Friday Bolts: 8.30.19
Brett Dawson (The Athletic) on Billy Donovan’s opportunity to implement a system sans Russell Westbrook: “Last summer, Donovan said that stylistically he’d prefer an offense that featured passing and cutting, players in motion, that he wanted “to see the ball move a little more.” But he added that such a style had to “make sense for our personnel.” It might make more sense for the Thunder now… In Paul, Dennis Schröder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — a key piece in the trade that sent George to the Clippers — Donovan has multiple playmakers who can manipulate a pick and roll or beat a defender off the dribble, get into the defense and attack the paint or swing the ball.”
Royce Young (ESPN) with a touching story on the fleeting dream of an NBA career for JamesOn Curry: “Bulls coach Scott Skiles told the team the next practice was an open tryout. Curry was ready. He dominated the scrimmage with this passing and scoring. He thought he’d get his chance. Skiles pulled him aside after practice. “You’ll be the best player in the D-League,” Curry remembers Skiles telling him. Maybe it was supposed to be an insult, maybe it was a compliment, but Curry was crushed. The Bulls waived Curry after the season.”
Young also helped The Hoop Collective supply us with some prime argument fodder in this fantasy redraft of the NBA:
Nick Gallo (okcthunder.com) takes a look at Terrance Ferguson’s upcoming season: “With a newly-formed roster, opportunity is within grasp for everyone on the team to step up. Ferguson hopes to seize his chance. “I’ll just work my butt off this summer, add to my game, add to whatever I did this year, watch film, see what I can do better, and come to year three with the mindset of ‘I want to take off’,” Ferguson said. With another year of physical maturation and time devoted in the weight room, Ferguson hopes to bulk up. The added muscle would not only help him stand his ground if he’s called upon to switch onto small forwards or power forwards, but also minimize the whistles blown against him throughout the year.”
Not that there was any doubt, but Danilo Gallinari and Dennis Schröder have made the final rosters for the Italian and German teams, respectively.
Keith Smith (Yahoo! Sports) reports that Perry Jones’ NBA comeback remains stalled:
