The Mythical All-NBA Fourth Team
The NBA announced its All-NBA teams today, and if there was such a thing as the All-NBA Fourth Team the Thunder’s own Kevin Durant would be a card-carrying member.
Durant tallied 34 total points in the voting, which awarded players five, three and one point for each first, second or third place vote. It would have been enough to put Durant on a fourth team alongside Deron Williams (105 points), Joe Johnson (36 points), Chris Bosh (56 points) and Kevin Garnett (72 points).
THE ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM
G Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
G Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
F LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
F Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
C Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
THE ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM
G Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
G Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers
F Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
F Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
C Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
THE ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM
G Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
G Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets
F Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
F Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
C Shaquille O’Neal, Phoenix Suns
What’s interesting about the above teams is that the only players at forward who figure to be mainstays from this point on are LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. You can realistically see Durant replacing Dirk, Pierce, Duncan or Gasol as early as next season.
What it’ll take, though, is at least 20 more wins for the Thunder and for Durant to string together an entire season of performances similar to those he showed us every night from January through the end of February. Durant’s numbers, which are already worthy of placing him on an All-NBA Team, are likely to increase again next season and only bolster his case. But of the players on this year’s All-NBA Teams, Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat finished with the worst record at 43-39. The Thunder finished 23-59.
A 20-game improvement for the Thunder next season is not far-fetched. And by the looks of it, neither is Durant earning his first All-NBA Team selection.
-DM-
Choking In Boston….
ABOUT BOSTON-ORLANDO
Could the Orlando Magic do any more to blow a pivotal Game 5 on the road last night? Up 85-75 with 5:39 left to play, Orlando watched Boston end the game on a 17-3 run. The Magic were thoroughly out-hustled, they turned it over, took terrible shots and never got the ball to Dwight Howard in the final minutes. Well, save the inbounds play with 5.9 seconds remaining when Orlando passed it in to their worst free throw shooter. Maybe there was a little substance to Shaquille O’Neal’s labeling of Stan Van Gundy as the “Master of panic.” Van Gundy was far from impressive in his late-game play calling and game management. Howard took exception to his lack of touches and Van Gundy could now have a problem. But the Magic have got to execute better. Rashard Lewis bricked two late 3-pointers and had a costly turnover down the stretch while struggling to defend Glen “Big Baby” Davis on the perimeter at the other end. Davis hit two jumpers in Lewis’ grill to start the run. Orlando also let Stephon Marbury of all people take over the game at the start of the fourth by scoring 12 points in the period. Orlando deserves to lose this series in Game 6. To me, this was more of a case of Orlando losing the game than Boston winning it. Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins all had off nights and the Magic couldn’t take advantage. Celtics coach Doc Rivers was forced to go with a lineup of Marbury, Eddie House, Ray Allen, Brian Scalabrine and Davis early in the fourth because so many of his key guys weren’t getting it done. I’ll give Boston credit for this much, when Rondo, Pierce and Perkins did finally check back in they turned up the defensive effort and closed it out. And that comeback was enough to deliver the defending champions (technically) a scent of blood and two games to get one W…………I use the phrase defending champions loosely because this Celtics team is far from the team we saw signing, dancing and shouting “Anything’s Possible.” last June. Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe are both out with knee injuries. James Posey is in New Orleans. P.J. Brown is retired. And Ray Allen is averaging one good game every two outings. That leaves Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo as the Cs best offensive options. And one of those guys can’t shoot. Add Perkins to that mix and those are the only remaining defenders Boston has. Scalabrine and Davis play hard on D, and House and Marbury can get it going offensively. But if those are the guys the Celtics are banking on to repeat it ain’t happenin’……….I swear I kept seeing D.J. White seated behind the basket closest to the Magic’s bench. Looked like he was wearing a Reds baseball cap.
ABOUT HOUSTON-L.A.
