Darnell Mayberry on Westbrook and Durant being BFFs: “The chemistry and camaraderie between Westbrook and Durant throughout All-Star Weekend was unmistakable, whether on the court or off it. It seems it will only improve at this point and help propel the Thunder in the second half of the season. Then again, things never have been toxic between the two, as some national pundits have portrayed their relationship. Still, that negativity no doubt has built a stronger bond.”
Four out of five in ESPN.com’s 5-on-5 took LeBron over KD for MVP, but Ethan Sherwood Strauss likes Durant: “MVP is about story just as much as it’s about performance, and a new story is better than an old one retold. KD might win because he’s new, but might deserve it on account of a new game. If you think he still depends on others for shots, take note: Only 45 percent of his buckets have been assisted this year. Last season, he was at 62 percent.” Read more…
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John Hollinger of ESPN.com writes we might’ve gotten a small Finals preview: “Westbrook seemed pretty amped in general, screaming after nearly every made basket and playfully shooting and holstering guns toward Durant after a 3-pointer. And he and Wade will have a huge impact on whatever happens both between now and June, and in any NBA Finals meeting between the two. Nonetheless, it’s LeBron vs. KD that tantalizes as both a contrast in styles and a match-up of supreme talents. The (arguably) two best players, on (arguably) the two best teams, lined up across from each other in a battle of South Beach vs. Main Street. Sunday’s battle left us hungry for more, but only time will tell if we get it.”
Via Elias, KD became the first player ever to score 30 or more points in back-to-back All-Star Games. Wow. Read more…
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Micah Adams of ESPN.com on the MVP race: “In describing LeBron James‘ season, “great” might not even begin to do it justice. If the season ended today, his PER (player efficiency rating) of 32.6 would be the best in NBA history, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain’s 1961-62 and 1962-63 seasons. Just how good has James been? Kevin Durant is currently second in the NBA in PER at 27.4. The difference between James and Durant is about the same as the difference between Durant and Tony Parker, who ranks 16th in the category.”
Via Kevin Ding, Kobe’s highlight from on-court convo with Durant and Harden: ‘Maybe one day they’ll be able to sit at my lunch table.’” Read more…
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Ken Berger of CBSSports.com picks his midseason awards and has Harden as his Sixth Man: “Plenty of great candidates for this award, and with the compressed schedule, one can argue that quality bench play has never been more important. Look for Mo Williams, Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young, Al Harrington, Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry and others to all be in the mix in the second half. Harden affects the game with his scoring, driving, passing and 3-point shooting, so he’s in the lead.”
Chris Broussard of ESPN.com’s midseason awards are Thunder heavy with KD as his MVP and Ibaka as his DPOY: “The preseason pick by many has been phenomenal, especially of late. He has improved his efficiency, defense and rebounding while leading the Thunder to the best record in the West. Second in the league in scoring (27.7 ppg), Durant is averaging career highs in rebounds (8.2), assists (3.3) and blocks (1.3) while shooting a career-best 51.6 percent, which is far better than his career FG percentage of .467.” Read more…
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Darnell Mayberry on Westbrook shooting more than KD: “In other words, out of 12 games in which Westbrook has out-shot Durant, only three times has Westbrook finished with more than four more attempts than Durant. But why stop there? In fact, you can’t. It’s important to note that in those 12 games, Durant has attempted 18 more foul shots than Westbrook, 90 to 72. In Westbrook’s second largest shot attempt disparity over Durant, seven on Feb. 9 against Sacramento, KD attempted nine free throws to Westbrook’s three. Additionally, in the third largest margin, five against Dallas on Feb. 1, Durant struggled with an off night from the field but shot two more foul shots than Westbrook. Those are critical numbers in accounting for what the box scores show under FGA. There’s more. The Thunder is 9-3 in games that Westbrook attempts more shots than Durant. The losses came at Washington, at the Los Angeles Clippers and at Sacramento. The Thunder also is 1-0when Westbrook ties Durant in field goal attempts.”
SI.com’s midseason awards have KD second across the board for MVP and Harden topping almost everyone’s list for Sixth Man. Read more…
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Matt Moore of CBSSport.com has KD as his midseason West MVP: “And really quietly, Durant’s become an elite defender. He’s allowing just 26 percent from the field in ISO situations according to Synergy Sports. Defense was a huge weakness in Durant’s game over the past few seasons and he’s really hit his stride this season. The Thunder aren’t even that great defensively, Durant has just been individually incredible. For him to catch James, he would need for the Thunder to continue their impressive winning percentage. He would need to top the league in scoring, and for his impressive uptick in rebounding rates to continue. It’s a tall order, but there’s no question he’s within range. Durant has become the most impressive offensive force in the league. He is 23 years of age.”
