Wednesday Bolts – 4.8.15
Stephania Bell of ESPN.com on Durant’s recovery: “It is also important to point out the Jones fracture is not the same type of dreaded “big man” injury that plagued Yao Ming or Bill Walton. Their fractures were to the navicular bone, a bone in the midfoot that forms a keystone of the arch on the inner aspect of the foot. It too has a poor healing supply and fails to respond in some cases even despite surgical intervention. It is vastly different from a Jones fracture and a navicular fracture that is resistant to healing can be a career-threatening injury. It’s worth noting there are no reported cases of an NBA player’s career ending as a result of a fifth metatarsal injury.”
Andrew Gilman of Fox Sports Southwest: “But even if they do play better, and there are no signs to think it will start Friday against Sacramento in Oklahoma City, it might not even matter. Not any more. Not with New Orleans ahead in the standings. Play better all you want, you gotta have help. “Well, we’ve never been in this position, so this our first time fighting for a spot,” Russell Westbrook said. “It’s definitely a different feeling for us.” It’s a different feeling for everyone because everyone is used to this team competing for home playoff games, top seeding, championships. You know. Get used to it. It’s time.”
Berry Tramel: “It won’t be easy. The Thunder has a playoff history and a winning culture. The Thunder was supposed to relieve the burden of journeymen who hadn’t tasted the postseason. Instead, the burden grows.”
My ESPN.com story from last night isn’t fun.
Anthony Slater on the ageless Spurs: “Things have certainly changed in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder is starting three players — Dion Waiters, Kyle Singler and Enes Kanter — who weren’t even on the roster when these teams met this past Christmas in San Antonio. Back in 2012, the Thunder bolted onto the scene as the young, fearless, up-and-coming franchise that slayed the aging Western Conference dragons, racing to a first of what was thought to be many NBA Finals appearances. The Spurs were those slain dragons. Three years later, as the Thunder’s health has crumbled and its roster has reformed, San Antonio reigns supreme. The Spurs have won two straight Western Conference titles, last year’s NBA Championship and head into this year’s playoffs as the team nobody dares bet against.”
Thabo Sefolosha was arrested last night.
Darnell Mayberry: “The last thumping the Thunder took came two weeks ago down in San Antonio. It was a nationally televised embarrassment, a 39-point drubbing that set in motion this current funk from which the Thunder can’t escape. So much for making things right and getting back on track Tuesday night. You could argue San Antonio’s 113-88 throttling of the Thunder inside Chesapeake Energy Arena was even worse. The final margin didn’t show it, but the beating was perhaps more brutal because, unlike March 25, the Thunder never stood a chance. San Antonio jumped to a 19-point first-quarter lead and never looked back. The Spurs led by as many as 34 points — 25 in the first half — and never trailed.”
Bradford Doolittle of ESPN Insider: “According to SportVu, San Antonio ranks third in the league with 346 passes per game, while Oklahoma City is 26th at a little more than 276. And those numbers aren’t pace-adjusted — the Spurs actually average about 77 more passes per 100 possessions than the Thunder. Still, though the Spurs have been better overall on offense, they rank just two spots ahead of the Thunder … So does that mean the Spurs’ way is indeed better than the Thunder’s way? Well, the Spurs ranked 20th in consistency, while Oklahoma City was 23rd. That nominal difference means sure, they’re more consistent, but the at-large perception of flow offenses is probably overstated. Each team has eight breakout performances, but the Thunder have two more collapses (seven to five). In the end, though, many would argue in favor of the aesthetics of a balanced, ball-movement team. Maybe it just comes down to whether you have Russell Westbrook.”
