Wednesday Bolts – 7.8.09
A great story about Serge Ibaka and how he’s catching people’s attention: “Through two days at the Orlando Pro 
Summer League, Congo native Serge Ibaka has gained a lot of admirers. Whisperers are circulating about how Oklahoma City managed to pick up on a unique 6-foot-10, 19-year-old lottery-level talent under everybody’s nose, especially given the enviable stockpile of young skill players the Thunder have managed to draft over the past few years.”
Joe whipped up a few numbers on Harden: “I just did a quick calculation. Our offensive rating was 107, our defensive rating was 107.7. Harden is like a man among boys. His two game averages are: 28.9 minutes, (54.5%,)(44%),(80%) 4.5 rebs, 2 ass., 2.5 pf, 1 steal, 2 turns, .5 block, 18 ppg. That’s an eFG% of 63.6%. I know these games are somewhat meaningless, but it’s great to see how well he does a little bit of everything, including putting the ball in the basket efficiently, which is why most of us were so high on him, and why I think he will really help the team.”
Oklahoma City’s city council approved the new practice facility set to open in 2010: “The city council approved final plans for the project Tuesday. The council also awarded a multitude of contracts for pieces of a $100 million renovation of the Ford Center to bring it to NBA standards. The practice facility will be located near Britton Road and the Broadway Extension. It will include practice courts, locker rooms, a strength and conditioning area, sports medicine area, team offices and storage areas along with furniture, fixtures and equipment.”
Darnell Mayberry’s observations on yesterday’s game: “Ibaka plays with confidence even if he is raw. He isn’t afraid to do different things, shoot from the outside, bang on the inside, put the ball on the floor, rebound, contest shots, bring the ball up. He’s got a good mix of skills that could become awfully deadly because of his athleticism if he works to refine his God-given abilities.”
The AP’s recap: “Harden has proven to be one of the more athletic guards in the summer league. The 6-foot-5 left-hander from Arizona State played nearly the entire games against the Pacers and continually beat defenders off the dribble. He showed a smooth shooting stroke and played with swagger. And don’t be fooled by his full beard and receding hairline. He’s only 19 years old. Harden had a chance to send the game into overtime, but came up just short on a wide-open 3-pointer at the buzzer. “Wide-open look. Got to knock those down,” Harden said. “Big shot. Got to get used to those and be ready to shoot at all times. It looked good, felt good, just didn’t go in. It’s good that coach has that trust in me to take those big shots.”
Here’s an artist rendering of the new Integris Health Thundersoon-to-be-sponsored practice facility. I like how the artist put extremely fancy NBA-type cars out front, even equipped with monster rims. It would have been funny if he would have put a ’94 Ford Tempo and a ’96 Mitsubishi Galant out there. Not realistic at all, but mildly humorous nonetheless.
I got word yesterday that the Ford Center new mega-scoreboard arrived yesterday and is being assembled this week. It’s quite an ordeal from what I hear, with them basically putting together the huge parts on the ground and then using a lever and pully system to hoist it into place. I might have some pictures of it soon.
A little story about Russell Westbrook’s summer league experience: “For some players summer pro league is the most important time of the year because it’s their best chance to show NBA executives that they deserve an invitation to training camp. For Russell Westbrook this event is nowhere near as important though as he’s firmly established himself as a vital part of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s future. “I’m just trying to have some fun and make sure we win,” stated Westbrook.”
Just in case you were wondering, former Thunder great Rodrigue Beaubois signed a rookie contract with Dallas yesterday: “Rodrigue Beaubois, who has played professionally in France, took part in his first summer-league practice Tuesday and signed his rookie deal with the club. As the 25th overall pick, he’s slotted to receive almost $896,200 this season and $963,400 next season, with a $1.03 million option for his third year.”
Susan Bible of HoopsWorld on James Harden: “Harden looked extremely comfortable on the court, as if this was just another year in the pro league. The guy has an exceptional basketball IQ and court vision which were demonstrated throughout his minutes of play; he created shots for players, moved incredibly well, and showed some confident passing skills. Oklahoma City has serious reasons to be excited about James Harden.”
Sam Amico on Harden’s play: “I’m not sure who has been more impressive through two days of summer play: Oklahoma City’s James Harden or Indiana’s Tyler Hansbrough. I’d probably give a slight edge to Harden, who made 6 of 13 shots for 19 points in the Thunder’s 91-88 loss to the Pacers. Harden is just so talented with the ball, and like Hansbrough, doesn’t get enough credit for doing all the little things so well. Case in point: Harden also compiled five rebounds, three assists and a steal, and committed just one turnover.”
The new salary cap has been set: “The National Basketball Association today announced that the Salary Cap for the 2009-10 season will be $57.7 million. The tax level for the 2009-10 season has been set at $69.92 million. Any team whose team salary exceeds that figure will pay a $1 tax for each $1 by which it exceeds $69.92 million.”
The Birdman has signed a five-year deal with Denver: ”Andersen, who provided shot-blocking, rebounding and energy off the bench for the Nuggets in their run to the Western Conference finals, could make as much as $26 million from the deal, his agent, Mark Bryant, told the newspaper. Andersen could sign the contract as early as Wednesday, when the NBA’s free agent signing period begins. Andersen will earn $3.7 million next season from the contract, which is back-loaded and sweetened with performance incentives, Bryant said, according to the report.”
