Thursday Bolts – Three Freaking Straight Edition
I joined Jason Smith on ESPN’s NBA Today podcast to talk about the three-game win streak and the Tyson Chandler
deal that wasn’t. I’m on at about 8:30. And I must say, I sound pretty stinking good.
Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus with a really interesting piece looking at close losses: “Oklahoma City’s bad luck in last-second finishes is no surprise to anyone who has followed the Thunder this season. Time and again, Oklahoma City has been done in by buzzer beaters, including multiple occasions where Kevin Durant has scored to put the Thunder ahead in the closing seconds only to see an opponent match his shot. In fact, Oklahoma City’s futility in close games is historic. No other team in the sample has won less than 25 percent of its close games. Presumably, things will even out to some extent the rest of the way.”
Scott Brooks took a little exception Mark Cuban’s comments and he had a response: “Thunder coach Scott Brooks’ response: “I understand Dallas is a very talented team, and they might have had an off night. They can say whatever they want to say. But we played aggressive, hard, physical, good basketball with two of our better players out.”
The Lost Ogle has ideas with what Oklahoma can do with its $2.5 billion from Obama’s stimulus package: “There is a conspiracy theory being bandied about among NBA fans that there was a nefarious reason behind the Thunder rescinding their trade with the New Orleans Hornets. For those who have forgotten, the Thunder were to receive Tyson Chandler, a borderline all-star center, in return for two guys who can’t make it into the rotation for the Thunder and a second round pick who probably never would have made the team. That’s what you call an unbalanced trade … With the stimulus money to back it up, though, one has to wonder if Thunder GM Sam Presti could find a loophole to un-rescind the trade.”
Russell Westbrook is No. 2 in NBA.com’s rookie rankings: “If we used this column to talk about which rookie was playing the best right now, Westbrook, the newly crowned Western Conference Rookie of the Month, would be sitting on top of the totem pole. But this space isn’t about a snap shot. It’s a big picture look at how the Rookie of the Year voting should go at this point of the season, taking into consideration everything that’s happened from late October through early March. That said, doesn’t trail Rose by much.”
This writer on Bleacher Report thinks he has a plan for OKC. I don’t agree here, but it’s a plan nonetheless: “The number-one player on their list should be unrestricted free agent Jamal Crawford. Crawford seems the perfect fit for this team, he can play his position well, and hit threes. He struggles some on defense but will be able to run the floor well with the team. Second option is the Bulls’ former swingman, Ben Gordon. Gordon is pretty much a mirror image of Crawford, so I guess either or will do just fine. If the Thunder can’t sign any of those two players, then they need to go after a Marquis Daniels. But the main point is they must sign one of these three players.”
The On Deck Cirle revisits Oden v. Durant: “On the other hand, Durant has lead his team to a respectable 2009. His numbers have improved month by month, and he has developed one of the most complete offensive games a 20-year old has ever possessed. He is leading a very exciting team to the title of Bandwagon Favorite Young Team (yes, he’s taking that from the Blazers, too). And we still have no idea how high his ceiling might be. So go ahead, Oden supporters and Blazer fans (who, again, I realize run the internet), argue if you’d like. But it’s futile – you can’t convince me otherwise, and every day you grow closer to being forced to admit you’re wrong.”
Kevin Durant and Jeff Green to be featured in a new Nike basketball ad: “The Leap” campaign allows basketball fans to follow the inspirational, young and up-and-coming NBA athletes as they take the game by storm. Today basketball fans will have the opportunity to connect with the young talent of the NBA as they take the league by storm in an online interactive campaign entitled ‘The Leap.’ The Leap campaign, which was developed exclusively for the Asia Pacific region in partnership with NBA China, provides a unique experience for consumers to follow eighteen of the leagues up-and-coming athletes such as Yi Jianlian, Kevin Durant and Greg Oden as they carve their own personal paths to glory. After all, watching them navigate the difficult road to glory is what makes the game so engaging.”
Bill Simmons on the B.S. Report talks about Sam Presti and bringing the Spurs strategy: Starts at 23:10.
Ticket prices are supposed to remain steady for next year: “Oklahoma City Thunder season ticket prices for 2009-2010 will remain the same, according to Brian Byrnes, the team’s vice president of tickets and services. Fans in all sections have until April 10 to renew their season tickets. Details on fans wanting to change season ticket options, and the procedure for fans on the waiting list, will be made available in upcoming days.”
The Basketball Jones talks Russell Westbrook and the ROY: They get into at about 14:10.
Basketbawful Worst of the Night: “Kevin Durant: Hmm. The Thunder are 3-0 since Durant got hurt. DON’T TELL BILL SIMMONS. It’ll invalidate half the NBA columns he’s written this year. All three of them. Oh, wait, that’s his total column count for the year. Well, you get my drift. I’d hate to kill his bromance with KD.”