It’s over! Consider the Lakers’ 40-point win last night a message L.A. sent to Houston and the remaining playoff teams. A warning that says “Don’t count us out just yet.” Yes, the Lakers have had their rocky moments. But like most things coming out of L.A. it’s been overblown. The Lakers have had one bad game, the rout in Houston in Game 4. They brought little energy and effort and were outplayed by an undermanned Rockets team fueled on emotion due to the loss of Yao Ming. But I chalk up the Game 1 loss to the Lakers’ time off between the first and second round. Tuesday night’s game showed that the Lakers are finally putting it all together. For the first time, the Lakers’ entire supporting cast played well. Well, save Derek Fisher. Andrew Bynum finally played halfway decently. Phil Jackson is finally smartening up and playing Jordan Farmar. And Trevor Ariza is hitting shots. I expect the Lakers to close out this series Thursday night in Houston, not wanting to give the Nuggets any extra time to rest up after their likely close out of Dallas tonight.
-DM-
On The Playoffs…
Not a whole lot going on in Thunderland so the goal from here out is to use this space to air my thoughts, opinions and analysis on all things NBA playoffs. If I’m any good at what I do there should be some sort of Thunder relation to a good amount of my thoughts. Bare with me.
I thought much of the first round was predictable and borderline boring. Celtics-Bulls and Portland-Houston really being the only exceptions. The only other first-round series I found halfway compelling was the Nuggets-Hornets series, but only because I watched in complete amazement at how thoroughly Denver thumped New Orleans.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Time to blow it up. The front office made several win-now moves after drafting Chris Paul in an attempt to fast forward through the rebuilding phase — The Tyson Chandler trade. The Peja signing. The Morris Peterson signing. The Posey signing. The Hornets had their taste of success last year but injuries and underachieving plagued them this season. Now New Orleans is stuck with ailing and aging players and really only has Paul and David West as building blocks for the future. But blowing it up is much easier said than done. Stojakovic will be 32 in June and has a bad back and an even worse contract ($29.5 million remaining over the final two years). Posey is 32 and has three years and $19.4 million left on the four-year, $25 million deal he signed last summer. And Morris Peterson, who also turns 32 this summer, has two years and $12.8 million remaining on his contract.
The Hornets were super aggressive in assembling their current roster and could be paying the price for the next two seasons. Seeing how things are potentially playing out in New Orleans should make Thunder fans happy that OKC has chosen to take the exact opposite route. Rather than bypassing the rebuilding phase through pricey signings for a one- or two-year shot at a title, OKC is taking its two, three or even four-year lumps now while building a team that can contend for eight to 10 years.
ABOUT THE CAVS
The Cleveland Cavaliers are making the entire Eastern Conference playoffs a bit of a yawner, with sweeps against Detroit and Atlanta en route to what will be an inevitable trip to the NBA Finals regardless of whether it’s Orlando or Boston they draw next.
About the only thing that interests me about the Cavs’ cakewalk to NBA Finals is the play of Delonte West. The fifth-year guard is averaging 13.3 points, 4.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in the playoffs. I’m sure much of his success can be attributed to playing alongside LeBron James. But West is talented nonetheless. And my question is why didn’t Sam Presti keep this guy rather than essentially giving him away in that three-team, 11-player mega deal that sent Ben Wallace to Cleveland in February 2008? West was described as “disgruntled” by Seattle media prior to the trade and reportedly never embraced P.J. Carlesimo’s system. (Who did?) But you think the Thunder couldn’t use West’s defense and perimeter shooting? He was set to become a restricted free agent when the Sonics traded him, and Cleveland later signed him to a relatively cheap three-year deal worth just under $13 million, starting at just $3.8 million this season. And West doesn’t turn 26 until July 26. Wonder if Presti wishes he had that one back?
ABOUT BOSTON-ORLANDO
This is turning into an entertaining series. Game 5 is tonight in Boston. Neither team has won two straight yet and I’m guessing that streak will continue tonight. The Magic has to make shots. I assume they will. The prediction: Orlando 103, Boston 97…What other craziness can happen in this series? Rafer Alston slaps Eddie House in the back of his head like he’s his uncle. Glen “Big Baby” Davis is forced to apologize to a courtside teen and his family for brushing against the boy as he celebrated his game-winner. Big Baby actually hit a game-winner. Half the Celtics are injured. And J.J. Redick is getting some burn.
