Thunder vs. Nuggets Live Chat
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.
-DM-
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.
-DM-
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
-DM-
Chat Recap: Darnell Mayberry
How A First-Time All-Star Celebrates His Selection
Kevin Durant burst into a giant grin well before the inquiry reached its question mark. It was clear that this moment had been on his mind.
“Man, I’m going to be totally honest with you,” said Durant when asked how much he’s anticipating Thursday night’s All-Star reserves announcement. “I’ve been thinking about it and now that it’s getting closer and closer it’ll be a dream come true.
“My brother told me yesterday, ‘If we’re watching the show and we see your name as a reserve we gon pop the apple cider and run around the room and celebrate.’ I was like, ‘Man, we can’t go that far. We got a game the next day. We can’t do that.’
“But growing up, watching All-Star games and seeing the players that play in it, it’ll be the ultimate blessing.”
Thursday’s nationally televised announcement on TNT seems a mere formality. Durant’s credentials have closed the case.
In only his third season, Durant ranks third in scoring at 29.3 points per game, just behind perennial All-Stars LeBron James (29.9 ppg) and Carmelo Anthony (29.7 ppg). Durant also can boast of career-high averages in rebounds (7.3), assists (2.9) and steals (1.3) while shooting a career-best 48.1 percent from the field. He’s put up at least 30 points in 15 of his past 18 games and has a league-leading 25 30-point games. Oh, and his 18 consecutive games of 25-plus points is an NBA record for a player under the age of 22.
And lest we forget the Thunder is now winning, sitting just two games out of the West’s fourth seed at 24-20 following Monday’s games? It was the Thunder’s 10-35 record a year ago that led Durant to discredit himself from deserving consideration.
There is reason to believe Durant already knows his fate. He says he doesn’t, despite teammate James Harden last week curiously posting a message of congratulations to Durant via Twitter on making his first All-Star Game.
Durant on Monday did a darn good job selling his in-question ignorance.
“Don’t tell me right now,” he said when a reporter started spouting off what West coaches have been saying about his chances. “Don’t tell me what they say. Let me wait until Thursday.”
The ever-modest Durant even shied away from authoritatively saying his time has come.
“It’s not for me to determine,” Durant said. “I think I’ve gotten better since last year. Hopefully coaches take notice in that. But I guess you could say it’s my time. I really don’t know. I really don’t focus on whether I’m one of the elite guys in the league. I just focus on helping my team and being one of the better players on my team and helping us win.”
Durant did admit that this year’s game would have tremendous significance, in addition to being his first appearance.
“It’s in Texas,” Durant said. “I call that my second home, in front of 100,000 Texas fans, right down the street from Oklahoma City so the fans can come watch. My teammates said if I make it, it’s my first one so they’ll come watch. It’ll be great, man. That magnitude, that’s the most people that’s ever watched a basketball game, I heard. So just to walk out with that All-Star warm-up with my name on it and make it to that stand, if I’m a part of that it’s a blessing.”
When asked whether he expects to make it, Durant said “It’s up in the air.” But he assured he’ll be watching, waiting, and above all, ready.
“It’s a lot of guys playing well on good teams that could surpass me in being a reserve,” Durant said. “We just have to wait and see. I’ll have that apple cider by the bed, though.”
Cavs 100, Thunder 99
CLEVELAND — The last four losses have come by a combined five points.
On the season, Oklahoma City has lost seven games by three points or less and nine games by five points or less.
Surely there is sunshine at the end of this streak, right?
The Thunder has been left with no choice but to believe that following the latest last-second letdown, a 100-99 defeat in which LeBron James dominated down the stretch Saturday at Quicken Loans Arena.
“We’re getting stronger and stronger,” assured Russell Westbrook.
But when will these cubs develop a lion’s roar?
The progress is palpable. Last season, the Thunder lost 19 games by five points or less, the third most defeats by that margin. But already, the Thunder has turned some of those close losses into narrow victories. OKC has won seven games by five points or less at just over the halfway point in the season. It’s evidence that the Thunder not only is now competing consistently and giving itself a chance to win these close games but also learning how to close them out.
Looks on faces and the tone in voices inside the locker room Saturday said frustration has set in. But behind every admission of how tough these close defeats have been to bear came an assurance of how they will only make the Thunder better. No one walked out of the locker room with their head hung following the heart-breaker. Instead, players sounded eager to get back to practice, the only place they can apply and build on the lessons the Cavs and others have taught them.
“I am so proud of their toughness,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “They are mentally tough. It is tough to lose the last four games by a total of four points. But they keep coming back. I don’t know if they know what they go through, but it’s a special group of guys that just love to compete for each other. These are tough losses. But you have to go through some tough losses to understand what it takes to win in this league and to win big in this league.”
Brooks went on to talk about how the Thunder is built to compete every night. And moments later, Westbrook backed up his coach before taking it a step further, boldly declaring what has long been evident.
“We think we can beat pretty much any team as long as we go out and compete every night and do what we need to do as a team,” Westbrook said.
The statement confirmed what Thabo Sefolosha said about the Thunder’s confidence.
“The confidence of the team, the confidence of the whole group, is as high as it can be,” Sefolosha said. “Even though we lost two in a row, we know what we have to do to win. So (confidence) can’t really get much higher right now. We just have to keep working as a team.”
