Tuesday Bolts – 7.17.12

Perry Jones III in a Q&A: “It’s a good fit, especially when they called me and told me that they wanted me to just play basketball like I’ve been playing. They know I’m a very unselfish guy, and that’s what they want the most from me is to be very unselfish. The team already has everything, and I just want to be able to contribute. I don’t care if it’s 15 seconds on the floor or 10 seconds on the floor, I just want to be able to help somehow.”

Nate Silver of the New York Times on the Lin situation: “But if Lin plays even 80 percent as well as he did in February, the Knicks could have a 55- or even 60-win roster. Winning a championship would still be a feat, with dominant teams like the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder in the league. But the Knicks would be on track to be a No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They would also host many home playoff games and would have a puncher’s chance of bringing home their first N.B.A. title since 1973. The Nets might not be an afterthought like they were in New Jersey, but the Knicks would still be the toast of the town.”

An arena expert says Seattle already is “sports saturated.

Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops on Team USA: “It is no secret around the world, and it should he somewhat of a cause for alarm back home as the countdown to the Olympics continues. Tyson Chandler is their only legit center. Anthony Davis is going to be the 12th man. Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant are going to be matched against taller, stronger players on the defensive end — and it is going to impact how well they are going to be able to play on the offensive end. If Team USA dictates the pace and style of the games, the gold medal should be a lock. If Team USA does not, there are too many good teams with too many good players for this to be a cinch.”

Larry Coon breaks down the West’s cap situations.

KD is dating Letoya Luckett, maybe.

Sports Grid breaks it down: “My analysis: Kevin Durant could very well be dating Letoya Luckett. We’ve slowly begun to see Durant transform from the shy, backpack-carrying, unassuming hipster star into the movie acting, Destiny’s Child-dating second best player on the planet he is now. Sort of like his puberty. Just hope we don’t have to see some awkward voice cracks and awkward hallway encounters along the way.”

Kevin Durant is the 11th highest paid American athlete, up from No. 22 last year.

Fran Blinebury of NBA.com on PJ3: “Jones would not even go near that comparison [to Lamar Odom]. Neither is Presti ready to pat himself on the back for out-thinking all of the other GMs and teams that chose to pass on Jones due to the talk about his passive demeanor. There have, of course, been plenty of stars who streaked like comets and disappear over the horizon in the summer league.”