Wednesday Bolts – 5.13.15
Kurt Helin of PBT looks at Pelicans candidates: “He certainly showed he could develop talent and bond with the stars as the coach in Oklahoma City. He’s taken a team all the way to the NBA finals. This is simply a guy who has proven he can do the job. (And if you want to live in a fantasy world where New Orleans has a shot at landing Kevin Durant in 2016, he helps there, too.) He checks off a lot of boxes for Demps. But the reasons he was let go in Oklahoma City — concerns about his conventional offense, and if he was the guy who could coach a team to a title — should give New Orleans a little pause.”
Kevin Draper of Deadspin on forthcoming labor negotiations: “It is clear that the league is nervous about the prospect of the players opting out of the CBA and reopening it for negotiation. Just last weekend, Adam Silver went on the radio and threatened that there are also CBA items that the owners want addressed. But when it comes to labor negotiations, Adam Silver isn’t on the side of the players. If he is warning them not to opt out, it probably means they should opt out. If the NBPA were to strike in 2017 they would certainly be in a stronger negotiating position than 2011, but still likely would be unable to win a significant increase in the percentage of basketball-related income they receive. Everything else is negotiable to the league, but BRI is the hill the owners would die on. They give every sign of being willing to blow up an entire season to prevent giving back money.”
It really doesn’t take much for an NBA player to make someone’s day, and Dirk showed that perfectly.
Anthony Slater: “If the Spurs would have beaten the Pelicans on that final night or if any of those close losses had gone the Thunder’s way, Serge Ibaka’s season likely wouldn’t have ended with that early March knee scope. The Thunder big man had been ramping up activity during the season’s final weeks and, if you let him tell it, was aiming to return in “Game 2 or 3” of the first round. Considering the unlikelihood of a surprising run through the Western Conference, that early elimination will likely prove beneficial long-term.”
Darnell Mayberry on how many 3s Ibaka should take next season: “I’ll start to cringe if he goes beyond 2.5 per game next season. That would suggest to me that he’s again falling in love with the long ball and losing sight of his ability to be a force inside. Plus, with Kevin Durant hopefully back for a full season, along with Anthony Morrow, D.J. Augustin, Russell Westbrook, Dion Waiters, Kyle Singler and Steve Novak, the Thunder should finally have plenty of 3-point shooters. Ibaka statistically might be better than most in that group. But none of them can do what he’s capable of doing on the inside. That, to me, is where Ibaka always will have the most value.”
Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com: “The team says there is no further damage that can be done while Irving proceeds on playing. Even it were the case, Irving would still be out there. He has made it known that he’s not missing this moment for the world. He’s committed to the organization and his teammates. He’s not Pau Gasol. He’s Kyrie Irving, a player playing with so much heart and determination. His limbs would have to fall off to keep him from competition and he wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Sorry, I have to go take a shower after reading that paragraph.
