Comments on: Wednesday Bolts – Almost There Edition

By: p

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:38:03 +0000

its possible that they just didnt want to give an answer … the likelihood that chucky atkins didnt respond because he doesnt like scott brooks is a reach … chucky atkins has no real future in okc .. he’s a veteran, he knows that … it just doesnt make a lot of sense to publicly back someone who hasn’t been co-signed by the powers that be …
as far as thabeet, i’m not big on him – but (i dont think) there’s really no one draft-able (sic!) that high that would impact the thunder as much as he could….
there biggest need is interior defense .. they are soft as charmin down there … scoring would help down low, but not as much as defending …
thabeet addresses that …
i know everyone prah’lee wants blake … he would give interior scoring, rebounding & toughness … he wouldnt really improve the dee down there tho …
think of the game zach randolph had early in the season, dwight howard, all the portland bigs, al jefferson … the list goes on, teams feasted down low …

(& im NOT saying that taking thabeet would be better than taking blake – that would be ludicrous)

By: Jax Raging Bile Duct

Jax Raging Bile Duct — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:11:00 +0000

I think journalists are just as believable as weathermen and marketers. You never know how the question was asked, or what the response was in full. The article only lists the responses from Durant, Livingston and Watson. Maybe those three got the question phrased one way, and others got it another way. Maybe they asked Russ if he thought Brooks was going to be coach next year, and he muttered an honest “I don’t know, maybe.”

I just find it hard to believe that RW isn’t on Brook’s side enough to endorse him.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:09:15 +0000

I about choked when Rick Sund and Wally Walker drafted Swift sight unseen (they never scouted him and never had a private workout, they just trusted a scout) and then Drafted Sene in the lottery. Crap, I knew Sene was a bust. Swift was never healthy and then got weird. I was okay with Petro because he was a late first rounder, so it was a stab in the dark.

I did like Lopez very much, but I like Westbrook a lot now so I am more than fine with that pick.

Thabeet will have a long NBA career, but doubtful he will be a career starter imo. He will be a specialist or a role player I think, and I don’t think his name should be associated with the lottery at all.

By: J.G.

J.G. — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:21:08 +0000

Clark Matthews :
KingGondo :I’m intrigued by Thabeet. You obviously can’t teach being 7′3″, and his defensive ability has been a constant through his UConn career.
That’s the rub. Calhoun lets his big men campout by the basket inflating their block numbers. If Thabeet did what he does to be such a dominant shot blocker as an NBA player, he’d be called for illegal defense constantly.

Perfect analysis. Well said.

By: J.G.

J.G. — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:19:07 +0000

@Clark Matthews
I wouldn’t read too much into Westbrook being non-commital. If you watch him do any kind of interviews he is extremely careful with his words and very cautious not to speak for the front office. Plus, he’s a rookie who got his first start the second Brooks became the head coach. I’d suspect that Westbrook didn’t want to say anything having only played one season in the NBA or appear presumptious rather than saying anything negative about Brooks.

But I definitely agree with your surprise about Earl Watson being such an avid and staunch Brooks supporter in wake of the unexplained demotion.

By: Clark Matthews

Clark Matthews — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:15:38 +0000

KingGondo :I’m intrigued by Thabeet. You obviously can’t teach being 7′3″, and his defensive ability has been a constant through his UConn career.

That's the rub. Calhoun lets his big men campout by the basket inflating their block numbers. If Thabeet did what he does to be such a dominant shot blocker as an NBA player, he'd be called for illegal defense constantly.

By: J.G. (Joey)

J.G. (Joey) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:12:36 +0000

@Vega
You and, apparently, almost all of us (I really think the Blair throw sealed a multitude of suspicions for a lot of people).

Nix, I think our tones would change, for sure, since he’d be a member of the Thunder. And I’d never give up hope that Thabeet would suddenly develop a steely disposition to go with his ridiculous athleticism at 7’3…but honestly, the nagging doubt that Thabeet would always be just another Johan Petro would never leave unless I saw it with my own eyes, like a splinter in my mind.

By: Clark Matthews

Clark Matthews — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:12:30 +0000

@Vega Nah, if that happened, the Sonics probably wouldn't have been bad enough to draft Durant and they probably would have locked up Allen and Lewis keeping the team mediocre and going nowhere. I like the position the team is in now a lot better. It hurts now, but long term the franchise is much better off. That might be the nicest thing I ever say about drafting Swift.

By: Clark Matthews

Clark Matthews — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:09:42 +0000

The article about the players wanting Brooks back was interesting in that The Oklahoman basically gave away what every player thinks. They said thirteen endorsed taking off the interim tag and that Chucky Atkins declined to comment and that Russell Westbrook was non-commital.

If thirteen guys had no problem speaking up for Brooks, that makes me think the two that didn’t were probably in opposition (even if they wouldn’t come out and say that). The two that didn’t were both point guards. I wonder if Brooks (who played point guard) is tougher on that position than the others.

The other fascinating thing from this tidbit of information is that Earl Watson (who is in Brooks’ doghouse) was one of the guys who endorsed Brooks for full time coach.

On another note, it sounds like Brooks got the one endorsement he needs: Kevin Durant.

By: Vega

Vega — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:02:47 +0000

I will weep for several weeks if Presti drafts Thabeet.