http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2012/12/27/oklahoma-city-thunder-okc-the-exception-with-20-point-scorers/ Thoughts from The Oklahoman Sports Columnist Berry Tramel | NewsOK.com Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:41:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2012/12/27/oklahoma-city-thunder-okc-the-exception-with-20-point-scorers/comment-page-1/#comment-153312 Pam Fri, 28 Dec 2012 07:25:16 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/?p=11918#comment-153312 Smart man!

]]> http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2012/12/27/oklahoma-city-thunder-okc-the-exception-with-20-point-scorers/comment-page-1/#comment-153129 Glenn Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:44:47 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/?p=11918#comment-153129 It seems that Barry needs an NBA history lesson. Back before the “Michael Jordan era”, basketball was a team sport. (I know…hard to believe). When Jordan arrived, the sports media, the league, and David Stern promoted the “hero” image, and turned it into a “ME ME ME” sport. The 20 point scorer was the hero and every team needed at least one. Of course, you would have to have been an NBA fan for a long time to remember that. I do. The quality of talent is much greater today than in years past, but not just in scoring. People like Ty Lawson, John Wall, and Stephen Curry would have been absolutely amazing scoring “superstars” 10 – 20 years ago. Now they are much more “average” in the league. Also much more average is the presence of the ace defenders, like Thabo Sefolosha, Shane Battier, and Tony Allen, who harass other players and take them out of their game. Then there are the shot blockers, DeAndre Jordan, Serge Ibaka, and Dwight Howard. The league has embraced defense and team play a lot more, so the 20 point player is much less in demand. Of course you will have your “super-super stars” like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant who will always be that 20 + point guy. Depth of the team also make a huge difference. Blake Griffin has to work much less now per game in minutes, and lets guys like Matt Barnes and Lamar Odom play a lot more. The whole dynamic of the “hero”, one man team has faded, and NBA basketball has come back to the team concept it once had, with a lot more advancements in player quality and statistic diversity.

]]> http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2012/12/27/oklahoma-city-thunder-okc-the-exception-with-20-point-scorers/comment-page-1/#comment-153118 Dallas Mavericks (12-16) at Oklahoma City Thunder (21-6), 8 p.m. (ET) - Thunder (Oklahoma City) Headlines | Sports Stumble - trending sports news at your fingertipsSports Stumble – trending sports news at your fingertips Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:21:44 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/?p=11918#comment-153118 [...] Oklahoma City Thunder: OKC the exception with 20-point scorers David Lee ranks 10th in the NBA in points per game this season, with 20.0. There have been NBA seasons when that figure wouldn't rank in the top 30. The number of large scorers is down in the NBA. Only 10 players are averaging at least 20 points a game. Read more on NewsOK.com (blog) [...]

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