Tuesday Bolts – 2.20.13
Teen Vogue on KD’s style: “After carrying a backpack to nearly every post-game interview since 2011, the 24-year-old ignited such a
trend that Nike launched a collection of KD backpacks. “It’s time to move on,” Durant now says of his former staple. He presently favors geek-chic glasses in eye-catching hues. (Though they’re prescription, he doesn’t wear contacts on the court. “I’ve been playing basketball my whole life,” he explains. “I know where the three-point line is, where the hoop is. I don’t know if I could play blind, but I’ll sure try one day.”) While most of his clothes are custom-made due to his height, he maintains his fashion cred by buying off-the-rack Comme des Garçons T-shirts, Balmain jackets, and Givenchy henleys.”
J.A. Adande of ESPN.com on KD : “At times, he tries a little too hard to make sure his teammates stay involved. It’s a noble goal, but sometimes the playoffs call for superstars to be selfish and take over games on their own. Shoot first, make the necessary accommodations later, as Michael Jordan once did by offering a postgame apology to Tex Winter for abandoning Winter’s beloved offense: “Sorry about your triangle.” Last year, Durant played two NBA Finals games in which he attempted only 19 field goals. That’s his regular-season average. The playoffs aren’t about maintaining regular-season averages. In Durant’s case, it should be about duplicating his All-Star numbers. In other words, playing up to the special attributes that got him to Houston in the first place.”
Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic says OKC and Phoenix have discussed a swap: “Much of the Suns’ trade talk seems to have simmered down as the Thursday 1 p.m. deadline nears, but there is one more possibility. ESPN.com reported New York’s interest in Jermaine O’Neal and Toronto’s interest in Sebastian Telfair while another source said there was All-Star break talk of Oklahoma City exploring Marcin Gortat and P.J. Tucker for Kendrick Perkins, Jeremy Lamb and a first-round pick. Perkins is the type of center to fit the new defensively geared culture, although he is limited offensively for a team wanting to post up its big men. Lamb probably would have been the Suns’ draft pick in June had Houston not made a trade to move up two spots and take him in front of Phoenix. The Suns do have $6.4 million of cap room to take on salary in a deal, but it is more likely that the Suns stand pat to protect their two first-round draft picks and salary-cap space, which leaves room to sign a maximum-level free agent.”
Tom Haberstroh of ESPN Insider says OKC needs to get Kevin Garnett: “We going to fall for this again? Few people remember this, but Garnett told everyone in June 2007 that he wouldn’t accept a trade to Boston. And then, of course, he did. So take Garnett’s recent insistence that he won’t waive his no-trade clause with a grain of salt. As Garnett famously howled once before, anything’s possible. Garnett in OKC makes almost too much sense on the court. Something tells me Garnett wants to win a title above all else and Boston probably can’t do that for him anymore, not with Rondo out of the picture. Now that the Lakers and Grizzlies have fallen out of the title-contention circle, Perkins doesn’t make sense on the roster. Garnett, as a defensive maestro and leader, does.”
Wale got into it with the Wizards’ announcers.
Kevin Arnovitz of TrueHoop writing on the Spurs: “That’s what makes it so hard to glean anything new about San Antonio, even as the Spurs steamroll through the league. Their system has been in place for what seems like decades and those who play for Gregg Popovich pledge their devotion to its principles. Most NBA teams, whether they’re elite contenders like the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder or high-grade upstarts like the Los Angeles Clippers or New York Knicks, are in a constant state of information gathering. But for the Spurs, live basketball seems like less of a learning process and more of an exercise in execution.”
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Darnell Mayberry on if OKC’s better off with or without Harden: “That’s why a spread-out attack has been vital. The Thunder has been at its best when multiple players get involved and become threats to score, as evidence by the team’s 17-1 record when five players score at least 10 points. To that end, Thabo Sefolosha and Serge Ibaka both have stepped up in the absence of Harden and contributed career highs in scoring. For now, it’s helped cushion the blow of the loss of the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. The Thunder is banking on that balance doing the same in the playoffs.”
Danny Chau in a 5-on-5 on intriguing storylines: “Which Western squad will be the last team to secure home-court advantage? The Spurs, Thunder and Clippers have been atop the West standings for most of the season, and barring catastrophe, that doesn’t look to be in jeopardy. But the fight for the fourth seed could be a riveting battle to the end between Memphis, Denver and Golden State.”
