Tuesday Bolts – 7.7.09
Ah, feels good to be 1-0. I hope this isn’t the only time it happens this year. 
James Harden is on Twitter though he’s not exactly the most active Twitterer out there. He’s got three updates, all from draft night/the day after. I think Shaq needs to hold a rookie Twitter seminar where he teaches players how to properly do this. I don’t think Russell Westbrook has it figured out either. The majority of his posts are, “Watssss goooooooood,” or “bout to workout.” Maybe Nick Collison can give them all a hand this season.
The Shaun Livingston story gets more amazing by the day. Tim Potvak of Fanhouse has a nice story on him: “He may never be the player he once was projected to be, but just seeing him on the court moving well again should be an inspiration to anyone trying to return from an injury.”I’m not a success story yet,” he said after his seven-point, six assist performance in a Thunder victory over the Magic Monday. “But I will be.”
Tony Meija reporting for the Oklahoman: “It’s huge for [Westbrook] to come out here and be dominant,” Thunder summer league coach Brian Keefe said. “Without Kevin (Durant) and Jeff (Green) here, it’s important for him to assert himself, continue to be more vocal and really lead a lot of these young guys. We know he’s got a tremendous work ethic and great upside. But it’s the confidence that we’re looking for out of him that this next week will most help with.”
Dime on yesterday’s action: “James Harden scored 17 for the Thunder against the host Magic, while Russell Westbrook put up 22 points (16-18 FT), five boards and nine assists. Starting at small forward for OKC, Shaun Livingston had seven points and six dimes, and most importantly, didn’t move like a guy with a faulty knee.”
Sam Amico’s thoughts on yesterday: “First-round pick James Harden (Arizona State) was especially impressive for the up-and-coming Thunder — making 6 of 9 field goals (including 2-of-3 on 3-pointers) for 17 points. Former NBA coach and PBN contributor Eric Musselman thinks Harden will be better in the pros than he was in college.Another guy to keep an eye on: Thunder forward D.J. White. He’s entering his second year but actually will be more like a rookie, as White missed last season after surgery to remove a growth on his jaw. At any rate, White had a nice outing in his summer debut, making 6 of 10 shots for 13 points and pulling down nine rebounds.”
Some of David Thorpe’s comments: “Harden looks like a top 3 pick. He’s in total command of his game … Harden continues to impress. It looks like he’ll fit in great as the third or fourth wheel for OKC … If the Thunder was a stock, it’d be a hot one. They have a number of good looking young players here. White, Westbrook, James Harden, Livingston … Add Ibaka to the list … The Thunder, as an organization, should be proud of their win. This was a prepared group of young men.”
Third Quarter Collapse on the game: “The Thunder led by as many as 15, with the Magic snagging the lead only twice, and never by more than a single point. Once Westbrook made up his mind to drive the ball, and once third overall selection James Harden heated up, the Thunder really didn’t look back. They coasted, in fact, not that I can blame them. The Magic looked like a group that hadn’t played together before–how about Ryan Anderson spinning right into Darian Townes as Anderson made his move to score in the low post?–while the Thunder have some familiarity with one another.”
And a couple pictures from yesterday’s Summer League game (Photos by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images):
Not as much love for Ibaka as I expected.
Where does one get a pair of those shorts?
Mullens looked much better than I expected. If he hits the weightroom, he’s gonna be a beast in a couple of years. He actually had a pretty nice little jumpshot, and I’m sure Krstic will be able to give him some pointers, too.
And I love that picture of Ibaka on the upper left–he doesn’t even look like he’s trying, and he’s in perfect defensive position to block that shot. I feel like he can definitely contribute this year.
The biggest thing I want to see today is killer instinct. If we get up on the other team, we can’t let them back in the game like we did Orlando. And as the PG and leader for this summer league team, that job falls to Westbrook.
When you wrote about Westbrook’s tweeting, you made him look too literate.
@Clark Matthews
Haha, it should have been more like “btou to wrkoutz yalllllllllll.”
I followed the Sonics message boards after the PBO bought the team and remember seeing the exact same comments from Seattle fans about Robert Swift. The thing was, Swift was great in the weight room and put on a ton of muscle…we see how that worked out.
