Arash Markazi of ESPNLA joins the party and writes about OKC’s formula to success: “Before a recent home game in Oklahoma City, a montage of Thunder highlights was played before player introductions as Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” played in the background. It was an appropriate song, not only because of Presti’s appreciation for John Bonham at the drums but because “Kashmir” took Led Zeppelin three years to write and produce. While some musicians tell tall tales of waking up in the middle of the night and writing a hit song or sitting in front of a piano and composing an entire album in a weekend, one of the defining songs by one of rock ‘n’ roll’s defining bands took three years to mold and master.”
Mark Medina of the LA Times: “What’s even more disconcerting, the Lakers actually tried this time. It featured Bryant and Gasol (26 points on 10-of-16 shooting) scoring at prolific rates, Steve Blake coming up with a rare solid shooting performance (nine points on three-of-three shooting) and Bryant refusing to back away from Perkins’ headlock, which resulted in a technical foul for both. But the negatives, such as Gasol’s four rebounds, Lamar Odom’s sudden drop in productivity (seven points on three-of-nine shooting) and the blown fourth-quarter execution hard to watch.” Read more…
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J.A. Adande of ESPN.com on small markets: “And it’s not about getting the fans to buy in so much as it is instilling belief in the best players. Oklahoma City has done that with Kevin Durant, who took a step in the opposite direction of the spotlight-seeking stars this past summer and committed to a five-year extension with the Thunder. When asked recently about the challenge of attracting other stars to join him in Oklahoma City, Durant said, “That’s come to my mind. I guess that’s the way we did it with the draft. They have to come if they’re drafted. But if we continue to just play hard and be a team that comes out and is known for playing hard and playing together. Hopefully, guys that love to play basketball will love to be a part of it.”
Chris Tomasson for HoopsHype on KD: “A lot of people forgot about me this year,’’ said Durant, averaging 27.8 points. “So I guess if I get the scoring title, I guess people will remember me. Last year, I kind of jumped on the scene. I’m the old guy. I’m not going out there and averaging 40 points a game and stuff like that. So people forgot about me. So, hopefully, the scoring title I guess will let people to know, ‘Hey, I’m here still.’’’ Read more…
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KD likes him some Gordon Hayward: “Kevin Durant was talking to me during the game (at Oklahoma City),” Watson explained. “He was like, ‘Man, (Hayward) should be starting.’ Kevin Durant loves him. He was talking about how good he was in the game.”
I loved Bruce Arthur of The National Post’s column on Derrick Rose and advanced stats yesterday, mainly because I view it all exactly the same: “But I don’t know how much to trust the numbers. Adjusted plus-minus makes some sense, and then you see that the mercurial Vladimir Radmanovic, along with 25 other players, rates better than Rose. PER is useful, but it fails to measure how empty Kevin Love’s numbers are compared to, say, Chris Paul’s. It makes me feel like a flat-earther to reject the advancement of statistics, and so I don’t. But I don’t think we’re close to a blanket way of figuring out the game. In some areas — in the areas of explaining how — I’m not even sure we’re close.” Read more…
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Sebastian Pruiti of NBA Playbook with a terrific post on how Perk affects Ibaka: “Ibaka is so dangerous as a weakside shot blocker, but until Perkins arrived, he was unable to be that threat to the best of his ability. The reason why is because Ibaka was forced into defending more centers while being the on ball defender more (vs. being the one coming from the weakside). A few reasons why this is less than desirable for Oklahoma City. First, with Ibaka covering centers, there is a size difference that forced him into situations where he would front the basketball.”
A lot of talk about Jeff Green yesterday. It started with a big post at Celtics Town: “Part of Green’s allure is that, during the best of times, he can make basketball look as easy as riding a bike downhill. Some players just look like natural basketball players. They move with a certain grace, an elegance that makes the game look effortless. Green’s one of those players. Even when he’s racing past Charlie Villanueva, he looks like he’s gliding. Even when he’s working hard, he looks like he’s hardly working. He’s one of the few players capable of joining Ray Allen in the “Players Who Probably Don’t Even Need to Shower After a Game” club. Yet despite all that smoothness, Green doesn’t contribute on a nightly basis.” Read more…
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Zach Lowe of SI likes a new play by OKC: “This can unfold in a variety of ways, but the basics are the same: Russell Westbrook and a Thunder big man will run a pick-and-roll at the top of the arc while Durant lurks elsewhere — sometimes along the baseline, sometimes on the wing. After freeing up Westbrook, the screener will begin his roll to the hoop only to suddenly veer in the direction of Durant’s defender just as Durant is curling out to the perimeter and preparing to catch a pass from Westbrook. The action is designed to free Durant for a jumper, but it can also produce a second pick-and-roll, with Durant as the ball-handler.”