ABOUT DALLAS-DENVER
Even though I figured Denver would win it, I honestly thought this series would be a lot better. Game 3′s ending about did it for Dallas. Antoine Wright should have wrapped up Carmelo Anthony, but the ref shouldn’t have swallowed his whistle. Despite having that feeling that last night’s Game 4 was only prolonging the inevitable, I couldn’t help but watch it until it’s conclusion. Glad I did. Dirk Nowitzki put on a show. I expect Denver to close it out in Game 5.
ABOUT L.A.-HOUSTON
It’s too bad Yao Ming got hurt. Ths was shaping up to be a great series. The Rockets weren’t backing down and the Lakers looked vulnerable. With Yao healthy I thought the Lakers would take care of business. L.A. has yet to get an all-around effort from its role players like the Rockets have gotten from theirs, and, no matter what, Houston doesn’t have a star who can take over the game like Kobe Bryant can. Even though Houston won an emotional Game 4 without Yao, I expect the Lakers to take the next two games and close out the series.
-DM-
Brooks To Rep Thunder At Draft Lottery
The Thunder announced today that coach Scott Brooks will sit at the podium as the team’s representative during next Tuesday’s nationally televised announcement of the NBA Draft Lottery.
Brooks will try to take some good fortune with him to the NBA Entertainment Studios in Secaucus, N.J. and serve as the good luck charm the team is looking for in hopes of landing the No. 1 overall. Currently, the Thunder is slated to pick fourth overall. OKC has an 11.9 percent chance of winning the first overall pick and can fall no lower than seventh.
And speaking of good luck charms, Brooks actually carries a four leaf clover on his key chain. No word on whether he’ll take that set of keys to the Draft Lottery and rub its plastic green leafs while wishing and praying. But, hey, it’s worth a shot.
-DM-
Durant Finishes Distant Third For MIP Award
Well look at that.
I wasn’t the only one who deemed Kevin Durant’s sophomore season sensational enough to give him a first-place vote on the ballot for the Most Improved Player Award.
Durant received six first-place votes but finished a distant third behind winner Danny Granger and runner-up Devin Harris, the league announced today.
Granger received 48 first-place votes and 364 of a possible 605 total points from 121 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the U.S. and Canada. Harris, who many thought would win the award, garnered 43 first-place votes and 339 total points. Durant had 83 points. Utah’s Paul Millsap (77 points) and Denver’s Nene Hilario (58 points) rounded out the top five.
Granger finished fifth in the league in scoring, averaging a career-high 25.8 points. He is being touted for becoming the first player in NBA history to raise his scoring average by at least five points in three consecutive seasons, which, depending on how you look at it, could simply mean his career just got off to a really crappy start.
But there was no denying Granger’s development this season. He’s evolved into one of the premier players, turning himself into a threat from every spot on the court offensively while continuing to expand his game defensively.
I thought Durant was more deserving of the honor because he showed more improvement across the board than Granger. There seemed to be a general belief — which a few veteran NBA writers flat out confirmed to me during the season — that Durant shouldn’t be considered for the award because of two reasons: 1) He was a second-year player. 2) He was the second overall pick in the draft. Second-year players picked that high, they said, are supposed to show a great deal of improvement.
I’m not buying into that logic. Improvement is improvement no matter when you experience it. Devin Harris was the fifth overall pick in 2004, which means he’s being recognized (and was nearly honored) for taking much longer to develop into the player he was “supposed” to be all along.
But that’s how the voters have historically voted. Since the award’s inception in 1985-86, only twice has a top five pick been named Most Improved Player. Pervis Ellison, the former No. 1 overall pick in 1989, won the award in his third season, and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, the third overall pick in 1990, also won the award in his third season. Only five other top 10 picks have ever won the award.
Jeff Green, whose improvement was overshadowed all season, received one third-place vote.
-DM-
Draft Workouts Set To Begin Friday
The first batch of pre-draft workouts will be held Friday at the team’s practice facility, with the Thunder holding two sessions and 12 players in all.