@Clark Matthews
And also unmatched at the tattoo parlor.
Also, on RealGM there’s an article about a lot of teams’ interest in CJ Miles. The Jazz can’t trade him until July 25th, but he might be a nice backup for KD, and we know Presti has interest in him. Isn’t he the only FA we’ve actually signed to an offer sheet (before Utah matched)?
@Clark Matthews
I’m not saying he’ll be great, just that he had a better jumper than I expected. He also has a decently large frame for someone so tall, which prompted the weight room comment. On the other hand, he was weak on rebounds for his size, and extremely foul-prone. Definitely a project, but I expected much worse.
@Royce
If BJ starts getting inked up, I’m renouncing everything good I said about him.
Yeah for me, I was just shocked to see that jumpshot. I think Thad Matta really had the reins pulled tight with Mullens.
I like how Harden’s twitter handle is the perfect p0rn handle.
I’m really pulling for Shaun Livingston. I’m such a sucker for the tough luck story. I wanna see him make it.
It’s not even noon and I’m already in the mood for some more Dante and Gallante.
Nick Collison’s twitter is still the gold standard for twitter users. English over tittertype, humor, just the right amount of busy. It must be nice to know that once this NBA gig is done, he can get a job writing for Conan on latenight.
@Royce
I watched two Ohio State games over the weekend on the Big Ten Replays (yes, I was up late with nothing better to do) and the offensive and defensive scheme they ran was absolutely the worst for BJ Mullens.
First off, they ran a 3-2 zone (not 2-3, 3-2) which means that your PF and C have to flare out to the wings to contest 3′s, drawing them away from the basket. Now does it sound like a good idea to pull your 7 footer away from the basket and out to the three point line? Hence why I can see how Mullens’ numbers in rebounds and blocks were less than substantial.
Secondly, the perimeter players NEVER gave him a decent entry pass into the post when he had his man sealed, IF they passed it to him in the post. Turner and Hill never looked at Mullens as a first or second option once they penetrated, and almost always looked to shoot or kick it out for an open three, which is not a bad thing unless your center is breaking to the basket and wide open. Oh, and apparently the pick-and-roll at Ohio State doesn’t involve the pick receiver ever passing to the rolling big man when double-teamed either.
I don’t think Mullens is anywhere near ready for at least 2-3 years, but he’s not as bad as his freshman year would indicate.
On the flip side, Ibaka is much farther along than I thought he would be and James Harden is exactly what I thought he would be thus far (early, but still).
“… and the rebound goes to that guy”
That may be my all time favorite sports line now. you guys need to youtube ibaka. He actually has some decent range on his jumpshot. Thing I want to see is how is his team defense. I know he’s a a shot blocker. and how he does in pick n’roll.
ahh i can’t wait for more DnG.
I dunno about DnG. They remind me of a Morning Animals crew with higher NBA IQ and that hampers my enjoyment.
Things I’d like to see today:
*Westbrook: 2 or less turnovers and less shots taken when being double and triple teamed.
*Ibaka: I’m hoping for 3 blocks because I love to watch this guy even if he kinda looks like a deep bench player on a decent team. Also, 6 fouls? Let’s reel that in a bit.
*Harden: More assists; seemed like he had more than one when I was watching, but love his passes.
*Weaver: Hit a 3
If we get more of the same from everyone else, I’d be content.
@Lefty
I bet you can find them online. I bought some from a Hibbett Sports, not knowing they were what they were in summer league.
wear*. not were
Signs of progress I hope to see.
Westbrook – 1-2 turnovers, shoots 50% from the field with at least 3 makes outside 15 feet. Jitters are over, and he knows how fast his teammates can play now. Time to buckle down and show what you’ve been practicing this summer. I’ll give him some leeway due to the hard knocks rules that opposing guards are putting on him.
Harden – Be a bit more team oriented. For much of the game, he still thought he had to do everything once he got the ball. Move the ball around more and stick some more jumpers off the catch (that IS going to be your role when the season starts).
