Wednesday Bolts – Anniversary Edition
Today is the one-year anniversary of this blog (sort of). It all started out a year ago with a justification of the team name and logo and now some 700 posts later, here we are. So congratulations are in order. For me. Send all gift baskets to 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, Ill. Oh, and we accept all forms of donations. Especially the money kind. 
But the Game Is On says Kevin Durant is going to amaze this year: ”However, after spending some time with and watching Kevin Durant, I have realized that there might be a new guy on the block that has just as much talent as Kobe already (he’s in just his third year in the league), is fun to watch, has the desire and passion to be the best, and has a ceiling that could extend to a player that we have never seen before. Not Kobe. Not Michael. Even Better.” A lot of good stuff in this piece. Read it.
Steve Aschburner of SI on the Thunder and with Scott Brooks: “On midseason acquisition Sefolosha as a defensive stopper, maybe even defensive leader (the Thunder ranked 27th in opponents’ field-goal percentage): ‘Having him the whole year will help. The way he plays is contagious. Some guys can change the game and not score a point, and he can do that. He can defend the 1, 2 or 3, and he has a good knack for — and this is a talent — getting scored on and coming down the next time exactly the same way, giving the same effort, like it never even happened. Those are the great defensive players, like Bruce Bowen. Thabo has that same sort of mentality. Plus, his corner three ball has improved a lot.’”
Paul Forrester of SI also has a long Q&A with KD: ”SI.com: You are eligible to become a free agent in 2011. What will determine your fate in a few years? KD: I don’t think about that, man. I’m enjoying being in Oklahoma City and being around my teammates, Oklahoma City is all I’ve been thinking about. I never really even think about going to another team. SI.com: What do you like about Oklahoma City so much? KD: It fits my personality very well. It’s laid back and calm, and that’s the kind of person I am. The people are tremendous and very supportive of us, and that’s what we need for a young team. And I love the organization and what we have in store. We’re big on family and that’s what we have in Oklahoma City.
How Scott Brooks spent his summer: ”Brooks has spent a large chunk of time working from the team’s practice facility in Edmond this summer. He’s also been to Orlando and Las Vegas for Summer Leagues and back to Las Vegas to watch Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green partake in the Team USA Basketball minicamp and for another training camp with Serge Ibaka and James Harden. Brooks returned to Oklahoma basically for good in August. Ask him how he spent his summer minus all his coaching duties, and he’ll talk about his wife, Sherry, son, Chance, and daughter, Lexi.”
BallerBlogger ranks the top 30 power forwards: “30. Jeff Green – Long, lean, and limber, the green Green has a world of upside. He runs like a small forward which allows him to beat most competitors to the basket with his quickness. He’s also a capable jump shooter with three-point range. Green still has to put on more muscle to become a better finisher, defender, and rebounder, but at the tender age of 23, he has a lot of time to grow.”
Nenad Krstic wasn’t quite as good yesterday for his home country, playing just 13 minutes and scoring just two points on 1-5 shooting. Serbia lost to Slovenia 80-69.
Not Thunder related, but this is great from the Blazers. Even though Jeff Pendergraph had to undergo major hip surgery, they still plan on giving him a contract.
Allen Iverson set to sign with the Grizzlies: “Barring a last-minute snag, Allen Iverson will sign a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Memphis Grizzlies in the next 24 to 48 hours, according to NBA sources, ending a summer-long pursuit of a team that wanted the 34-year-old’s game and cache and would provide him an opportunity for the playing time he still desperately covets.”
Ball Don’t Lie looks at the 10 most significant injuries of the last decade and Shaun Livingston comes in seventh. Hey, where’s Robert Swift?
Now under 50 days until the season starts in Oklahoma City. Adjust your life accordingly.
SI.com: Has it been difficult to maintain a positive outlook amid the team's struggles?
KD: There are always some down moments when you come from programs like Georgetown, UCLA, Arizona State, Texas, Syracuse. It's always tough to lose, but I think we all know it takes time. We're all young and we have a lot of years in front of us. At the same time, we can't take losing all the time. We have to fight every night and compete. So we're learning, we're getting ready to embark on something big, and it should be fun.
Giddy Giddy Giddy.
I like my team. A lot.
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