An amazing post from Sham Sports looking at each team’s unsigned draft picks: “[Pleiss] is one of the best players on a Brose Baskets Bamberg team that is absolutely blowing away the rest of the German Bundesliga. Since the end of the ALBA Berlin dominance, there have been six champions in the past seven Bundesliga seasons, including Bamberg, who won it last season. Casey Jacobsen was a big part of why, as was Pleiss, and they’ve both been key cogs again this year as Bamberg have stormed to a 27-2 record.” Read more…
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Kurt Helin of PBT says OKC is on notice with Denver: “The Thunder have more size and more talent, they are more athletic. But Nuggets are going to make it very tough to beat them four times out of seven. This is a good team. And if the Thunder don’t bring it and are looking ahead to the second round they will not get there.”
Another who’s better from Chris Palmer of ESPN.com, this time between Blake Griffin and KD: “Despite his victory, Griffin has a long way to go. He isn’t particularly long and is bothered by post players who have exceptional length and must learn not to beat himself up when he makes a mistake. He could also stand to block more shots given his terrific hops. Durant is a phenomenal talent who can explode for 40 on any given night. But there’s a way to deal with him — be physical and push him as far out as possible to disrupt his rhythm. With Griffin, the league has figured out no such approach.” Yeah, Blake Griffin is not better than KD. Like in no way, shape or form. Read more…
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Ben Golliver of CBSSports.com picked Russell Westbrook as his Most Improved: “This giant leap forward not only made him an All-Star for the first time this year, it has defined Oklahoma City’s season and future. His emergence as a superstar will push OKC from 50 wins last year to the mid-50s and a Northwest Division title this year, and it gave GM Sam Presti the confidence to take the plunge on a franchise-altering trade for center Kendrick Perkins at the deadline, as he could be confident that he had two franchise building blocks that seamlessly fit together from which to build around. Westbrook’s improvement makes the Thunder the most feared team in the West this season — outside of the Lakers, of course – and it makes them, on paper, a sure-fire Western Conference contender for the next 5-10 years. Taken together, Russell Westbrook has improved his skills, bumped his numbers, carried his team to new heights and he’s done it in a way that seems sustainable for years to come. That’s everything – and more – that I ask of my NBA MIP. Give the man his trophy.”
ESPN.com’s 5-on-5 asked who the most intriguing team is: “Let’s see, they made a wonderful midseason trade, are winners of nine of their past 10 games and flaunt Kevin Durant, the league’s best scorer. What’s not to like?” Read more…
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Fast Company named the Thunder the sixth most innovative company in sports: “For proving that market size doesn’t matter. Following a nasty arena dispute between the Seattle Supersonic owners and city leaders, the franchise relocated in 2008 to Oklahoma City, the NBA’s smallest market (1.2 million people) and third smallest TV market. It ranks in the top 15 in overall attendance and is one of the most profitable small-market teams in any sport, worth an estimated $329 million, 18th in the league, according to Forbes. Kevin Durant, the NBA’s youngest scoring champ, and a core of young stars has led the fast turnaround, from having the league’s second-worst record to contending for the title.”
If you missed it, super weird moment to end the game last night. Aaron Brooks and Zabian Dowdell (former Tulsa 66er) were both ejected. Brooks, for apparently grabbing his stuff in front of Ken Mauer. Watch the video and you tell me what happened. Read more…
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Comment of the week award goes to Dylan in the post-game thread: “I really should apologize for tonight. I was at the movies with my brother, and we went to BWW after. I figured i’d get to watch the entire 4th quarter there, but when we sat down, there was just 15 seconds left. So I asked the bartender to send it to OT. My bad.”
Darnell Mayberry: “I can’t believe KD got the rip move call in overtime. I wasn’t in Golden State coach Keith Smart’s post game press conference. But I was told he had some comments about the rip move, saying it should be examined in the off-season. Doesn’t sound like he’s a fan.” Read more…
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Zach Lowe of SI doesn’t like Harden’s leg kick either: “You know I love the way the Thunder’s Harden has been playing in general lately, but is it me, or has he become the league’s foremost practitioner of the semi-dirty leg kick at the end of a jump shot? It’s a blatant attempt at drawing a foul, one mastered by lots of “wily” stars, including Reggie Miller and Karl Malone. A few officials have actually called offensive fouls on Harden when he does this, and I’m all for policing this play more aggressively by calling more offensive fouls.”