Ibaka/White – Play within yourself. If you don’t make a clean catch, push the ball back outside to your open guards. If you have good positioning, call for the ball.
Weaver/Vaden – It’s not really your fault that you are going to be the late option on the court, but take and make your open shots. Both more than once did the “step inside 2 extra steps before hesitating on a jumper” that was incredibly frustrating from our SGs all last year. You are being graded on your shooting, so stick the three!
@Mark!
Oh, come on! “Hungry Hungry Hibbert” is classic! I laughed at the “Larry Bird looks like he ate a whole rotisserie chicken.” They made the non-Thunder games watchable, even if they’re not entirely focused on the action.
I agree with your player assessments, though. Westbrook needs to let the game come to him, and be opportunistic. That’ll help his turnover numbers AND his shooting %. He forces things too much.
And I have to say that I’m extremely impressed with Harden’s passing. His first one to Westbrook (although it didn’t result in an assist because of a foul) was ridiculous. Let’s hope he keeps up the good shooting from 3.
I think you guys are expecting too much out of these Summer League games. I understand that the Thunder team is trotting out a bunch of guys that have played together briefly, but there are no set plays they’re running. This is just a tad more organized than a pick up game. You aren’t going to see a high screen pick and roll and lots of offensive rotations. Harden, Ibaka, Mullens, Vaden… these guys don’t know the plays yet. The guys that do know the plays can’t run them, since no play is drawn up to only work with 3 guys on the team.
The spacing isn’t right, the pace isn’t right, you can’t anticipate your team-mates tendencies because you don’t know them yet. All you can do is run the most basic of all basketball sets and show your athleticism within that tiny framework. It’s the perfect way to see what basic balls skills a player has without burdening them with the complications of a team’s motion offense.
So with that in mind, I don’t blame guys for turnovers or poor shot selection. These can easily come from guys being out of position.
What I’d like to see is no unforced turnovers from Westbrook. No out-of-control fumbling of the ball, or double dribbles. I don’t mind if he passes to a guy who should be there but isn’t and the ball goes out of bounds. I don’t mind if Harden takes the shot when he has it rather than passing it. He’s supposed to for now. Later, when he’s ran through Thunder camp and is familiar with the offense, he can pass up a shot for a pass to a man with a better shot.
Vaden is a spot up shooter right now. Until he develops a more well rounded NBA game, that’s what he’ll do, shoot spot ups. Summer League is a poor place to execute this skill, since spot up shots are a result of a drive and kick, or the proper rotation on a half court offensive game plan. Due to all I mentioned above, the Summer League offense just isn’t set up like that. Sure, you can find an open guy now and then, but it isn’t planned. It’s not because Livingston knows where Vaden is going to be on any particular play, it’s because he saw him there uncovered. Know what I’m trying to say?
Just keep that in mind when watching these guys. It’s more about the workout and playing at game speed and burning that team-mate learning curve when the score doesn’t count than anything else.
So apparently, Dallas and Toronto are working on a sign-and-trade for Shawn Marion, and they want to bring either Memphis or OKC in to the deal to take on some of Toronto’s salary. Anyone here want a Kris Humphries?
@Vega
nice pic
Unless he’s the lost brother of Craig and Kirk, then no.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
Well said.
@ Jax I agree with you on people taking these summer league games too seriously.
Anyone else watch any of the games last year? other than me? cuz they are about the same(basically pick up games).. other than the game when KD played.
which is all the more reason why i like the announcers for the summer league. they understand its not a serious game.
@alex
I ran software update on QuickTime. I also downloaded the windows media component for OS-X & QuickTime.
Re-started the computer & I was good.
Vega I have thought that Kris Humphries is better than most fans think and even his coaches given his limited playing time. He thinks of himself and was considered a skilled big and he disappoints some there as a shooter but he has increased getting to the line a lot and as a banger he rebounds fine. He really has got his turnovers under control. His PER has gone up every season and stood at 16.3 last season. The defense at PF was pretty good last season. Toronto had its highest win % when he was on the court of any player. Probably mostly garbage time but still that is the best he could do with that time. Yeah if they wanted to give him away he’d have value if they were willing to carry a 7th big. Get him to shoot less from the outside and he’d be even better. As a contributor, insurance or to help with depth for eventual trade talk about an upgrade big someday somehow.