John Hollinger of ESPN.com on where OKC is weak: “Paint points have been a season-long problem for Oklahoma City, which is only 14th overall in defensive efficiency. As Ibaka showed against Denver, the Thunder’s problem isn’t an inability to contest shots in the paint, nor is it an inability to defend the post. It’s all those blow-bys on the perimeter, which constantly leave the bigs in recovery mode. And because their bigs are always chasing down drivers, it leads to another opening on the boards. Despite what on paper should be a very solid rebounding team, Oklahoma City is tied for 23rd in defensive rebound rate at 72.2 percent. Again, those 11 blocks are indicative — every time Ibaka rotates to close down the lane, it leaves the boards open for seconds shots. Transition defense, as the Thunder showed, is also a problem.” Read more…
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John Hollinger of ESPN.com on OKC’s win: “Both Durant and Westbrook were in rare form, with each getting nothing but net on virtually ever jumper. The book on Westbrook is to give him the jumper and take away the drive; if he makes 11 jump shots, as he did Sunday, I’m not sure how to defend that. Moreover, he combined his usual fury with composed decision-making — nine dimes and only two turnovers — and amazingly, did it after spraining his ankle Friday against Golden State. Durant, meanwhile, actually did most of his damage around the basket with his increasingly confident off-the-dribble game. But he also made his first five 3-point tries before a miss late in overtime, including a late-clock hoist in the first quarter that started him rolling.”
Berry Tramel: “George Karl likes the mission he’s accepted. The Nuggets coach is out to prove that you don’t need superstars to win big in the NBA. For much of Sunday night, Karl was building a case. Then the old you-need-superstars theory rose up. Rose up big. The amazing tale of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook reached its zenith Sunday night as the Thunder bounced Karl’s Nuggets 124-118 in overtime. Durant’s ascension to basketball royalty? Westbrook’s rise to superstardom? Neither could be disputed after one of the wildest games in Oklahoma City’s NBA history.” Read more…
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LeBron says this is a point guard league now: “This is transforming into a point guard league,” he said. “It’s not there yet. You still have D-Wade, Kobe, Kevin Durant, all these great wing guys. But it’s a point-guard league. When you look at Russell Westbrook, you look at the MVP from last year, Derrick Rose, you look at Chris Paul, John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Steve Nash still, Tony Parker’s playing at a high level. If you just look at it, if you have a really, really good point guard you got a chance to win. And it’s almost like having a really good quarterback in the NFL. If you go a really good quarterback in the NFL, you got a really good chance to win. So it’s good that this league has great point guards.”
The Hoop Doctors on who should take the last shot for OKC: “Fans and analysts alike moan and groan when Westbrook opts to take a final shot over Durant, but does he really have a choice? Durant, even in low pressure situations, is hounded on the offensive end. Heading into the final seconds, his open looks only become fewer and far between. And that’s why Westbrook must take the final shot. It’s not because he is more talented and it’s not because he is more clutch of a player. It’s because he will have a better look, nearly every time.” Read more…
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From Elias: “Kevin Durant outscored Kevin Martin 33-32, but the Rockets edged the Thunder, 96-95 in Houston. At the same time, Kevin Love was scoring 30 points in the Timberwolves’ win against the Bobcats. Most career NBA games with 30 or more points by players named Kevin: Durant (115), Garnett (84), Johnson (70), Martin (68), McHale (65), Loughery (35), Willis (32) and Love (19).”
Ben Golliver of CBSSports.com gave OKC an F for last night: “The West’s top team can’t be happy with the slowest of slow starts, as they scored just 13 points in the first quarter at Houston, digging themselves a 16-point hole in the first frame. The Thunder charged back hard and probably should have won this one, but neither Kevin Durant (33 points) or Russell Westbrook (26 points) really found their strokes from deep. Unusual late-game shortcomings from both All-Stars added salt to the wound.” Read more…
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J.M. Poulard of Warriors World on KD: “Kevin Durant may well be the best scorer of a league that houses Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. His ability to light up the scoreboard will invariably earn him comparisons to some of the best players in the league today, especially at his own position. He is breathing down the neck of LeBron as we speak and will probably force Team USA to make some tough decisions with respect to their crunch time lineup at the Olympics; but let’s not lose sight of one thing: The NBA is blessed to have two marquee small forwards to battle it out during the same decade in opposite conferences. At some point they have to play head-to-head in the Finals right?”
