Tuesday Bolts: 1.9.18
Erik Horne on the Thunder being without Andre Roberson for a bit longer: “Roberson has missed the Thunder’s last three games with left patellar tendinitis and will likely miss at least the next two games – against Portland on Tuesday and a critical final matchup of the regular season with Minnesota on Wednesday.”
Adrian Wojnarowski (ESPN) on NBA buyers and sellers ahead of the trade deadline: “For now, the Thunder are fully committed to playing out the season with impending free agent Paul George. They still have hope that a strong run in the playoffs could convince him to re-sign in Oklahoma City. Nevertheless, the Lakers were the team to beat when the Thunder made the trade, and that probably hasn’t changed — although Oklahoma City has made a favorable impression on George and ultimately hopes to turn George with a deep playoff run. George has remained open-minded on a Thunder future, but there’s a long way to go.”
Fred Katz on Steven Adams’ elite offensive rebounding: “Steven Adams is one of the NBA’s best on the offensive glass. The Oklahoma City Thunder center pulls down 16.7 percent of his team’s misses when he’s on the floor, the NBA’s highest offensive rebound rate. It’s one-tenth of a percentage point better than former teammate Enes Kanter’s.”
Paolo Ugetti (Ringer) on life as an OKC role player: “Being a role player in a world dominated by a Big Three can be tough. But as the Thunder’s other guys have shown lately, they may be just as important to the team’s success.”
Brett Dawson on the Thunder’s continued free throw struggles: “Twenty times this season, OKC has shot less than 70 percent from the foul line in a game. It’s 10-10 in those games. It’s 3-5 in the eight games this season in which it’s made less than 60 percent of its foul shots. In a 114-100 loss to the Suns on Sunday in Phoenix, Oklahoma City made 12 of 21 free throws.”
Peter Sampson (Blazer’s Edge) previews tonight’s Thunder/Blazers match-up: “After taking down the San Antonio Spurs in one of the few exciting games the Moda Center has seen all season, the Portland Trail Blazers kick off a tough four-game road trip against Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Damian Lillard will not suit up for Portland as he continues to recover from a strained right calf. Likely starting in his place will be Shabazz Napier, who has averaged more than 18 points per game as a starter this season.”
Around the League: Isaiah Thomas was ejected for a hit on Andrew Wiggins…. Draymond Green was fined $25k for criticizing officials…. Tony Parker will miss more time after spraining his ankle…. Big Baller Brand was given an F-grade by the Better Business Bureau.