I just heard from my dad that the Thunder’s giant new scoreboard got delivered today and is being assembled as we speak. Hopefully I’ll have some pictures of it soon.
@Royce
Awesome, can’t wait to see it.
Humphries is a young 24 and has 5 years experience. That is a general rare and pretty attractive combo to my way of thinking though a lot of Thunder players will get there. It takes awhile for bigs to know where to be, what to do and not do. He “should” know by now pretty well and his legs are still young enough to use that knowledge. His contract is 3 mil this season with a player option for next. I haven’t seen much recent tape but there is worse “garbage” out there. Presti has taken a ton of garbage on far worse.
I can’t find this proposed deal anywhere. Someone want to point me in the right direction?
At some point to make playoffs or make noise there Presti probably will have to move 2 or 3 pieces for 1, or some such talent and experience upgrade, and maybe several times. He probably won’t though unless and until he personally gets frustrated with the results of his handpicked design (and that group is now really deep- at least 11 guys and after next draft will be nearly total or total). Or the owner does.
From David Thorpe’s Livetweeting from summer league:
“Robert Swift may have the most ironic name in the league.”
burnnnnnnnn…
I don’t think Humphries -OKC has been explicitly mentioned yet as part of Marion to Dallas. I think Vega is thinking ahead that it might or could involve that.
I commented on Humphries though I try to avoid hypothetical trade talk because I have thought reasonably favorably of him as a rotation piece. I have no knowledge if it is actively under consideration.
David Thorpe’s commentary is generally very surface and general and obvious and simple and too rarely shows any special insight despite his up close contact with many players. In my opinion.
@Royce
that jumper shouldn’t shock anyone, it was a weapon he had in high school, part of a package that had people claiming he could be a No. 1 overall pick one day.
He shot 70% from the floor during Big 10 play next year, he’s got skill.
Also, I really love Livingston
@Crow
Yes, I was thinking ahead. I don’t think that Presti would want to take Marcus Banks’ awful contract, and I doubt that Toronto would want to give up Quincy Douby or Patrick O’Bryant, so Humphries is the only other option.
I just thought it was a funny quote, but I agree with you otherwise. His dropping Westbrook from #1 to #7 in the final Rookie Rankings was perplexing.
BTW, anybody read David Kahn’s Truehoop interview? Said that he knew the situation would be “fuzzy” if they drafted him, and also said that he didn’t know the status of Rubio’s buyout, and that “It’s really a question for Dan Fegan.”
Thank you for hiring that Spanish Law Firm, Sam. Thank you x1,000,000.
@KingGondo
No doubt… dodged a bullet on that one as far as I am concerned. I like Presti’s conservative and carefull approach.
Thunder reportedly have a lot of interest in signing Varejao. Think it will happen? Good move? discuss
@Bang4ur$
I said it yesterday, but I really don’t see him as much of an upgrade over Nick Collison. He flops better and has better hair, but as far as on the court production, you get about what Colly gives. Colly is already under contract this season and next for 6 mil each. So I don’t see where Andy V fits.
It is always the case but at this point with Sam’s 11 guys and the few holdovers anything you add will bump somebody to the bench or outta here.
It will generally be pretty hard to get better without spending a lot of money or a high draft pick asset.
You can potentially build up a stronger 8-9 man rotation if you can find the right deal to move several of your assets for greater assets. Most multiple for 1 deal proposals flop because there isn’t a buyer willing to buy the price for that set of assets. Occasionally it can be done by the lucky and / or very sharp GM.
I haven’t looked close at yet but the Thunder cap challenge in summer 2011, 12, 13 will be pretty high. Presti may really have to do multiple players for 1 or see players simply leave for playing time and money.
Varejao is almost 27. About 2 years younger than Nick but Presti probably isn’t going to take anybody over 25 right now. Krstic in just turning 26. Thabo just hit 25. Maybe he changes this pattern but probably not for at least another year. Next season’s results will bear on whether he stays the course or changes his valuation of experience compared to youth.