Tuesday Bolts – 1.28.14
Andrew Gilman of Fox Southwest: “Yeah, but can you really get used to seeing something you’ve never seen before? Sure, there might only be one storyline when it comes to the Thunder these days, but there are all sorts of different adjectives to use. Against Golden State, Durant outscored everyone, setting a career high. Against Portland, he was fourth-quarter strong, going for 12 points in the quarter and finishing with 46 points. Versus Sacramento Durant needed only 15 shots to get to 32 points. An ordinary 36 points, as ordinary as 36 points can be, against San Antonio before getting 32 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists against Philadelphia a day after missing a game with a sore shoulder. All that in his last six games.”
Thunder move to No. 1 in Stein’s power rankings: “If Kevin Durant wrests the MVP trophy away from LeBron James, it won’t be because of LeBron fatigue. It’s because Durant’s on course to become just the seventh player ever to average 31-plus points, 7-plus rebounds, and 5-plus assists for an entire season. This tweet here lists KD’s six predecessors.”
Matt Moore of CBSSports.com has OKC there too.
John Schuhmann of NBA.com as well: “If Kevin Durant isn’t dropping 40-plus, he’s messing around and getting triple-doubles. More importantly, the Thunder have beat the Rockets, Warriors, Blazers and Spurs over the course of their seven-game winning streak, a stretch that has included three back-to-backs. They’re 14-6 against the other nine West teams that are .500 or better, with the best defense in games played among the group.”
Darnell Mayberry: “I noticed something about Jackson’s game tonight. It looks awful at times because nobody is moving. I blame that on the lack of structure that I’m well on the record of saying this team needs. He’s probing, probing, probing, trying to find a lane or a shot or a cutter, only there’s no cutter or lane or clean look. Because if the Thunder isn’t setting a ball screen, the other four players are largely just standing around. It’s making it really tough on Jackson. Russell Westbrook is skilled enough, determined enough and, really, has enough rope to play through it. He’s going to make something happen regardless. But for the first time tonight, I could see Jackson trying desperately to make a play only to have to bring it out and reluctantly pass it off for what would inevitably be another ball screen for someone else or, worse, a isolation late in the shot clock. Jackson isn’t perfect by any means, and he’s got a long way to go as a decision-maker. But if you pay attention to what he’s doing, the decision-making that sometimes leaves you shaking your head is much more complex than Jackson simply over-dribbling and not feeding KD.”
Interesting: 73 percent in a poll says the MVP is already KD’s.
Dan Feldman of PBT on Steven Adams: “But Adams seems truly skilled at drawing even common fouls. Only Dwight Howard, whom teams frequently foul intentionally, has played as much as Adams and has a higher free-throw-attempt rate. And Adams is cashing in. After shooting 44 percent from the line at Pittsburgh last year, he’s making a reasonable 66 percent of his free throws this season. Plus, on a team with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, getting into the bonus quicker is a huge asset. Try defending those superstars without a foul or two to give. Adams’ basic numbers – 3.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game – are modest, but he’s proving to be an excellent fit with the Thunder. That says as much about his unique demeanor – which has apparently remained unchanged since going pro – as his basketball skills.”
