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Thunder 103, Hornets 99
NEW ORLEANS — In his best English yet, Serge Ibaka explained how he’s gone from wide-eyed rookie to poised impact player. How, in his first year in a new country and inaugural season in the world’s best basketball league, he’s transitioned from a player who registered one “DNP” after another to one who is capable of 11 minutes, 46 seconds of crunch-time action at New Orleans on Wednesday night and manages to be effective despite all the difficulties.
“I don’t feel pressure because I am 40 games into the NBA,” Ibaka said.
Something about the simplicity of his explanation summed up his maturity over four short months and potentially foreshadowed what’s in store for the 2008 24th overall pick.
Ibaka is developing faster than anyone with the Thunder could have projected. And anyone in the organization is more than willing to admit as much. The 6-foot-10 post player from Congo has blossomed into a bonafide post threat, one that rebounds, blocks shots and patrols the paint like no one this franchise has seen since Shawn Kemp more than a decade ago.
Coach Scott Brooks trusted Ibaka in the tightest of spots Wednesday night against an ailing but hungry Hornets team the Thunder needed to beat to maintain ground in the Western Conference race. But the big man has made it easy on his coach, showing Brooks since mid-December that if he supplies meaningful minutes he won’t let his coach or his teammates down.
Ibaka’s latest testament was a two-point, four-rebound, one-assist effort in the fourth quarter against the Hornets , a performance that proved one day Ibaka could become much more than a bit player whose name the PA announcer had to be reminded how to pronounce for the second time this season.
“He’s just calmer on the court,” said Thabo Sefolosha. “At first he just wanted to do a little bit of everything. Now he’s starting to figure out his game and understand the NBA game, the way it’s supposed to be played. He’s doing good things and I think he can improve so much.”
You’d be equally impressed if you heard Ibaka communicate his role through his improving but still choppy English. He speaks with an intelligence that bellies his youth and will bolster your belief in his basketball IQ.
“The last minute is very important for the team,” Ibaka said. “So it’s better for me to give more focus to my job, protect the paint, rebound, screens. That’s important.”
Ibaka was asked about his four big rebounds in the fourth quarter, when the Hornets made their run and any second-chance opportunity for them could have been the difference.
“I know my team needs the rebound,” Ibaka started. “It’s very important for my team because before we lost some games because of rebounds. So I know that is my job. That is my specialty, to help my teammates. I need to be very strong and go in and get rebounds.”
For now.
Ibaka finished with six points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots in just 23 minutes Wednesday night. The belief is the blocked shots will increase over this season’s second half and progress even more into next season as he learns opponent’s tendencies. So too will his scoring, when he masters footwork and positioning in the post.
“That kid is improving,” Brooks said. “He’s really helping us win games. He’s just solid. Every game he brings solid effort and he’s picking things up. He still has communication issues with me in the heat of the moment when I’m talking a mile a minute and talking basketball talk. But he’s picking it up. He’s working and improving and it’s great to see.”
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Durant Named Rookie Team Coach
The honors just keep rolling in for Thunder forward Kevin Durant.
The NBA has named Durant as a coach for the Rookie team during this year’s Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend. Durant will be on the bench instructing teammate James Harden and the rest of the rookies as they play the sophomores, who will have Toronto All-Star forward Chris Bosh on the bench as an assistant coach.
The Rookie team’s head coach will be Adrian Dantley, a six-time All-Star and one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. Dantley is currently in his fourth season as an assistant coach with Denver. The Sophomore team will be coached by Patrick Ewing, the former Knicks great who is an assistant with Orlando.
This year’s appearance as an assistant coach in the Rookie Challenge marks the latest accomplishment in Durant’s fast-rising career. Durant won the Rookie of the Year award in 2008, was MVP of the 2009 Rookie Challenge after scoring a record 46 points and won last season’s inaugural H-O-R-S-E competition at All-Star Weekend. Currently, Durant is tied with Denver’s Carmelo Anthony for the scoring lead at 29.7 points per game and has been selected as an All-Star reserve for the first time in his three-year career.
