1 last year. If Porzingis had stayed in Europe, he would’ve almost certainly been considered a top-10 pick in 2015.”
5-on-5 talking Derek Fisher’s decision.
Jenni Carlson: “So, now that Fisher is taking his talents to Manhattan Beach, it’s safe to assume the Thunder is on the lookout for someone to take over that role. A veteran. A leader. A winner. And oh, someone with a cheap price tag. Fisher made $1.3 million this past season. The Thunder might be willing to go above that number for Fisher’s replacement, but a deal in that ballpark likely removes someone like Trevor Ariza from consideration. Ditto for Shawn Marion. Both are free agents, but both made north of $7.5 million this season. Even if one of them was willing to take a paycut, a reduction that’s big enough to work with the Thunder’s salary structure seems unlikely.”
Lee Jenkins of SI on Pop’s dry in-game interviews: “The man makes $6 million a year, in part because ESPN and Turner pay the NBA $7.5 billion to broadcast its games. Popovich clearly believes the in-game interviews are intrusive and unnecessary, and maybe he is right. But the TV networks, who foot so many of the teams’ bills, have reason to think different. They’re not asking for a fireside chat. It’s 30 seconds with Doris Burke, a consummate pro who usually asks thoughtful questions, and deserves professional answers. As someone who is privileged enough to have interviewed Popovich away from cameras, he can be incredibly engaging and insightful. It’s a shame we can’t see that side all the time. We’d learn a lot.”
This Spanish site says the Jazz want Alex Abrines from the Thunder.
Ben Golliver of SI.com on Fisher’s hire: “I also like the Fisher hire because it’s a flexible move, one that makes sense whether or not franchise forward Carmelo Anthony re-signs with the Knicks. If Anthony is back, Fisher can lean on his experience playing alongside scoring champs Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant to get the most out of Anthony. If Anthony bolts, Fisher has the credibility and personality to lead a weak roster through what could be a multi-year rebuilding effort.”