J.A. Sherman of Welcome to Loud City wonders if Reggie Jackson would be good in a press: “We know that Brooks doesn’t use the full-court press. However, I have to wonder, is there an opportunity there for him to use Reggie and his raw physical tools to have a meaningful impact on the game? To just tell Jackson, “Don’t worry about points, assists, or setting up the perfect pick and roll. Just go out there and lock up their PG for 94 feet”? At the very worst, Jackson would slow down the other team for an extra 4-6 seconds, which becomes huge when a team only has 24 seconds to get off a shot.” Read more…
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Via John Rodhe: “Meanwhile, reserve point guard Eric Maynor was spotted on the court Monday holding a basketball. He was wearing practice gear and socks, but no shoes. Maynor spent the end of practice at the same basket with fellow Thunder guards, where there was plenty of laughter.”
Marc Stein of ESPN.com’s power rankings: “OKC responded to what some would call a way-too-steep drop to No. 7 — especially since it was triggered in part by losses to the smokin’ Clips and Spurs — by going right into Portland and handing the Blazers just their second L at home. To which we say, in our best Kobe System voice: “You’re welcome.” Read more…
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Bill Simmons had James Harden as a Western reserve: I especially like Harden because he’ll have moments during a game: You know, like Tuesday night against Golden State, when Ellis was playing out of his mind, the Warriors were making everything, the crowd was going bonkers with an 11-point lead … and Harden promptly swished consecutive 3s to keep the game from slipping away. (FYI: They ended up winning.) He does that shit all the time. You can go to war with James Harden. Some things transcend stats.
And Simmons had some on point thoughts on Russell Westbrook: “Westbrook passed Rondo as the league’s premier Table Test guy — in other words, nobody brings more to the table while also taking more OFF the table, but he brings so much to the table that it doesn’t totally matter. He also plays his ass off and sincerely gives a crap. Why does he insist on chucking those terrible 22-footers, and why doesn’t he defer to Durant more when Durant continues to be the most automatic two points in the league? I couldn’t tell you. (Cut to Scotty Brooks nodding his head sadly.) Still, he’s a destructive athlete and the main reason why OKC always makes its opponents feel like a boxer that’s pinned against the ropes. Think Julio Cesar Chavez. They have NBA title pole position right now for that reason over anything else.” Read more…
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Jenni Carlson says James Harden isn’t an All-Star: “Among players at his position, few are more proficient than Harden. Look at the Player Efficiency Rating, and you’ll see that the only shooting guards who rank higher are Kobe and D-Wade. But Harden’s not a starter on his own team. Granted, he plays every bit as much as a starter. He averages 31.2 minutes a game, which is exactly the same amount as Nash. But the reality is, if you can’t crack the starting five on your own team, you’re going to struggle to make the All-Star Game. Ditto if you’re the third option for your squad.”
Perk talked on Jim Rome about the LeBron thing and had this line: “Because me personally, if you don’t bleed OKC or aren’t a fan of the Oklahoma City Thunder I don’t really care what kind of highlights you got.” Read more…
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John Hollinger of ESPN.com takes Westbrook as a reserve: “Let’s start by taking our mandated two guards. Westbrook has the best recent historical numbers of the group, leads them all in EWA and has appeared to pay a bit more attention on defense this season, and his team in his first place. As much as we’d prefer he didn’t take pull-up jumpers with 14 on the clock, his overwhelming athleticism still makes him an extremely effective player, and I’d say he has the strongest argument of any remaining player for inclusion.”
The Thunder have three players in the top 10 of the 25 under 25 list on ESPN.com with KD being No. 1: “It would come as little surprise if Durant won multiple MVP awards and multiple NBA titles, as his team is built with an excellent blend of youth and role players with good seasons left in their tanks. Durant also set a new trend by signing his max deal for the full amount of years available. He’s a terrific teammate and is as coachable a player as there is in the league.” Read more…
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Perk said before the game yesterday he’s not playing well this season: “I just got to play better. It’s not just the rebounding. My points are down. I’m usually one of the league leaders in field-goal percentage. I just got to play better. It’s nothing else to it. I just got to play better … I don’t know whether it’s my focus or what. But it’s on me. I really don’t care about the points. But I do worry about picking up my field goal percentage and my rebounding. I at least need to be at eight a game. So that’s unacceptable … It’s frustrating for me when I’m looking at the stats and I’m getting like one or three rebounds. I just got to play better. And that’s on me. It ain’t on nobody else. I got to be more productive.”
Jan Hubbard of Sheridan Hoops isn’t sold on OKC: “The Thunder has done a wonderful job of drafting, and Brooks has his team playing at a high level. But OKC is hardly a sure thing. A major step for the Thunder will be winning a playoff series against a team seeded in the top four. They have not yet done that. When they do, I will believe the future has arrived. Until they do, they are a team with potential. And as history has told us, there are significant steps between that and a championship.” Read more…
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