Friday Bolts – 10.16.09
Remember, chat with me on ESPN.com at 1:30 CDT today. Here’s a link to make your life easier.
Get to know Kevin Durant: “So we know you like to bowl and play video games. Which are you better at? “Video games. I can’t bowl that well, but video games I’m probably better at.” Favorite game of all time? “Madden.” Favorite team you like to play with? “The Ravens. Defense – I score all my points off defense.” What’s the toughest game you’ve played? “Call of Duty. I played that for a couple of days and after a couple of days it was too tough to beat so I just stopped.”
KD is a team player: “It’s no surprise Kevin Durant is really pushing the team angle this week. When asked by FanHouse if he wants to play for Team USA in the World Championships next summer in Turkey, the Oklahoma City forward couldn’t stop talking about how badly he wants to represent his country. Sounds as if he’d settle for the role of scorekeeper. Asked, though, about wanting to play next February in his first All-Star Game, Durant mostly just shrugged. This is apparently not a good time to be talking about such an individual accomplishment.”
It sounds so simple when you put it like that: “The game tells you what you need to do,” Westbrook said. “If I have an open shot I take it. If I don’t, and someone else is open, you make the open pass.”
SLAM’s top 50 players with Durant checking in at eight: “One of my favorite things about working for a magazine that covers basketball from high school through the pros is getting to watch players develop every step of the way, and see how Kevin Durant my/our projections pan out. When I saw Kevin Durant play in high school, to be honest, I had my doubts. Not doubts about making the League or anything, especially because the scoring was obvious then, but his skinniness drove me to distraction and I could not project NBA greatness for him.”
Has anyone else missed Nick Collison’s Twitter? We haven’t had an update in 11 days. I need those clever one-liners in my life again. I need it.
Shaun Livingston feels fine on the wing: “While he’s a natural point guard, Livingston said he also likes playing the wing positions. “I could end up playing a lot off the ball because I can guard bigger players as well,” he said. “I think they’re going to interchange, they’ll probably allow me to make plays more at the 2 and 3. I think it gives them more options with ball handlers out on the floor.”
I think most of us expected the athleticism from Ibaka, but not from Harden. Though Harden is a better athlete than I thought, what I’ve seen so far hasn’t been surprising.
It’s easy to fall for Ibaka with his hustle and such, but he’s a bit reckless so far. He’s insulated from that recklessness a bit playing PF or C. But if he were to handle the ball as much as Harden, I think we’d all be pulling our hair out at the turnovers/bad decisions. That’s not to bemoan Ibaka, he’s playing better than expected so far.
But Harden is stable and steady. He’s not turnover prone, and he isn’t making bad decisions. That’s worth much more than we’re giving him credit for.
Both of them will be inconsistent for a while – they’re rookies.
@Kev
Point taken… but Durant didn’t cover Beasley the other night. Green did. Durant covered Miami’s shooting guards. Durant also had some pretty good minutes at the 2 against the Suns, with Green at the 3, Ibaka at the 4 and Thomas at the 5. They opened up a pretty nice lead during that stretch and I’m fairly certain that Durant got a block. He also got a nice block on one of Miami’s shooting guards the otherr night.
Rookie and sophmore mistakes guarding slightly faster guards does not mean he can’t make it happen. If he can, it solves a lot of interior problems and gives the team one extra trade piece at the 2 spot.
Just a thought. I wouldn’t build the whole team around it unless it worked well. More than anything it’s just way to exploit some matchups.
And my dad can totally beat up your dad… even with bad knees and chronic fatigue syndrom.
I will preface my post by saying that I didnt see the Miami game. IF Durant could guard twos it would solve a lot of problems. I can pretty much assume that if Wade had been playing, then Durant wouldnt have been guarding him – at 6-10 I dont think he has the lateral quickness to stay with most shooting guards . . .
and to further elaborate – what if he did? then you are starting him at two and pushing Thabo (easily our best defender) to the bench. We get bigger inside, but there is no lockdown defender on the outside. You STILL are gaining much (if anything) . . .
change are to are not . . .
@Dai
I believe that Gay could play the 2 very easily and he has a very smooth jumpshot that goes all the way to New Jersey, that could definetely change our fortunes for shooting at the 2.
Gay is the typical overrated NBA scorer – he can score twenty a game but he does nothing else – he is part of the reason why the Grizzlies stink . . .
Man… Kev is just doin battle today…lol
But I have to agree that Durant cannot guard the quicker SG’s. But, I still think that the RW/Durant/Green/Collison (or Ibaka)/Kirstic combo deserves time in the right situations.
@Kev
I think Gay would make a good 2 guard for THIS team and can play some D on the SG’s in this league. Now don’t kill me Kev for my assesment of Gay, but if we’re looking for someone to stretch the floor with 3pt shooting Gay would fit that bill nicely.
It would be a pick your poison if you will, If teams double Durant then Gay would burn you for a sweet 3. The slashing prowess of Gay not to mention his jumper would send opposing coaches into cardiac arrest trying to gameplan this team. Especially with Westbrook spreading the love with his new found PG skills and the fact that Russel can get into the paint anytime he wants.
@Bryan
And the right situation is after a timeout when they have the ball for offense in last minute situations or game ending situations, unless the Thunder are down three and then you substitute Collison for Harden (and all of this depends upon Harden/Thabo’s three point shooting ability). Otherwise, the defensive issues still remain.
And I agree on Gay, too much flash and not enough substance. He’s a passing black hole and I still don’t see how the Grizzlies will have more than 10 assists a game with an AI, Mayo, Gay, Randolph, Gasol starting five.
And Gay is from Maryland too, that would make for good reception with Durant and Green.
We just spent the highest draft pick that we will hopefully have for many years to come on a shooting guard. We have Thabo, that every NBA commentator on the planet agrees was flat out stolen from Chicago by Presti. We have KD. We have Uncle Jeff. You think we should blow 8 to 10 mill per to try to land Rudy Gay in free agency- a small forward that COULD play 2 guard, when we have all that lined up already? I’m guessing you rode the short bus to school.
@GAP
Sorry, that last one was for you.
We’re getting rude around here lately.
I’m not into it.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
Sorry, but when people get snarky its hard not to get snarky in response. Please Royce, don’t make me join Crow in the balcony- I just look silly in a cape.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
I’m noticing that myself…. One of the things I like most about this forum is that everyone is relaxed and respectful. I would hate to see that change. If I want to argue I will go to Yahoo, or Loud City, or ESPN.
Agreed. I’ve been in Dallas all day and haven’t been able to really keep up. Let’s keep it cordial and civil.
I have seen Gay play plenty to know that Presti would never trade for him . . . he’s not a team player . . .
what happened to Crow??
@Kev
A dramatic, self imposed exile because people were complaining about his lengthy posts.