Fast Break Rumblings
May 18th, 2009
Over the weekend while watching some basketball and such, I had some thoughts. Here they are.
- Shane Battier became a basketball cult hero this season with Michael Lewis’ Moneyball article on him and then with his outstanding defense on Kobe during the Western semis. So it seems to me that other GMs would be looking for a guy to mimic Battier. And so while I was thinking of college prospects that could be the next Battier, one guy popped in my head – Thabo Sefolosha. Both are 6’7″, both are extremely lengthy and both take pride in their defense. Battier has been in the league for four more years than Thabo, but I can definitely see Thabo becoming an elite defensive stopper for this team. And if he develops a nice three-pointer like Battier has, well then color me excited.
- I absolutely can NOT wait for next season. I don’t know what the deal is right now, but watching the playoffs, I just can’t wait to watch my team again. I was excited for this season, but it was more of a shock I-can’t-believe-a-team-is-really-here type of excitement. Now I’m genuinely psyched for basketball next season. Almost as much as college football. Almost.
- I really wish Oklahoma City’s in-game production people would take the Laker approach instead of the Cleveland one. Instead of clips of Kashmir and other rap and rock songs mid-game, I’d much prefer the more classic organ-ish music. I love the way it sounds. It’s much better than hearing the same stinking songs every game. The organ (thing) is so much more classy. And I think that’s the type of organization the Thunder wants to be. So drop “Sexy Back” and bring in an organ version of Rocket Man Benny and the Jets.
- A lot of people seem to be curious about what Jeff Green’s potential role will be with this team based on what happens tomorrow night. But really, I watch a guy like Lamar Odom and see a lot of similarities between him and Uncle Jeff. Odom is more of a “point forward” that can handle the ball out front, but both are true tweeners that can go at the four or the three. Odom has been fine coming off the bench, starting at power forward or starting at small forward. Odom has been a bit of a disappointment throughout his career due to his insane skillset, but I think Jeff Green could learn a lot from watching Odom’s game – hit the boards hard, use your size to create mismatches, pass and handle the ball well on the move and knock down open jumpers with consistency.
- Season finale of 24 tonight. Do you guys think Jack will save the world? I dunno… I have my doubts. Just seems like he never comes through.
- I watched Kobe Doin’ Work Saturday night and I must say, I enjoyed the crap out of it. I got the feeling that Kobe was acting a bit with all the team love and such on the bench, but it made me want to see similar documentaries over people during games. What’s Kevin Durant like for 48 minutes? Is he that vocal? What about Jeff Green? What about other sports? I’d love to get that same look at say, Peyton Manning for a full game. But watch Kobe Doin’ Work – it’s pretty good. I think I’d like to watch more NBA games in that style.
- Something I have always wondered – why don’t NBA players wear t-shirts under their jerseys like some college players do (James Harden is what got me thinking about this)? Is that against the rules? Or just “uncool” to do so? So I looked it up. It’s against the rules evidently. Who would have thunk it? Let’s hope Tony Crocker knows about this.
- What’s the one team that if they win the lottery, will actually piss you off? I think it’s the Pacers for me. Seriously, screw them. I hope they don’t win it. What do they need Blake Griffin for?
- Just because I know you care, I like the Cavs in 6 and the Lakers in 7.
- TNT showed Stan Van Gundy’s pre-game pump-up speech yesterday and literally not a single player was listening. I actually think Hedo Turkoglu had headphones on. They were all taping ankles, looking around and basically just doing everything in their power not to hear a word he was saying. I really think that team is self-coached and everyone knows it… except Stan Van Gundy.
- So this writer from Lawrence, Kansas wrote this little piece “remembering” Wayman Tisdale. It basically just states that Wayman was “on hand” for this net-cutting incident that happened at Allen Fieldhouse in 1984. Safe to say, it was a complete crock of crap. It pissed me off so much, I actually called the sports editor there. I never do that type of stuff. He was neither apologetic nor embarrassed about it, even though his writer and his paper is being ripped unmercilessly across the country. He kept saying, “I just don’t really understand how this is offensive to Wayman Tisdale.” And that sir, is why you’re an idiot. If you can’t understand why rehashing a negative story that happened 25 years ago by linking it with the horrible death of Wayman, then, well there’s no hope for your soul.
- Hey, isn’t the lottery tomorrow? Yeah, I think it is.
I want to watch every Thunder game for the rest of time in the format of “KD doin’ work” I honestly think I might enjoy it more than keeping up with the other 9 players on the floor.
I would jump in front of a bus if the Pacers get the pick.
Cavs in 4 Lakers in 7.
“Who would have thunk it?” LOL @ that.
ORL in 6, DEN in 6.
I am not kidding.
If the Thunder don’t win the lottery, I will be most pissed if the Clippers do. Is there a single worse way to start your career than on the Clippers? Seriously, I just don’t want to see Griffin’s career wasted. If I had to choose a non-Thunder team to win, though, I would choose New Jersey. Griffin would get to play with a great PG in Harris, and the whole team would just be a lot of fun to watch.
For fun:
Cleveland in 4 – Even if Orlando is up by 20, is anyone going to think, “They got this one?” On the other hand, if Cleveland is up by even 5 to start the 4th, does anyone really think they lose the game?
Denver in 6 – Lakers are playing complacent and soft. Denver has hunger at every position, and at least one guy who’s been all the way to the promised land before.
