Tuesday Bolts – 10.13.09
Ziller looks at the stastistical war waging with Kevin Durant: ”Some basketball statisticians think Kevin Durant has 
been overrated through two seasons of work, a tunnel-visioned volume scorer. Others believe him to be The Second Second Coming, a future pantheon invitee getting his sea legs. Where’s the truth? We’ll find out more this season, I’d bet … but not without a war.”
Alvin Gentry on the Thunder: “Everybody here has to be patient,” Gentry said. “The fans have to be patient. The ownership has to be patient and management has to be patient. They have a good guy running the team. They have great assistants I think you’ll see help develop these players. When you look at their roster, they have a really, really bright future.”
FanHouse player to watch, Jeff Green: “Jeff Green is the other-other Thunder. If Russell Westbrook is The Edge to Kevin Durant’s Bono, Jeff Green is one of the other U2 members that you don’t actually know because they aren’t The Edge or Bono. But if you haven’t been paying attention to Green because you’ve been too busy calling your friends to tell them Kevin Durant is breaking your mindskull, take a second look at the power forward for the Thunder. Because if Oklahoma City is going to take the next step this season, it won’t be on the back of Westbrook, but the man they call Predator.”
A Thunder preview on FanHouse: “The goal of the Oklahoma City Thunder should be apparent: Rise from the dregs of the Western Conference and into the middle-of-the-pack. That’s a realistic endeavor, and it will be the responsibility of coach Scott Brooks to get the Thunder there.”
Brilliant. (h/t Dooney)
The Scores Report previews the Northwest Division: “The Thunder added the smooth and steady James Harden in the draft, and he should immediately start at shooting guard. Athletically, he’s better than people give him credit for, and he should thrive alongside Durant and Westbrook. This team is still a year or three away from the postseason, but they are headed in the right direction and have a ton of cap space over the next couple of years to add an impact player.”
Valley of the Suns recaps last night.
Bump. Set. SPIKE!
Don’t hate me Cowboys, but I found this recruiting diary of Harrison Barnes to be rather interesting: ”But the next morning we had a lot of meetings. We met with academic advisors, the President of the university, the people in the business school, we toured the campus and then we toured the business school and some of the academic facilities. Needless to say, it was a very busy morning. After that we had lunch with the coaching staff and from there we got a little time to go to the hotel and relax before we went to watch the team practice. It was good to see the guys in action and see Coach Capel interact with them on the floor. From there we had a meeting with Coach Capel and talked a little bit. Then Doron and I went out with the players.”
Video recap of last night’s game.
Have fun last night? Well we get to do it for a full season starting in 15 days. Yee-haw.
Heard a new nickname for Serge on the Sports Animal driving in to work today: Chewbaka. Loved it.
@MartzMimic
I actually think that’s been his nickname for a while. I think he had it in Spain. I remember a few people calling him Chewie.
I loved those Surge drinks almost as much as I love the motor and need to block anything and everything near the basket that Chewy has!
Man, what a pleasant surprise he’s turned out to be.
Well, and Thabo’s newfound shot (hope that lasts) and KD’s and Green’s newfound love for man-to-man defense.
@MartzMimic
Uh, yes, we’ve been calling him Chewie/Chewy since he was drafted. No h/t for the DT from the Animal, huh?
I’ve heard Ibaka called “pantera voladora” in Spanish press. That means flying(leaping) panther.
I’m not big on Chewie.
Leaping Panther! ahahaha! Serge has a Native American nickname!
Also, I think Ibaka should take Andre Iguodala’s Hyperizers nickname, Chief Blocka.
King Congo isn’t bad either.
Hey, as long as he makes the roster and keeps forcing playing time from his blocks, rebounds and surprising offensive game, I’ll call him whatever he wants.
Oh finally getting to see Ibaka play – free (tickets from work
learning you can’t bring the beer from the first floor into the club section – 6.00
watching in glee as one flies into the stands – priceless
KIND of off subject… but it seems as though we have the 1st Daily Thunder League draft this evenin… y’all are SOOOO lucky I’m 7 hours ahead and will prob either be dilusional from being cracked out on Dew to stay awake for it or from just waking up and not yet having a pot of my Starbucks blend (No hard feelings Seattle).
I AM planning on wathcing at least Part 1 tonight of SonicsGate if I can ever stop procrastinating on here, study for my final and write my midterm. I guess if Hustle and KD can work full time and hit the books I can too, but GEEZ?!
“Serge Ibaka” is such a great name, I don’t think he even needs a nickname. King Congo is a good one, but I’m sure some politically-correct person out there would object to the whole African/monkey association.
How about Serge the Scourge?
I think I like Chewie, but I also like “Sir Blocka,” or maybe “The Surgeon.” Like @J.G. if eh keeps playing like that I’ll call him whatever he wants…
Serge Iblocka! Iblocka for short…
i mean his name is sooo close to sounding what he does! just add an L. Serge Iblaka! hehe man I already have a feeling i’ll be getting an Ibaka jersey.
Sir Blocka is nice. I like that.
OK, I guess I slept through the previous Chewbacca conversations. Sorry.
@MartzMimic
Wait, you don’t pay attention to ever detail on here, including every comment?
BANNNNNNNNNNED.
I still like Ibaka Blocka.
Read the story about Harrison Barnes…and seeing as how neither he nor Willie are 21 I don’t think it is a good idea to advertise that they were at 747. And yes I realize that underage people go to bars all the time but if you are a high profile person you should probably be more careful.
@Royce
I have an idea for the solution to the whole Thunder Up issue.(man that makes no sense)
While I was at the game last night something occured to me. This state loves 2 part chants. Two great examples. For the OSU Fans if someone were to yell ORANGE!! Your response is POWER!!! For the OU fan if someone Yells BOOMER!! your response is SOONER!! (eh just feels filthy typing the OU chant
)
We need one for the Thunder so we can get ride of the the Thunder Up nonsense…..
Unfortuanly thats about as far as the thought went and I have yet to come up with something… just a thought.
@MartzMimic
I’m hurt, Martz.
You mean that every single one of my life-changing comments on here don’t impact you to the point that they are burned in your memory?
Sir Iblocka definitely has the best ring to it.
Chewblocka, Sir Blocka, Sir Blocksalot, Sir get-that-weak-$h#T-outa-here……Whatever comes rolling off the tounge at any given moment…lol
And on the Thunder Up thing, we’re just going to have to mobilize a write-in campaign…. I mean really! Muther Thunder!
I’m all jacked up for the fantasy draft this evening, I can’t wait to see where i’m drafting first round. I really like the Iblocka nickname good job B-RY that’s pretty cool and also the King Congo as a secondary nickname if that makes any sense. It’s been said over and over again, but I must say that Thunder Up is the dumbest, non cool jingle since dont lay that trash on Oklahoma!
The game last night was great, Ibaka (King Congo)is the man and so are his royal subjects (couldn’t help it) and I think Livingston did an ok job it wasn’t like he lost the lead all by himself. I’m as giddy as a schoolgirl for the start of the season and seeing the whole NBA world gush over our Africian connection, when russel throws the Congo man alley oops or easy dump offs.
@GAP
Once Westbrook and Ibaka begin to get in tune with eachother on offense I know they are going to put on a show… I mean seriously, if you can’t complete a nice lob to someone that jumps as high as Ibaka, then you just can’t do it. And as fast as Ibaka gets back down the court, I’m looking forward to some nice high-octane hookups between those two in transition.
All also see the makings of a SWAT team… but so far only two members: Serge and Thabo (who also needs a knickname)