By now you’ve heard or read about Kendrick Perkins slamming LeBron James for his tweet gushing over Blake Griffin’s poster a couple weeks ago. Here’s what Perk said to Yahoo! Sports:
“You don’t see Kobe [Bryant] tweeting,” Perkins said. “You don’t see Michael Jordan tweeting. If you’re an elite player, plays like that don’t excite you. At the end of the day, the guys who are playing for the right reasons who are trying to win championships are not worrying about one play.
“They also are not tweeting about themselves talking about going down to No. 2. I just feel [James] is always looking for attention and he wants the world to like him.”
I’d say the reason you don’t see Kobe or M.J. tweeting is because neither are on Twitter. Just a theory. But I understand Perk’s point. LeBron does appear to be very into LeBron — remember, “The Decision” — and the way he worded that tweet is a bit odd. A lot of other players tweeted like Chris Paul, Kevin Love and Magic Johnson, but they didn’t pat themselves on the back in theirs. LeBron singled out his own great play, which is something you don’t see all that often. It was a humblebrag in its purest form. LeBron was giving props to Griffin while drawing attention to his own achievement all the same. Read more…
A select number of fans getting anxious, agitated and overreactionary isn’t anything new. It happens in every fanbase, even the most appreciative, smart and complacent. But why does it seem to happen quite a bit with the Thunder, a team that by all accounts people should be thrilled about?
After both losses last week, Oklahoman beat writers wrotecolumns wondering if the two losses exposed flaws and warts and ugly spots and problems. Sure the Thunder played horribly in those two games and I suppose you could read deeper into them if you want. Every team has flaws and problems. Otherwise they’d be 23-0. It’s about correcting the flaws enough to get by and enough to survive in the postseason.
So, why the anxiety? Why is each game under the microscope? Read more…
As Nick Collison wrote recently on his GQ blog, NBA teams travel in style. There may be a lot of miles logged over the course of a season, but it involves chartered luxury jets, upscale hotels and lots of pampering. So it’s hard for most of us to feel a lot of sympathy for “road weary” NBA teams when we’re subjected to the TSA cattle call, middle seats in coach and roadside motels.
But a lot of it is late-night travel to far-flung airports. And with the Thunder wrapping up their second of three three-game road trips in quick succession, the first three lengthy trips of the season, OKC is taking tours of each coast in chunks.
In a season when teams are looking for every shred of an advantage as they combat the compressed schedule, Oklahoma City is enjoying one just because of its location. OKC’s central spot on the U.S. map is a travel advantage for the team in any season, but it could be an even bigger edge as the NBA crams in 66 regular season games per squad in just 123 days. Read more…
First, I was pro start Thabo. Then I was pro start Harden. Now, I don’t know where I’m at. Scott Brooks does though. He’s never wavered. And maybe for good reason. Probably because he kind of knows what he’s doing.
Brooks made an interesting decision last night in Dallas. With Thabo out with a sore foot, Brooks decided to start Daequan Cook instead of Harden, something Brooks has never done. Basically, that decision there should really end most of what was left of the debate that Harden should start.
It started because of an awful performance against the Clippers, but it’s really a bit more of a deeper issue than just one game. As a starter over the past two seasons (seven games), Harden is averaging 12.1 points per game on 38.5 percent shooting with 8.1 attempts a game. Off the bench in that time (93 games), Harden is averaging 13.3 ppg on 44.7 shooting with 8.8 attempts a game. And take note of this two: Two of those games last season where Harden started, KD was out. Throw those out and Harden’s starting average dips to 10.0 ppg. Then when you subtract before the Thunder dealt Jeff Green, those numbers go up to better than 16 points a game off the bench. So there’s a clear contrast. Read more…
You know what I’m a fan of? These three-game weeks. When the season started, the Thunder were playing four and even five games a week. It was constant basketball without much of a chance to breathe.
And I would assume as much as I’m enjoying the lighter schedule, the team is loving it. A couple weeks ago they got two days together in Washington DC. Right now after beating Golden State Friday, they got Saturday and Sunday to hang in Los Angeles before tonight’s game against the Clippers. Not bad. Not that they need it, but these type of road trips are terrific chemistry builders. You’re there with your team and that’s who you hang out with.