The thing maybe most underrated about the Cleveland game experience is how almost all of the music they play is pretty recent rap and hip-hop. I think their homecourt is helped by the fact the players actually like the music. The Sonics played terrible music and repeated maybe 3 things over and over. Cleveland has a large rep mostly consisting of Jay-z and lil wayne, which to people in the peer group of the team, is awesome. Just though I’d point that out, doesn’t really mean anything, but does the Organ pump up pau and kobe?
It looks like that “journalist” from Kansas is rightly hearing it from the fans…They are murdering him in the comments section…
Oh, and I would least like to see the Bucks win the lottery…They are such an irrelevant team and their colors are horrific. My favorite non-Thunder team to win would be the T-Wolves because I think they’d have to go with Rubio…
@Keith
I agree about the Clips. That would be my No. 2 “hope not” team. Where high picks go to die.
the elton john song the lakers play is “benny and the jets.”
A) I think it’s really strange that you call Jeff Green “Uncle Jeff,” mostly because I have an uncle named Jeff Green.
B) I linked over here from Truehoop, and as a Jazz fan I gotta say that your Thunder are looking pretty amazing (besides the jerseys). Durant’s a superstar-in-waiting, Green and Westbrook are going to grow up quick, and all that cap space to just swim around in for the next few years. Oklahoma City, home to the Thunder AND the Flaming Lips. Jeez.
Ouch. Thanks for the heads up. I must admit, I’m not much of an Elton John fan (obviously).
Does anyone know where I can watch Kobe Doin work? Is it being replayed on espn or something?
@quick question
Hmmm… you can come over to my house. I’ve still got it on my DVR.
But seriously, check here: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/features/kobedoinwork
Maybe there’s a link in there where you can watch it. I’m looking through my guide to see if it’s coming on sometimes in the next week.
I watched kobe doin work as well. Found myself glued to the TV watching my most hated player. What a fun thing to have camera’s listen in on everything and than have a competant director shoot a live game, very cool. What amazed me was how interesting it was considering: a) it was a blow out, and b) kobe (the star) played relatively poor for his standards.
Cleveland in 6, Denver in 7.
Some of you remember the exit interviews at the end of the season. One thing that stuck was Brooks saying that he was going to meet with coaches all over the country to pick their brains and get better; become a better coach. Seriously I hope that he spends time with George Karl, with whom he coached and worked for for two seasons. They are obviously friends and friendly if you saw them jawing and smiling pregame before an OKC/Denver game. Karl is a brilliant coach.
I also hope Scotty is checking in with Rudy T, under whom he played and got a ring. Rudy T is a championship coach and really smart guy as well.
As far as the T-shirt thing goes, I notice a lot of college kids are starting to wear those underarmor type of stretch thingy’s under their jerseys, but they are cut at the sleeves, like wife beater shirts. Are those banned in the NBA too. Probably.
Tony Crocker wont even have to worry about not wearing a shirt under his jersey. Unless they dont allow that overseas.
Cavs in 5, Nuggs in 6.
Then Nuggs in 7 in the finals.
You keepin track of all these predictions Royce? I think we need a graph to show us how we picked.
Nuggets in seven, Cavs in five.
Haha, very true.
And you know what, I’ll start a spreadsheet for fun. Let’s see who’s wrong and who’s right. First place wins a refrigerator.
Haha… A thunderator with a nice big logo on the front. Nice.
That should have been on your mothers day list. At least we have something for next yr.
Hey, Father’s Day isn’t too far off…
This is very true.
I completely agree with you about Thabo being the best bet to be the next Battier. But even though Shane has just four years on him, he’s been playing top flight defense since his college days. So it’s more like 8 years of experience on him because Battier has been this mature and honing that craft since his freshman year at Duke. But with that said, I think Thabo can turn into that player with the next five years.
@Zach Harper
Oh absolutely. It’s wishful thinking, but while I was trying to picture “the next Battier,” Thabo was really the one player that came to mind for me. He’s got a lot of work to do, but he seems totally committed on the defensive end. I also thought about Danny Green from UNC, but I don’t know if he’s big enough to guard elite twos.
I don’t know if someone has already commented on this or not but in the Chad Ford article about Blake’s workout it compared Taylor Griffin to Battier. I have always thought that whoever ends up with Blake should take a long look at Taylor as well. He could really become a defensive stopper and good intangibles guy like Battier.
In other news its officially May 19th, lottery day has come at last. I’m pumped.
i would love to welcome james harden to the thunder if we dont get in the top two picks. the guy fulfills one of our two greatest needs and from the interviews and footage ive seen of him he’s just a pefect fit in the team. i rekon he would get along great with kev, jeff and russ. they’re all young, hard-working, humble and willing to do whatever it is the team needs to win.
Wasn’t taylor griffin like, dreadful on defense his entire career? and it’s not like he can use the blake griffin “they needed me on offense” defense, either.
Actually Taylor looked pretty good on defense this year and judging by all the games I watched I saw him block his fair share of balls with steals also.
He’s close to the same athlete as his brother Blake and has potential to get better on offense with his mid range jumper coming along also.
Cavs in 5
Nuggets in 7
dothe bulls get this year or next the thunder first round, for thabo
This year. OKC originally had three first round picks this year, but traded one to the Bulls. The Thunder still has the 25th pick though.