Monday Bolts – 2.9.15

Jonathan Tjarks with strong words on Scott Brooks and Jeremy Lamb: ” Scott Brooks reminds me a lot of Avery Johnson in that he seems to be constantly searching for ways to justify his own playing career in the way he handles his rotation. Scott Brooks the basketball player didn’t have a ton of natural talent and didn’t put up huge statistics, but he played REALLY hard and he REALLY wanted to win and etc. etc. etc. So when he sees a player like Lamb with a ton of natural talent who seems to “float” through the game it naturally makes him more upset than when he sees a guy like Roberson with a broken jumper who still plays really hard. How many times did a young Scott Brooks have to swallow his pride and watch a “more talented” younger player who was taken higher in the draft play ahead of him even though he didn’t work nearly as hard? When he in charge, things will be different.”

Andrew Gilman of Fox Sports Southwest: “A sour season so far for McGary who has dealt with injuries that have kept him from real minutes with the Thunder, yet now it appears Oklahoma City needs McGary more than ever. Not just because of Sunday’s situation with Perkins, but because center Steven Adams had to leave the game in the first half with an injury to his right hand. There’s no word from the Thunder on how hurt Adams is or when he’ll be available. The Thunder play Monday night in Denver. Perhaps this McGary performance is a bit of good timing in a season where there’s been very limited amounts of good fortune.”

Steven Adams is out at least three weeks.

My ESPN.com story from yesterday’s game, on how Mitch McGary could breathe some much-needed life into the Thunder’s season.

Also, here’s the one from the Pelicans game, in case you missed it. Though who wants to read that now, right?

Interesting from Nylon Calculus about jumpshooting teams and championships: “It’s possible that the Warriors won’t win this year’s NBA championship. After all, the western conference is a battle royale and it is entirely possible that four legitimate title contenders lose in the first round. But it’s foolish to say that the Warriors won’t win because they are a jump shooting team. History has taught us that jump shooting teams have success in the playoffs, especially when they have the defense to back it up.”

Berry Tramel on Reggie Jackson: “James Harden felt the same way. But he kept it to himself and he never let it show on the court. Too many times this season, Jackson has appeared to check out. Too many times, Jackson has belied the character that the Thunder kept telling us he had. This Thunder team can’t thrive with Jackson moping. This Thunder team was constructed for Jackson to be an impact player, and not even the addition of Dion Waiters, who was added as insurance for Jackson’s doldrums, can change that.”

Mitch McGary’s highlights from yesterday.

Darnell Mayberry: “McGary maintained every bit of in the first half of the second quarter, scoring seven more points while securing five rebounds in the period’s first six minutes. He finished another fast break layup, this time leaving his hand in the air for show as he trotted back on defense, had a tip-in off a Collison miss and completed a three-point play set up by Russell Westbrook. By the time he took a seat for the first time, McGary had 11 points and six rebounds in 8 minutes, 5 seconds, all of them meaningful.”

Something stupid: I went through the Thunder’s schedule and counted six games they could’ve or really, should’ve won. From either a game-winning attempt that didn’t go or blowing a big fourth quarter lead, the Thunder have left six on the table in my estimation. How fine the margin is: Win those, and they’re 32-19 right now, which has them seventh and only three games back of third.