Oklahoma State’s Terrell Harris, Texas’ A.J. Abrams, Marquette’s Jerel McNeal and USC’s Daniel Hackett headline this first group, which is filled with guards and has only one player listed taller than 6-foot-6.
Other players include: Jack McClinton (Miami), Paul Delaney (UAB), Jermaine Taylor (UCF), Garrett Temple (LSU), Courtney Fells (N.C. State), Josh Carter (Texas A&M), Joe Ingles (Melbourne Dragons) and Aaron Jackson (Duquesne).
Pre-draft workouts are closed to the media and public, and the media is not permitted to interview players following workouts. That means info on how players fared in OKC workouts will be hard to come by over the next 1 1/2 montes but we’ll do our best.
-DM-
And the winner is…..
Randy Roper, a Family Life Minister at Edmond Church of Christ, has won the Thunder’s NBA Draft Lottery Challenge, the on-line contest in which fans submitted a seven-word entry explaining why they were the most creative and enthusiastic fan to attend the lottery.
Roper’s entry was, “Gonna wear my Thunderwear in Times Square.” With 61 percent of the fan voting, Roper’s entry beat out, “I am Thunder Loud and Oklahoma proud,” (34 percent) and “Thunder rocks Loud City, New York’s next” (5 percent).
More than 2,100 entries were submitted and more than 9,900 fans voted on the three finalists in just a 48-hour period.
Roper will win round-trip airfare from Oklahoma City to New York for the Draft Lottery on May 19, hotel accommodations, per diem for the trip and wil get to be in the audience at the NBA Entertainment studios during the lottery.
-DM-
Thunder-Spurs Set To Play In Austin
The Thunder will host the San Antonio Spurs in an exhibition game next season in Austin, Texas, the team announced Wednesday.
The game, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m, will be played in the Frank Erwin Center on the campus of the University of Texas. It will serve as a homecoming for Kevin Durant, who garnered Player of the Year honors at the school in 2007.
Thunder season ticket holders can purchase tickets to the game via a pre-sale period from May 11-15. Tickets go on sale to the general public June 1st at 10 a.m.
The remainder of the team’s preseason schedule has not yet been released, but Thunder fans should get accustomed to seeing the team pay homage to its key members by sprinkling games throughout their basketball roots.
General manager Sam Presti was a front office executive in San Antonio under GM R.C. Buford and coach Gregg Popovich, and the Spurs frequently traveled to remote locations to honor its longstanding players.
San Antonio held its training camp on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Tim Duncan’s homeland, in 2005. The Spurs also played a preseason game in 2005 at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Colisuem on the campus of Wake Forest, Duncan’s alma mater. In 2006, the Spurs held their training camp in Lyon, France, native country of guard Tony Parker. And the Spurs played a preseason game against Memphis in Paris in 2003.
With Durant returning to Texas, Oklahomans also should get prepared to see a steady dose of Hook ‘em Horns signs from the Thunder’s franchise player. Durant often flashed the Longhorns’ salute on the sidelines of OU football and basketball games he attended this season and enjoyed staying true to his UT beginnings even while riling up some around these parts. With the Thunder now embracing Durant’s Texas days, his fondess for flashing Hook em’ Horns signs figures to be here to stay.
-DM-
Draft Lottery Challenge Finalists Chosen
The Thunder has announced the three finalists for its inaugural Draft Lottery Challenge, which will send one fan to New York to witness the NBA Draft Lottery on May 19.
The team invited all fans 18 and older who are Oklahoma residents to submit a creative seven-word description of why they should be in attendance. Out of 2,174 entries, the team settled on the following three:
* Thunder rocks Loud City; New York’s next.
* I am Thunder loud and Oklahoma proud.
* Gonna wear my Thunderwear in Times Square.
The team is now asking fans to log onto thunder.nba.com to choose their favorite entry. Voting is open through Thursday. The winning entry will receive roundtrip airfare from Oklahoma City to New York City, hotel accommodations, per diem and admission to the Draft Lottery at the NBA Entertainment studios.
-DM-