@dork
no, no, we just need to send Crow the stats so he can figure out the adjusted plus minus. then we’ll know what our best lineup it. of course, that lineup will probably turn out be jax, jax’s wife, 2 chairs, and the gatorade cooler, but still
6’2″ 220 (Bing! from Dan Patrick)
Strengths:
Nice stroke with good rotation
Crossover
Floor general
Knows when to defer to team mates
Weaknesses:
Think I can shoot the 3 (or anything in between)
Still thinks he can break ankles like he did in middle school P.E.
Bark orders until I get suckered punched or mule kicked
Thinks he can make “that” pass
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
“I am Jax complete lack of surprise..”
@Chas
Haha, you know Russ just saw the “mule kicked” and got Presti on the phone. “Sign this guy up!”
Russ can mule kick me any day.
This is completely off the current topic, but what the hell are the Mavs doing? Has any team made more moves and spent more money and somehow managed not to improve? Re-signing a declining Kidd for more money than he’s worth, letting Bass go, throwing the MLE at Gortat when they still have Dampier’s ridic contract ($23M/2Y remaining), signing Ross (backup defensive guard), and they’re still trying to exchange Stack’s expiring $7M contract for an overrated, declining system player in Marion.
I still see them falling behind the Lakers, Denver, Portland, and San Antonio. They move ahead of the Rockets, but that’s not really due to anything Dallas has done… I’d probably take my chances on Houston with a healthy Yao.
And not only have these moves not helped them for next year, but 2010-2011 looks even bleaker. It’s nice to have an owner who wants to spend, but geez.
@Chas
That was a little Man-Crushy…lol
we need to get this thing going people (but i’m not volunteering for it)
and how cool would it be if we get 10 peeps together and somehow get collison to ref/P.A. it?
btw someone point nick to the website so he can get a load of this self depricating descriptions of basketball skill
OKC vs Boston.
even though i like swift (just too goofy not to like) i can’t wait to see what ibakka does with him
@dork
collison would be a tweet-machine during our pickup game.
“i haven’t seen this many white people in one place since I took a recruiting trip to Iowa State”
@Dylan
LOL seriously if i was cool i’d have twitter and tweet him he needs to check this out…. alas i am a computer nerd that isn’t THAT cool..
collison – “did the rules change? I thought you could jump during basketball games”
@Bryan
and…?
Thunder’s up next! Let’s take this comment section in to the 600s. I wonder if that’s going to jam up anything for Royce and Joe?
@Chas
It’s the newest thread Royce just added.
Oh boy…what have I started.
Dammit! Oh well, That one will probably span 4 pages as well.
Oops. I could delete the other if you’d like…
@Royce
Royce, have you checked out http://www.oklahomacitythunderforum.com ?
Great forum, I like it because there’s no drama and just intelligent basketball discussion. Not to mention, fans from all over the world. Check it out.
Nah, it’s cool. I’ll let this one pass.
@Porkchop
Of course I have. I’ve posted there a time or two, but that was a while ago.
oh the DnG are on fire today… “robert swift showing his range… I really wish he wouldn’t have done that.”
I think we should have let Ibaka stay overseas one more year to develop more. Give him some more time to polish his game and get older.
I’m with Royce on forum predelictions. I’m Choda Boy on that forum, by the by. Smart and cool people will know that Choda Boy is of course the side kick to Orgazmo, the missioning mormon crime fighting porno star.
@tbird26p
I think its a good move to bring him over. The over seas game is different than NBA, We are not straining for roster spots. And if nothing else its an athletic body with 6 fouls to give. Also I think Brooks and staff will help him more than if he stayed overseas.
I understand and am willing to take the mild needles.
dork, I only point out “everybody’s errors” with pro basketball. Points out what I think are errors is mainly about trying to fully understand what happened and how to get better. I think observers have that right. I’ll point out good things too if I think they’ve gone unnoticed.
In other things I don’t generally point out errors.
I might if politics came up, though these days pretty much only when asked.
In 5 on 5 pickup games, awhile ago for me, I just passed and played defense, doing pretty well against opponents far bigger and better. About as easy a teammate as you could have. In 2-2 or 3-3 half-court I’d take my shots, usually mid-range to deep turn-arounds, often bank-shots.
As for adjusted plus-minus, I wouldn’t mess with it nick unless guys were serious and trying to win something bad. Like I assume Presti & Co. want to get a playoff berth and go up from there. You don’t get there with just a design, good vibes and effort. They’ll almost certainly have to see and fix some things. I understand I dwell on that part and it is in part because I leave the optimism to those in the position to feel that and play that role. I did more of that back when they were the Sonics.
I am not intimidated by the insiders and don’t necessarily think they are as wise / smart as some assume or grant. As I’ve said I’ll probably fade back or out at some point. But I still like analyzing basketball and this is a pretty good spot for it.
@Crow
You know, I’d actually be kind of interested to see what my +/- would be in a game of basketball and how my box score would read.
Haven’t looked at one with my name on it since high school!
Alright J.G. What position / role did you play?
Both raw and adjusted can be of some value though they can mislead too. They are just pieces of the overall puzzle.
It can recognize and reward players who are good teammates.
In case it sounded odd to anyone I took mid to deep turn-around jumpers because I never trusted my handle, needed to do things differently for rhythm and separation to get my fairly slow shot off clean. Sorta of a post player with PG height. A poor poor version of Tim Duncan moved 5-10 feet far out. But I could hit 12-19 foot turnaround wing jumpers from my favorite spots all day- unguarded, even with eyes closed to win some Horse games.
And I’ll say that I mostly took mid-rangers because I never played with a 3 point line. If there was I would have tried to be good at that.