Monday Bolts – 12.1.08

FreeDarko weighs in on Scotty Brooks: “The bottom line is that the Thunder already look and feel better under Scotty Brooks, who I must namedrop, as one of the few NBA guys I actually made friends with during my few years working for the Timberwolves. When I was 11 years old and working my first game, Brooks hit me with a $20 bill and actually chatted with me — I felt a connection with him ever since that point. He was one of the true nice guys in the league, and also was a tough little bastard — someone that Barkley would go to war for in their Sixers days and someone who played some key stretches during the Rockets’ mid-90s title runs. Brooks has been city-hopping for a while, and may in fact be the next great coach. He provides the toughness of Scott Skiles, but also knows when to loosen his grip.”
- Start looking over this list and begin coveting players for the upcoming offseason: Among the interesting players – Ben Gordon (Chicago), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cleveland), Jason Kidd (Dallas), Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace (Detroit), Carlos Boozer (Utah).
- Ball Don’t Lie has OKC is the same spot, but J.E. Skeets can’t stop a certain Russell Westbrook dunk.
- Mike Baldwin/Darnell Mayberry says it’s finally Westbrook’s time to arrive: “Before trotting out Russell Westbrook for his first career start Saturday night, Thunder coach Scott Brooks gave the rookie point guard the same advice he offers to all his players. “You have to play hard before you play well,” Brooks said.”