But the Thunder just wrapped up maybe the easiest stretch in their schedule going 3-0 last week with wins against the Hornets, Pistons and Warriors. Now it turns over with some good teams on the horizon. Oklahoma City has now won 11 of 12 with the lone loss being that awful one to the Wizards. They own the league’s best record again and have a 2.5-game edge on the Nuggets for home court in the West. Not a bad start to the season? In fact, it’s the second-best in franchise history.
The Thunder have obviously been extremely successful in the draft, partly by luck and partly because of wonderful advanced scouting and homework done by the front office.
But I’ve always kind of wondered if Sam Presti and his staff did such a great job drafting, or if they just did a great job developing. Maybe that’s a chicken-or-the-egg type of thing, but when you look at it, Presti really hasn’t whiffed on a draft pick yet. Byron Mullens looked to be a swing-and-a-miss, but all he really needed was a chance, which he’s getting in Charlotte.
On the NBA Today podcast, basketball genius David Thorpe was on and explained his theory of “Royal Jelly.” What’s royal jelly? It’s the stuff that baby bees get that turn them into powerful queen bees. Some guys are born with it. Some guys need it given to them, by the hive (or organization) if you will.
Thorpe says James Harden and Russell Westbrook both needed a little royal jelly (15:30 mark) to become the players that they are right now. Basically his point is, had either of those guys, specifically Westbrook, gone to a different organization, the chances they would’ve busted would’ve been much higher. Read more…
Actually, the right question is, could Kevin Durant consider restructuring his contract?
In this week’s mailbag, I answered a question about Durant and the possibility that he would renegotiate his deal to potentially free up a little more room to sign James Harden and Serge Ibaka. Under the old collective bargaining agreement, contract restructuring wasn’t allowed. But in the new one, players can.
It was among the so-called “b-list” issues and basically a player can renegotiate their deal to be paid a smaller amount, but the player’s salary can’t decrease by more than 40 percent.
However, there’s a catch and that’s where KD’s deal comes in. Someone with direct knowledge of the CBA tells me a player on a maximum level contract can’t do it. Because the restructuring has to include an extension and a designated five-year player can’t be extended. For example, a player on a three-year deal could restructure, but would have to get a new four-year deal. And since KD already has a five-year contract, he can’t add any more years to that.
So the conclusion: Even if KD wanted to do it, he couldn’t do it. But would he if he could?
Coming into last week’s slate of games, I think most Thunder fans, or at least realistic Thunder fans, were set to be satisfied with a 2-1 road trip. Oklahoma City was rocking along with the best record in the league and a six-game win streak, but a big game against a hungry, desperate Celtics team was waiting.
But with a solid win over the Celtics, the Thunder were in prime position to stretch that streak out to 12 before a game in Los Angeles against the Clippers. And then a funny thing happened: The Thunder lost to the league’s worst team. It wasn’t that jarring, as it kind of felt like it could be coming. Still, the Thunder went 2-1, but just not in the way that was really expected. Because of that, I’d give the team a C grade for the week. Two wins are good, but the loss to Washington and an ugly win over the lowly Nets didn’t make it a banner week by any means.
The last step in Russell Westbrook’s five-year, $80 million extension with the Thunder was taken Sunday afternoon at the team’s old practice facility in front of crowd that included Westbrook’s parents and brother, his agent, owner Clay Bennet and a bunch of youth basketball players and their families.
Maybe it was a bit coincidental that the presser was there, but that old practice facility is really where it all started for Westbrook. Scott Brooks said he remembered looking at Westbrook during the first Thunder practice there and saying, “My first thought after the 10 minutes of the drill and this is a true story, I said to myself, ‘I am glad I’m coaching not playing anymore because I couldn’t guard this guy.’”
Westbrook, Sam Presti and Scott Brooks talked about the important move the Thunder all kind of spreading the credit around to each other. But Westbrook repeated one theme throughout: He wanted to be in Oklahoma City not just because the team is good or because they’re paying him. He said it multiple times — he wanted to be here because of the community, the organization and the fans. Read more…
Think about this for one second: Oklahoma City is guaranteed — barring an unforeseen trade — to at least have the pleasure of watching Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook through 2016. Durant signed a maximum deal with no opt-out clause that is in effect this season and Westbrook did the same today with no opt-out that takes effect next season keeping him in OKC through 2017.
That’s at least five years to make a legitimate title run, if not two, if not three, if not five. Put two top 15 players on the same team and you’re going to have something in place that’s able to contend.
But what separates a good team that can contend to a great team that can win is depth. Having those supplementary pieces around Option A and Option B. Right now, the Thunder have exactly that. James Harden is about as good a third wheel as there is in the league. Serge Ibaka is a blossoming power forward that knows his role and handles himself well. Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison, Daequan Cook, Thabo Sefolosha — all ideal role players that do their jobs. Read more…
So you’re telling me the Thunder, at 12-2, have the NBA’s best record and are on a seven-game winning streak? And the next five games would be major upsets if Oklahoma City doesn’t win?
What exactly are we dealing with here?
Let’s be real. The Thunder can’t keep winning at this rate for 66 games, especially a 17-2 clip or better if it turns into that. We aren’t dealing with the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, who won an NBA-record 72 games. Those Bulls had a .878 win percentage, which is slightly higher than the .857 win percentage that the Thunder owns now. Oklahoma City will far exceed that if it can win the next five games, which it should considering those games are at Washington, at New Jersey, Detroit, New Orleans and at Golden State. But it ain’t happening over the course of an entire season — not this team, not this season for any team and maybe not ever.
And ripping off a lengthy winning streak, especially this early in the season, is not necessarily a sign of a team that’s going to make a similar dominating run through the playoffs. Things can happen. The Houston Rockets won 22 straight games five years ago and flamed out in the first round, for example. Read more…
Eight days. Eight days until the deadline passes for Russell Westbrook’s extension and he becomes a restricted free agent on July 1.
Eight days for the Thunder and Westbrook to come to an agreement before things get a bit trickier. Westbrook becoming a restricted free agent isn’t a black spot on his future in Oklahoma City, but it isn’t ideal. It opens up the possibility that someone offers him more than the Thunder are willing to match. It opens up the option of market competition, which can sometimes be good because the market could determine a lower number, but it could often do the opposite.
I always look forward to the annual general manager survey. Mainly because you know the Thunder are going to be a team mentioned often in it. Sam Presti has done a magical job building this franchise and organization not just into a winner, but something Oklahoma City can be very proud to support. Likeable players, dedicated ownership, smart front office — it’s a total package. And they win.
You know what my favorite part about this past week was? Not just the three wins, but the fact there was only three games. Not that I don’t love watching the Thunder play (and win), but man, five games in six days is quite a commitment. KD said it really well after the game Saturday night against the Knicks — this is a very long, short season.
And now let’s rank.
1. Russell Westbrook (Last week: 4)
To recap Westbrook’s week: He averaged 24.3 points, 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game. He shot 52 percent from the field. He only turned it over six times total. He carried the Thunder to a tough win in Memphis while KD struggled. He found his jumper, hitting 9-19 from 16-23 feet. He attacked, created, distributed and finished. He basically looked like his old All-Star self again and did it for three straight games. My favorite thing about the Thunder is that this top spot could very well rotate throughout the season between three players. Tells you how good this team is. Read more…
“And there goes B.J. Mullens. That’s twice tonight a team has probably done the Thunder a huge favor of taking a big man bust, preventing OKC from even having to think about him. So now we’re back on the clock. I’ll put my vote in for DeJuan Blair, Sam. I know you’re following along. And I know you care what I think.”
And then the Thunder picked Rodrigue Beaubois, only to trade him to Dallas for Mullens about 10 seconds later. A reader emailed me right after it with the joke, “Hi Mullens, I’m the Gatorade jug — enjoying the game?” Nailed it, pretty much.
Mullens spent two seasons with the Thunder. Or actually, spent about half a season with the Thunder and the rest of it in Tulsa or on I-44 driving back and forth. He only played a total of 26 games for Oklahoma City tallying just 39 total points. NBA 2K12 even has him rated as the worst player in this year’s game. It’s hard to say a player picked 25th overall is a bust, but Mullens was certainly appearing to be a wasted pick. Read more…
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