Wednesday Bolts – 3.7.12

Shaun Powell of NBA.com on the difference between LeBron and KD: “There aren’t many MVP-level stars, for example, who could co-exist with Westbrook. Strong-willed and often stubborn, Westbrook has a superstar’s mentality and more than once has tried to take over games, often at the expense of Durant. Can you imagine Kobe Bryant’s reaction if he was waved off by Westbrook? And yet Durant has a Tim Duncan-like approach to such situations. He’s a fierce competitor who wants the ball in the clutch, yet never loses his composure and is always willing to do whatever it takes. Actually, if there is a knock against Durant, it’s that he isn’t much of a vocal leader. But he said he’s working on it. And many great players have led more by showing than telling? Duncan, Julius Erving, Joe Montana, Derek Jeter … the list is long. Which leads us back to the superstar’s philosophy with the game on the line. Durant says his approach isn’t all that different than LeBron’s.”

Rob Mahoney of The Two Man Game on Jason Kidd’s complaints: “It happens, and it certainly happened on Monday night, when Ian Mahinmi was tagged on a highly questionable — but entirely crucial — foul call that gave the Oklahoma City Thunder a pair of go-ahead free throws with 46 seconds remaining. It was a rough call on what appeared to be a perfectly legal defensive play, and at the risk of sounding entirely dismissive of the ordeal, I’d offer this: Move on.”

Got ‘Em Coach recaps the week with the Got ‘Em Show.

I guess you can’t be a Thunder player without wearing big glasses these days.

Berry Tramel on unbalanced scoring: “Unbalanced scoring is not a bad thing. Look at the Monday night Thunder-Mavs game. Durant, Westbrook and Harden combined for 30 of the Thunder’s final 32 points. In the fourth quarter, the only points outside that trio came from two Ibaka foul shots with 46 seconds left in the game. You could argue that the Thunder has great balance, at the top. The Thunder has three go-to scorers. In fact, down the stretch, OKC ought to go to Harden more. That would relieve some pressure off Durant and Westbrook.”

OKC is closing in more than one way.

Tim Legler talking OKC defense.

Chris Broussard of ESPN.com on the death of the big man: “But I contend that the increased production, particularly in terms of scoring, by today’s point guards is due mainly to the sad, dare I say harrowing dearth of good big men. In other words, so many points put up All-Star scoring numbers because, for the most part, centers don’t score anymore. And I can make a strong argument that the power forward position is losing some oomph, too.”

Russell Westbrook is ninth in ESPN’s MVP race.

Britt Robson of SI.com’s power rankings: “But Harden countered with a dozen of his own, drawing three fouls and making all five foul shots and all three field-goal attempts, one of them a three-pointer. The Thunder still led by two with eight minutes left, and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were able to return well-rested and with Dallas close to being in the penalty. Later, OKC inbounded to Harden leading by one with 22 seconds to play. As he dribbled upcourt, three Mavs raced to hem him in before he could cross half-court in eight seconds. Harden rifled a bounce pass just inside the sideline to Durant, whom the Mavs were forced to foul. Harden’s pedestrian stat line — 16 points, two rebounds, four assists — doesn’t do justice to his role in the Thunder’s eighth victory in nine games.”