Wednesday Bolts – 7.22.15
Ben Golliver of SI.com on the Players Awards: “Any expectation of gravitas disintegrated when rapper 2 Chainz, dressed in a poncho fit for a Peruvian street peddler and Adidas Yeezys, led a flock of Phunkee Ducks down a makeshift red carpet in the Rio Hotel and Casino, as roped-off reporters begged and squealed for selfies nearby. At that very moment, it became clear that the first annual, made-for-television Players’ Awards was willing, perhaps even eager, to sacrifice self-seriousness in pursuit of spectacle.”
SportsGrid on the Players Awards: “According to BET it all started with Kevin Durant, who ‘expressed that the league’s players should vote on their own awards because nobody knows the game better than them.’ Okay, this is everything that is wrong with the NBA these days. Hey KD, here’s a thought. Instead of pandering to TV execs for a way for you and your basketball buddies to hang out in designer suits on television together in the off-season, maybe you could focus on staying healthy and winning the one actual trophy that you’re supposed to be revolving your entire career and legacy around. Like dude, you’re a superstar and the 2014 NBA MVP. You shouldn’t feel the need to have people to make up an awards show for you and your friends. Get it together man.”
Perk signed with the Pelicans on a one-year deal.
Anthony Slater: “On Monday morning, Durant and Westbrook went through a workout together on UCLA’s campus — under the watchful eye of Donovan — navigating through some individual shooting and skill drills. By Tuesday morning, in that same gym near Beverly Hills, the two superstars were joined by a load of teammates and support staff. Among those confirmed in attendance: Durant, Westbrook, Donovan, Serge Ibaka, Nick Collison, Steven Adams, Anthony Morrow, Dion Waiters, Kyle Singler, D.J. Augustin, rookie Cameron Payne, assistant coach Monty Williams and Blue coach Royal Ivey.”
Zach Harper of CBSSports.com on the fight: “It’s very possible we’ll see another big fight in the NBA. I’m just not quite convinced we’re going to see either guy, who hasn’t really fought on an NBA court, throw down against each other. But it adds to the drama of the Thunder-Grizzlies series, which were already contentious from the Steven Adams-Zach Randolph incident from a couple years ago.”
Matt Moore of CBSSports.com on the Players Awards: “The union will want to try and secure better attendance next year, and they need to decide if they want the show to feel like a sports show, the ESPY’s, a fashion and entertainment show, or a union publicity stunt. There’s room for all of that, but tightening the message would be a step in the right direction. If the union wants these awards to feel like the superior awards to the media ones, and they do, they need to sell that not only to themselves, but to fans. That’s hard to do when it doesn’t feel like the players themselves have bought in yet.”