Friday Bolts – 11.28.14
Tremendous Steven Adams interview with Complex: “I’d done it before the season, because I wanted the mustache to last throughout the whole season when they show me on TV or in the pamphlets that they hand out. So when they introduce me, it would just come up as a mustache. For Movember, I was actually trying, I shaved the day before November. And it started growing out a lot, and I tried to shape it up myself, and I ruined it. It looked absolute garbage, so then I had to shave it all off. I had to. It was pretty tragic. But I definitely support men’s health.”
Anthony Slater on OKC’s second unit: “With the stars soon to return, the Thunder’s bench will only get stronger. Reggie Jackson is expected to step down a peg and lead that second unit, which has the potential to be one of the league’s best. And it’s clearly an important factor. The Thunder is 0-8 this season in games in which its bench is outscored and a respectable 4-4 when it outscores the opposing bench. Wednesday was about as good as it gets in the positive direction. And it may have been the key factor in a huge win.”
What every team should be thankful for.
Marc Berman of the NY Post: “Indications are Westbrook, who has missed the last 14 games with a broken hand, is “50-50’’ to return Friday. The odds on Durant making his season debut after recovering from a broken foot are much longer, but not impossible. It has been that sort of unlucky rookie season for Fisher, whose five-ring playing career ended in distinguished fashion in the Western Conference Finals as the Thunder’s backup guard after he was seemingly done. Fisher’s strong bond with Durant has given Knicks fans hope he and Phil Jackson can reel in the free agent in 2016 when the salary cap is expected to rise exorbitantly and the team is likely to have plenty of room. (In an ironic twist, Fisher conducted the Knicks’ Thanksgiving dinner at the restaurant known as “Kevin Durant’s,’’ of which Durant owns 25 percent).”
Carmelo is doubtful for tonight’s game.
Berry Tramel on winners and losers of OKC’s November: “Durant’s backup usually gets all the work of a Maytag repairman. So this figured to be Jones’ time to shine. After a rough opener, Jones scored 68 points in three games and made 24 of 46 shots. Then he suffered a bone bruise and hasn’t played in almost four weeks. Jones’ chance to show the NBA what he could do on an extended basis is gone.”
