Back At It After All-Star Break
The Thunder took the practice court tonight for about 1 1/2 hours, trying to regain its rhythm after four days off for All-Star break.
Joe Smith and Robert Swift did not make it back in time for the session. Thunder coach Scott Brooks said they missed their flights and there will be “consequences” for that. Desmond Mason was the only other player not at practice but the injured forward was excused.
It was interesting to see Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant trying to complete the dunk Rudy Fernandez and Pau Gasol teamed up for during the dunk contest. It’s the one at the 15 second mark of this video, when Gasol throws it off the back of the backboard and Fernandez comes from out of bounds an dunks before taking off from behind the glass. I never saw Westbrook throw it down.
Durant and Jeff Green, though, both said they enjoyed their time in Phoenix. Green said he particularly enjoyed seeing Shaquille O’Neal steal the show during Sunday’s All-Star game.
“Shaq was a character,” Green said. ”The way he came out was pretty cool. I was kind of imitating him at home. But then the way he played in the All-Star game was pretty cool, the between the legs pass, the full court no-look pass, it was fun to watch.”
Durant said he will keep the paper and plastic trophy of a horse that he was given for winning the weekend’s H-O-R-S-E competition.
“I thought I was going to get a better trophy than that,” Durant said. ”But I was just happy that I represented Oklahoma City and (didn’t) lose by that much and coming back and hitting some shots and won it. It was cool. It was kind of unique.
“(The Trophy) is on the way back here now. My brothers had it. I think they’re going to mail it back. It’s like paper and plastic so I don’t know how that’s going to work. It’s like a toy. But I”ll keep it. It’s the first one like it.”
Durant said he didn’t seek out advice from any of the All-Stars while in Phoenix, preferring to let them rest.
“I left those guys alone,” Durant said. “They play a long season, a tough game every night. I think that’s their only time away from basketball so I left it alone. We’re in the same position as players that we just want to get out, rest and relax during that time. So I just left them alone, let them enjoy themselves. But I made sure that I went over there and said hello. Since those are the guys that paved the way for me I made sure I spoke to them.”
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Comments
Good to see they are back and hopefully ready for action tonight. KD was a beast this weekend, I’m sure he’s definitely on every GM’s radar after his performance. Time to start talking big money and a long term deal with him, making sure he stays off the market!!!
I had to laugh at Durant’s comment that the All-Star game was “those guys(’)…only time away from basketball.”
no love for the 46 points and rookie game mvp?