Tuesday Bolts – 7.19.16
Sam Amick of USA Today: “Durant did quite a bit of hand-wringing on this front, denying
the notion that chemistry issues with the Thunder point guard led to his departure. But truth be told, what in the world is he supposed to say about this sensitive subplot? It’s no longer a secret that Durant longed to play the game in the kind of free-flowing way that the Warriors employ, or that he had concerns about the Thunder’s station-to-station style that had them finishing last in the league in passes per game last season – by 11 per game, no less. There was a perceived ceiling placed on his goals with the Thunder, never mind that they had the second best offense in the league during the regular season and came within one game of reaching the Finals. As one Warriors person had described it even before Durant came their way, there are no hockey assists with Westbrook – the pass that leads to the pass that leads to the shot. More often than not, he’s either scoring on the possession or assisting. All season long, the Warriors’ intel that Durant had grown frustrated with that aspect of his Thunder experience was the root of their free agency confidence.”
Anthony Slater: “Kevin Durant spent last week in Asia, a needed getaway to decompress after his monumental, controversial career decision. Next month, the Olympics in Rio await – a welcome distraction before next season’s avalanche of attention hits. But Team USA’s training camp opened in Las Vegas on Monday afternoon. Which meant Durant was required to plant himself in front of the NBA media for 25 minutes. He wants to look ahead. But questions about his exit from Oklahoma City remain, dragging behind him like the faded Thunder keychain he brought into the gym with him, a past that he just can’t quite shake fully. Monday he finally opened up a bit about it.”
If you missed it last night, OKC rescinded Dion Waiters’ qualifying offer.
Fran Fraschilla on Alex Abrines: “They’re getting a solid, reasonably athletic, outstanding wing shooter that has a high basketball IQ. He’s a guy that you can plug into your rotation at some point, and he fits right in. He moves the ball well. He makes open shots. He moves without the ball. There’s a lot of good elements to his game that fit in team-oriented basketball. The level and the style of play he’s coming from promotes great team play, and it’s a level that’s not far below the NBA’s. Barcelona would beat the average college Top 25 team by 30-40 points. So you’re talking about a guy that’s played a lot of basketball for one of top teams in the world outside of the NBA. The negative is he’s been injury-prone at times in recent years, but I don’t know how much that’ll affect him once he gets to the league.”
Lil B writing a letter to Kevin Durant welcoming him “home.” The irony, man. Because let me tell you, Durant has been greatly annoyed with this curse thing and does not like Lil B. And now look.