The Rookie Challenge will held on Friday, Feb. 12 in Dallas. The game will be televised live on TNT at 8 p.m.
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Follow me on Twitter @DarnellMayberry.Thunder 106, Hawks 99
The moment came Tuesday night like it always does in close games.
But this time Kevin Durant was ready for it.
When the referees swallowed their whistles and Joe Johnson tightened up his defense, Durant did something he hasn’t done much this season. He pushed back. The Thunder’s frail forward didn’t get frustrated. He got even. And with 2:48 remaining, after Durant and Johnson spent too many seconds bumping and battling for position, the refs finally rewarded Durant with a personal foul call on Johnson.
The sequence summed up what Durant seemingly must do from here out to not get knocked off his spot.
“That’s a part of being a superstar in this league,” said Russell Westbrook. “You’re going to have to work for it every time you get the ball. But we’re patient. We don’t mind letting him work to get open, let him fight a little bit. He’s tough so he’ll be all right.”
Problem was, to this point Durant wasn’t being tough enough. Too many times in the past he’d throw up his hands, literally and figuratively, and give up on the play. The defense would win. Opponents pestered him enough to take him out of the possession. Durant doesn’t deny it.
“I wasn’t being as aggressive as I should have been,” Durant said. “I didn’t want to get offensive fouls. I didn’t know if I was being too aggressive.”
Clearly, his mentality has changed, evolving to the point where he no longer will allow players to disrupt the Thunder’s entire offense or prevent him from getting his touches. Johnson used every bit of his 6-feet-7 inches and 240 pounds to harass Durant. But finally, against one of the league’s strongest wing players, Durant employed a much more effective counter than simply running out to halfcourt to free himself.
“Be physical with them,” Durant said with a sense of pride. “I know I’m not as strong as those guys but just continue to be physical with them. If the ref sees it then I’ll get a foul. If not, I’ll get the ball.”
Coach Scott Brooks talked about how Durant needs to be smart in those situations. It’s a fine line between battling and being baited. On Tuesday night, Durant was savvy. He used his body instead of shoving with his arms. He tried to dupe the defense with change-of-pace tactics when curling off pin-downs rather than supplying the same steady dose of speed.
“You just have to be a smart offensive player and Kevin is becoming that,” Brooks said.
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Thunder vs. Nuggets Live Chat
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Durant’s All-Star Interview With TNT
EJ, Kenny, Charles & CWebb play an “All-Star” prank on Thunder forward Kevin Durant 1.28.10 from Turner Sports on Vimeo.
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Follow me on Twitter @DarnellMayberry.Report: Durant Named All-Star Reserve
Yahoo! Sports plays the role of spoiler with the rest of the All-Star rosters.
And, according to their report, Thunder forward Kevin Durant will indeed make the cut tonight as one of seven All-Star reserves that will officially be announced tonight on TNT. It will mark the first time Durant has been named to the All-Star team.
According to Yahoo! Sports, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Dirk Nowitzki, Zach Randolph, Pau Gasol and Brandon Roy also made the West roster. The Eastern Conference reserves reportedly include Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Gerald Wallace, Joe Johnson and Al Horford.
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Follow me on Twitter @DarnellMayberry.Harden, Westbrook Selected For Rookie Challenge
Rookie James Harden and second-year guard Russell Westbrook will be among 18 players competing in this year’s Rookie Challenge at All-Star Weekend, the league announced Wednesday.
The rosters were selected by assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot.
Rookie Team Roster
DeJuan Blair, San Antonio Spurs
Omri Casspi, Sacramento Kings
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings
Jonny Flynn, Minnesota Timberwolves
Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls
James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder
Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks
Jonas Jerebko, Detroit Pistons
Sophomore Team Roster
Michael Beasley, Miami Heat
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
Danilo Gallinari, New York Knicks
Eric Gordon, Los Angeles Clippers
Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
O.J. Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
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