SI player’s poll: “What player would you least like to have on your team? Stephon Marbury, Celtics G…..22%, Ron Artest, Rockets F…..9%, Stephen Jackson, Warriors F/G…..5%, Kobe Bryant, Lakers G…..5%, Gilbert Arenas, Wizards G…..5%”
Fanhouse power rankings; all the way up to 23: “Just a likable young team. Oh, and they put the media through a real live practice, which makes the organization pretty likable as well.”
I read the bleacher report article, since I’ve always been a fan of Ben Gordon. He’s just a tad behind the times though, not realizing we traded away our draft pick for Thabo.
As much as I love a pure shooting PG like Ben Gordon, after seeing these last three games, I’ve about come to the opinion that if your defense doesn’t outshine your offense, or at least rival your offense, I don’t want you here.
Thabeet? I like that kid, and I think we could use him. Hansborough? Love that kid’s fight and energy. It’s contagious. I just don’t think he’ll be a great NBA guy. But if he can use that energy to play some killer defense, you never know.
And Thabo is playing more like the 2 guard of out future, not a SF backup to KD.
I’d rather watch Weaver/Thabo/RW develop that killer, nail in the coffin, dagger in the back, corner 3 when KD is doubled and the shot clock is ticking red, than to import a guy like Ben Gordon to take that role while we watch our overall defense pack it up and go home.
That’s exactly how I feel. Though I’d prefer Gordon over Jamal Crawford a hundred times over.
The thing we’ve got to keep ourselves from doing is getting content and thinking this roster is fine just because we won three straight. There’s a ton of room for improvement, but like you said, I’m not sure a major shakeup at the two is THAT necessary right now. Especially with what we’re seeing from Kyle Weaver and Thabo.
A true defensive back-to-the-basket center and depth, depth, depth.
If Presto Chango is following the Spurs model, we’ve potentially got the stars. Now we need more solid role players who can be stars when we need them to be, like Nick, Thabo and Kyle.
I don’t like the idea of signing Daniels, Crawford, or Gordon. Let the current guys develop, draft either Monroe or Harden with the lotto pick, and try to get a backup point guard (Patty Mills?) with the Spurs pick. Also, don’t forget that D.J. White is going to be totally healthy soon. I am very curious to see his game.
That’s very true. We forget about D.J. White. He was a really productive player in college and could be the Malik Rose of the future for this team but with a little more athletic ability.
Was that a compliment Royce?
Should it be “…could be the Malik Rose of the past for the future…?”
@MartzMimic
Yeah, that’s what I meant. Not the current form of Malik Rose. But the Malik Rose that was part of two championship teams in San Antonio.
Great job Royce on the NBA podcast today! Let’s try to make that Boomer Sooner closing tag line a one time deal though, haha. Aside from that, I’m really glad that dailythunder.com made an appearance on the podcast. They always have the True Hoop bloggers on, and I was excited to hear that you were one of the guests today. Great work!
You have to think if Presti took DJ he has some real skill…So far Presti hasn’t failed us…and I imagine sometime in the next two years we’ll be thankful we didn’t take Chandler (I’ve got faith in you Sammy P)
I wouldn’t be surprised if we made no major moves during free agency and we just saved the money for next year…(Bosh?)
(p.s. Simmons is an idiot)
I hope Durant makes the Fiba squad…Kobe forced LeBron to learn defense…Maybe he could do the same Durant? (supposing the Kobe joins the team again)
I think KD will focus on defense soon enough. A guy like KD isn’t going to be happy with his game his rookie year. He takes a good look at the film, and watching his own shot selection, his own decision making, his own everything, he sits there and takes it all in, and walks out of the film room with enough motivation to turn himself into a near all star the very next year. He’s close to the rule of 180, in his second year, for crying out loud.
So this off-season, he’ll take a look at the film. He’ll see improvement in his shot selection, in his decision making, his shot, his %, his everything. Then, he’ll walk out of the film room with enough motivation to turn himself into a near member of the all-defensive team the very next year.
Right?
Right.
He’s got the skill to do it that’s for sure…Man…Sky is the limit with this kid…If only his true talent could be expressed in Nba 2k9…
Just to weigh in on the offseason moves, I can’t see how Presti stands pat. We need to remember that this team is still 2 games under .500. This is still a team that is overlooked by most of the teams it plays. This is a team whose three best players, by far, have less than 2 years in the league.
Given the state of the economy and it’s effect on the NBA, this offseason may very well be the best time to cash in for the Thunder. I’m going to be honest and say what most Thunder fans don’t want to admit: no good free agents are coming here in the next 3 years. Kid Delicious and Hustle Russell will make this team attractive once they get the team into the playoffs consistently, but not before. So, besides the draft, the Thunder are going to get considerably better players in trades than in the FA market.