Darnell Mayberry: “Kevin Durant already taken seven more 3-pointers this year than he did last season. And there’s still 10 games left to play. AND if he plays each of the remaining 10, he’ll still be four shy of last year, when he played all 82 games. The numbers have been shocking. He seems to have diversified his game much more in his fourth season. But his 3-point attempts are staggering.” Read more…
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Single game playoff tickets go on sale April 14 at 10 a.m. only online at Ticketmaster. Remember, they will go fast and there is a very limited number. Manage your expectations. You probably won’t get a pair because seriously, they’ll be hard to come by. And yes, a playoff shirt is coming. In related news, get your Perk shirt now. It’s on sale!
Marc Stein’s power rankings have OKC behind Denver: “Don’t think anyone in OKC will mind too much at 11-2 in March, but Durant is in the midst of his lowest-scoring month all season (25.1 ppg) and almost never gets mentioned in an MVP race he was widely tipped to win.” Read more…
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From Berry Tramel’s chat: “On whether the Thunder would be more dangerous with a “pure” point guard: Yes, the Thunder would be much more dangerous with a pure point guard. More dangerous at falling out of the playoff race. Pure point guards are great if you’re trying to win Class 2A Oklahoma or the National Christian College Athletic Association title. If you’re trying to beat the Bulls and the Celtics and the Lakers, I don’t recommend a pure point guard who holds up three fingers and tries to set up a play. I recommend a guy who can blow past a defender and get the ball on the rim. I wouldn’t change one thing about Russell Westbrook. Not one thing.” What is everyone big obsession with a “pure” point guard? Who is asking this? Are people this dumb? I mean, really.
The NBA 411 on ESPN.com, talking how far the Thunder could go in the playoffs. Read more…
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Loved this nugget from Darnell Mayberry’s notes: “If Perk is one of the, if not the, league’s best low-post man defender, why is the Thunder still digging down and showing or sending double teams? Thabo Sefolosha sagged off of Gordon Hayward and showed just enough on Al Jefferson early in the first period for Hayward to drill a 3-pointer when Big Al kicked it out. Here’s what Perk told me after the game when I asked about that tactic. “We told him not to,” Perkins said. “He just did it on his own. That’s just being defensive minded. We’re going to do it as a whole. At the end of the day, you’ve got to show help for everybody. I actually like that he was digging. I’m used to being on an island by myself all the time.” That answer by Perk is nothing but interesting. So interesting I had to give the reason it’s own bullet. Think about it, the Thunder is so used to having to help on the post that its become second nature. Perk might like it, but it’s a part of what’s been killing this team. It might take some time for the perimeter players to figure out they don’t have to help nearly as much, especially with Serge Ibaka providing weak side shot-blocking.
From Elias: “Russell Westbrook had 31 points and made 11 of 17 field goals on Wednesday, continuing his dominance of Utah. Over his last six games against the Jazz, Westbrook has averaged 27.5 points per game while shooting 61.8 percent from the floor (55 for 89) and 86.0 percent from the line (49 for 57).” Read more…
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Britt Robson of SI: “As well as the Thunder are playing — and they’re a better team than the one that stretched the Lakers to six games in last year’s first round — they’d be much better with wiser shot selection from Durant. He attempts an NBA-high 14 shots per game from 16 feet and beyond, according to Hoopdata, but Durant is below the league average for accuracy from those distances. By contrast, he’s deadly — way above the norm — from inside 16 feet.”
ESPN awards: “Durant is leading the league in scoring, and his other stats mirror those from a year ago. But even more was expected this season after a breakthough year in 2009-10.” Read more…
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Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside with a response to last week’s D-League post: “Keep in mind that no other team has come even close to getting creative and creating this sort of bond between their NBA and D-League team with even one player — and the Thunder have done it with three of their draft picks from the past two seasons. It might not be the easiest way to utilize the D-League, but the Thunder have proven that where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Kevin Pelton on James Harden’s progression: “Harden’s improvement has been twofold. First, in addition to minutes, he’s getting most of the extra touches and shot attempts that once went to Green — whose replacement in the lineup, fellow second-year standout Serge Ibaka, is less of a scoring threat. Harden’s usage rate has increased from 17.9 percent of the Thunder’s plays to 23.5 percent. Even with the increased responsibility, Harden has been accurate from the field. His 63.8 percent mark on 2-point attempts has powered a true shooting percentage of 62.7 percent, up from 59.2 percent before the deadline. Harden won’t continue to shoot so accurately inside the arc, but that figures to be somewhat offset by an improvement in his 3-point shooting (just 32.8 percent since the deadline, down from 36.7 percent).” Read more…
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