And hope that soon a ray of sunshine will crack through this cloud of close losses. (more…)
Durant’s late-game struggles
After having his potential game-tying shot blocked by LeBron James in the waning seconds Saturday night in Cleveland — 24 hours after missing a potential game-winning, 3-pointer in Memphis — The Oklahoman’s live blog drew some “Durant isn’t clutch” comments.
Hard to argue with that viewpoint at this stage of Durant’s career.
But that point of view minimizes the progress Durant and the league’s second youngest team has made in roughly 12 months.
Frustration is understandable. Players are frustrated. How can you not be frustrated when you lose 1-point games to the Spurs, Mavericks and Cavs, and a 2-point decision to Memphis in a 10-day span.
But here are two things to consider:
(1) OKC is 7-10 in one-possession games. If you’re going to criticize Durant and the Thunder for coming up short give them credit for winning down-to-the-wire games against Phoenix, Atlanta, Utah and a road game at San Antonio.
(2) Expectations have risen too quickly. Most pre-season predictions projected the Thunder to win around 35 games which means OKC was projected to be around 18-26 at this point of the season, already out of the playoff race.
Durant is 21. At the same age, Michael Jordan was a junior at North Carolina; Kobe Bryant was averaging 19.9 points with the Lakers, Dirk Nowitzki was averaging 8.2 points, and LeBron James was leading the Cavaliers to the playoffs for the first time in his third season.
Here’s a sobering stat to rachet down expectations the final three months:
The nine players in the Thunder’s rotation have played in a combined 35 playoff games — Nenad Krstic 15, Nick Collison 11, Thabo Sefolosha 9. Three rookies obviously haven’t played in post-season. Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green and Durant are hoping to crash the post-season party this season.
In contrast:
Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have played in a combined 389 playoff games.
Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry have played in a combined 267 playoff games.
LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal have played in a combined 263 playoff games.
Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett have played in a combined 227 playoff games.
Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony have played in a combined 172 playoff games.
Yes, it’s frustrating Durant still hasn’t found the late-game magic touch. Yes, it’s frustrating the Thunder continually comes up just short against elite teams. Yes, it’s frustrating these losses might cost the Thunder a playoff berth.
But to expect the league’s second youngest team to consistently beat playoff-tested opponents is unrealistic. I predicted 36 wins in preseason. As we near the All-Star break, my adusted win projection is 47 wins, which probably would get OKC in the playoffs.
Even if they fall short, and finish around.500, a vastly improved defense and road wins at Atlanta, Phoenix, San Antonio, Utah and Miami are signs this is just the beginning. If the Thunder’s story were a book we’re only in chapters 4 or 5, far from reaching the juicy part of the plot, hundreds of pages away from the ending.
Some understably will respond. “I understand all that. But when will Durant hit the big shot? When will the Thunder win these type of games?” Be patient. There are still many chapters left to be written.
Durant's late-game struggles
After having his potential game-tying shot blocked by LeBron James in the waning seconds Saturday night in Cleveland — 24 hours after missing a potential game-winning, 3-pointer in Memphis — The Oklahoman’s live blog drew some “Durant isn’t clutch” comments.
Hard to argue with that viewpoint at this stage of Durant’s career.
But that point of view minimizes the progress Durant and the league’s second youngest team has made in roughly 12 months.
Frustration is understandable. Players are frustrated. How can you not be frustrated when you lose 1-point games to the Spurs, Mavericks and Cavs, and a 2-point decision to Memphis in a 10-day span.
But here are two things to consider:
(1) OKC is 7-10 in one-possession games. If you’re going to criticize Durant and the Thunder for coming up short give them credit for winning down-to-the-wire games against Phoenix, Atlanta, Utah and a road game at San Antonio.
(2) Expectations have risen too quickly. Most pre-season predictions projected the Thunder to win around 35 games which means OKC was projected to be around 18-26 at this point of the season, already out of the playoff race.
Durant is 21. At the same age, Michael Jordan was a junior at North Carolina; Kobe Bryant was averaging 19.9 points with the Lakers, Dirk Nowitzki was averaging 8.2 points, and LeBron James was leading the Cavaliers to the playoffs for the first time in his third season.
Here’s a sobering stat to rachet down expectations the final three months:
The nine players in the Thunder’s rotation have played in a combined 35 playoff games — Nenad Krstic 15, Nick Collison 11, Thabo Sefolosha 9. Three rookies obviously haven’t played in post-season. Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green and Durant are hoping to crash the post-season party this season.
In contrast:
Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have played in a combined 389 playoff games.
Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry have played in a combined 267 playoff games.
LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal have played in a combined 263 playoff games.
Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett have played in a combined 227 playoff games.
Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony have played in a combined 172 playoff games.
Yes, it’s frustrating Durant still hasn’t found the late-game magic touch. Yes, it’s frustrating the Thunder continually comes up just short against elite teams. Yes, it’s frustrating these losses might cost the Thunder a playoff berth.
But to expect the league’s second youngest team to consistently beat playoff-tested opponents is unrealistic. I predicted 36 wins in preseason. As we near the All-Star break, my adusted win projection is 47 wins, which probably would get OKC in the playoffs.
Even if they fall short, and finish around.500, a vastly improved defense and road wins at Atlanta, Phoenix, San Antonio, Utah and Miami are signs this is just the beginning. If the Thunder’s story were a book we’re only in chapters 4 or 5, far from reaching the juicy part of the plot, hundreds of pages away from the ending.
Some understably will respond. “I understand all that. But when will Durant hit the big shot? When will the Thunder win these type of games?” Be patient. There are still many chapters left to be written.
Thunder vs. Cavaliers Live Chat