Sell, sell, sell! That’s the way GMs are moving. On one hand, the economy is tying owners’ hands, and they need to cut payroll, and good players are usually paid the most. On the other, even if teams aren’t looking to shed their stars, a whole lot are looking to cash in with a Lebron/Wade/Bosh in 2010. They need to shed contracts and their productive role players in order to get in position. This, I think, was as much a reason as health to pass on Chandler. Think about it. Chandler is going to be even more available this offseason. Add in that the Thunder could make a run at a sign and trade for Millsap (a fantastic young PF that could be with the team for another decade) or a plethora of other very good players, and it seems like the team is better off cashing in during the summer than using it all at the deadline. Chandler is a great player, and I think a good fit with the team, but who knows whether someone a lot better will be available?
I really need to edit my posts better before hitting send.
*this team is still [29] games under .500
*the economy and [its] effect
I’m glad you clarified that Keith. When I read that “2 games under .500″ I was about to ask if you had watched “Crystal Darkness.”
Put me squarely in the camp that does not want Crawford or Gordon. Period.
When I first became a basketball fan 20 some odd years ago, I was all excited about guys that scored the most, or did the most exciting things on the court, but much like Jax says above,after awhile you figure out that the defense needs to be solid. The Sonics spent 4 years figuring out that all the offensive firepower of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis doesn’t mean anything if you dont D-up. Dean Oliver did a study where he proved that the defense “doesn’t always win” the big games, it’s actually slightly tilted toward offense, but no “bad defensive teams” ever win anything. You have to at least be solid defensively. The Thunder haven’t been solid defensively all year until the last four. Putting shoot first guys like Crawford or Gordon on the floor with KD and Green would be about the worst thing you could do imo. You would essentially have the Wizards. Lots of big name scorers (Jamison, Butler, Arenas) and never get out of the first round because they can’t stop anybody.
No, we want solid, two way players around our young guys. There is definitely a blueprint that Presi is following with his wings and bigs. CJ Miles, Thabo, Weaver, Krstic (getting rid of Wilcox, Szczerbiak etc). Gotta play some defense.
Great job on the podcast Royce!
@Keith
I have to disagree about our ability to attract free agents- especially with the economic troubles hitting the NBA. Big named free agents want to get paid- it’s hard to generalize about star players as a group, because they are pretty far from fitting into any one mold- but getting paid has to be right up there with playing on a contending team as far as what makes an offer attractive. Everybody that knows anything about basketball acknowledges KD’s off-the-charts potential. I think the general perception in basketball circles is that we have a great young core with a ton of potential. THAT,coupled with having more money under the cap to offer than just about anybody else, has got to make us an attractive destination. I’ve read some pretty snide criticism of OKC as a “dust bowl”- but that’s just so much BS. Been to Dallas. And San Antonio. And Houston. “Quality of life” is the same or better in OKC- and our crowds are a lot louder.
Come on.
@Steve H
Here’s the thing. I didn’t intend to say that OKC couldn’t land ANY free agents, just that they are unlikely to land top tier free agents. Yes, we have a wonderful young core, but there aren’t a lot of guys who want to spend the prime of their careers (when most good players first hit unrestricted free agency) rebuilding. And remember, when it comes to money, the current team can always offer more. There are only two reasons that top level players move in free agency. 1) Their current team and/or management is horrible, and they want out of a bad situation. 2) The lights and glitz of NY, Boston, or LA has drawn them out to bigger markets (and even then they have to be unhappy with their current team).
I don’t have anything against Oklahoma, I like it, a lot. But me liking it doesn’t change the fact that it’s still in the early phases of the NBA. Though it’s not one, it looks a lot like an expansion team from outside. Winning brings people (fans, media, value free agents), people open the door for money (for owners, other businesses, and sponsors), money brings guys who want to get paid (top level free agents). This isn’t an indictment of the state (like bitter Seattle-ites often say), this in an indictment of the system.
Kid Delicious and Hustle Russell (I’m a sucker for rhyme) will get us there in time, but that time isn’t quite yet.
Besides, there aren’t any good UFAs this year anyway. Boozer is good for what he does, but he’s undersized and a poor defender. He also is injury prone and not particularly fleet-footed. Not exactly a great fit here. Millsap is basically a younger, better version of Boozer, but he’s restricted. The most significant improvements could be made through a trade, anyway. So, it doesn’t really matter whether big names would come here on their own.
hi-5 to you for picking up the basketball jones question I sent the guys. Nice to see them recognizing RW as well.
The thing I’d tend to agree with from the bleacher report is possibly taking Hansbrough. You might clog the PF picture more but you let it sort out and trade some over time.
I’ve said it before, for this team I might go after Troy Murphy.
Or Charlie V.
@geoff
Ah, very nice. Well done.