Practice Notes & Quotes
Mo Peterson sat on an over-sized exercise ball in what could best be described as a state of shock. Visitors, support staff and front office types, all lined along a wall of folding chairs and bleachers, shook their heads in disbelief. Jeff Green could only hang his head and get ready for the next practice.
Kevin Durant, the root of the many reactions, simply smiled, clapped once and let out a celebratory cry that culminated what everyone had just witnessed about how money he is.
For the second straight day at training camp, Durant nailed the game-winning basket in the Thunder’s session-ending scrimmage. With 2.3 seconds remaining, Durant drained a deep 3-pointer from the left wing out of an in-bounds play, effortlessly sealing the 14-13 win for his blue team despite having Green draped all over him.
On Wednesday, it was a 17-foot pull-up jumper that Durant canned to give his squad a 12-11 win. On Thursday, it was one of those deep, turning, twisting late-game attempts we saw him try but fail to sink so many times in the past.
“KD has developed into making big shots throughout the game,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks minutes after practice. “He’s a talent. He works at it. It’s not natural. He makes it happen by his work.”
Remember all those questions last year about whether Durant could ever be this team’s closer? If Durant hasn’t provided enough of an answer by now, it’s beginning to look like he might be ready to rest his case this season. Brooks said his star is more prepared now to take and make those big shots than he was a year ago. (more…)
Kevin Durant gets no love in Europe jersey sales
Kevin Durant's jersey was not one of the top 15 sold Europe last season.
The NBA released its annual list of the most popular jerseys in Europe. Some of the usual suspects were there: Kobe Bryant at No. 1, LeBron James at No. 2.
But there is no Kevin Durant in the top 15.
The list is based on the top selling jerseys at retail locations in Europe throughout the 2009-10 season.
So maybe, given the fact that the Thunder was a surprise team last year, and since this is pre-FIBA, he will shoot up the list next year. Still, it’s interesting for a guy who many consider to be the best player in the game to not be on the list.
The full list:
1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
4. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
5. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
6. Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors
7. Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors
8. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
9. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
10. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
11. Danilo Gallinari, New York Knicks
12. Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls
13. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
14. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
15. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
Virtual Kevin Durant Gets Sacked
The cover athlete for the premier of NBA Elite 11 couldn’t contain his disappointment.
Kevin Durant spoke with noticeably more sullenness as he discussed postponed plans for the video game that features an action shot of him on the cover. His answers shrunk shorter. His tone grew more tense.
“They said it wasn’t as up to par as they wanted it to be,” Durant said. “That’s kind of unfortunate. It was kind of cool to see myself on a video game. I guess they’ll wait till it gets right. We’ll see.”
EA Sports, a sports gaming giant, announced earlier this week that it would delay the previously scheduled October release for the renamed series, which was formerly known as NBA Live. Ultimately, poor user reviews of the demo led to the game’s temporary sacking. Users complained of numerous glitches and control problems. A fan-narrated video of these issues has become a popular clip on YouTube, generating more than 600,000 views. I can’t post it here because of the narrator’s foul language. But EA Sports admitted that its decision was in large part because of negative reviews such as these.
Why make this decision now? As with all of our titles, we continue to evaluate and improve the code right up until launch. Feedback from consumers is a very important part of the process. NBA ELITE had the benefit of play-testing, a demo and a lot of our own research. All that feedback revealed some concerns about gameplay polish, so we’ve listened to your feedback, and made a judgment that the game would benefit from more time in development.”
Durant, meanwhile, said he hadn’t even received an advanced copy of the game so, like his fans, he must wait until it’s yet-to-be-determined release date to go all giddy over seeing his likeness, dressed in a white Thunder uniform, on the cover.
Of course, Durant has appeared on the cover of a video game before. He graced the cover of NCAA March Madness 08, sporting a burnt orange Texas Longhorns uniform. But Durant was excited for his second go-round. As Durant told me following the announcement of his cover in June, “It never gets old, I’d say. It’s a real blessing. As a kid that’s something you really dreamed of. To have an opportunity to be on the cover is something that you can’t take for granted so I’m very happy about it.”
And how did Durant learn the news of the delay?
“Twitter,” he said with a smile.
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Practice Notes & Quotes
In two-plus years of covering the Thunder, I’ve grown to accept that when it comes to media availability for practice there are good days and bad days. Days when we get a good look at worthwhile things like schemes and things and days when we get shutout and see nothing but free throws.
Not today. Today was a great day. Let me take it a step further. Today was the best Thunder practice I’ve ever attended.
Now, let me be clear. That statement has absolutely no reflection on what kind of practice it was for the team. For the media’s purposes — and therefore the fans’ purposes — Wednesday’s morning session of the second day of two-a-days was an exciting mix of eventful, entertaining and enlightening.
On Tuesday’s opening day, we saw ball-handling, passing and screen drills. Today, we witnessed a good amount of the tail end of the season’s first scrimmage, a much more competitive defensive drill and even a mini party (more on that later).
By the time the practice doors swung open to the media, players were already getting after it in an intra-squad scrimmage. I would give you which players played on which team, but honestly lineups at this point probably mean absolutely nothing. The squads are likely to change tomorrow. Just know that coach Scott Brooks split up starters, reserves and training camp guys fairly evenly.
The first thing that stood out was how competitive players were doing the scrimmage. I counted two charges alone in the short time it took for the game to finish after the media entered. There was also some jawing, most notably James Harden and camper Elijah Millsap exchanging shoves and words at one point. (Dear Thunder heads, please know that the media is not likely to see so much as a free throw attempt for another two years all because of that small bit of inside info I just provided. But I’m here for you.)
What jumped out next was the Thunder’s athleticism. I know everyone knows this already, but even after all that’s been said and written over the summer folks still might not understand just how fun this team will be this year. OKC has got some horses in the stable. Russell Westbrook looks like more of a blur than he did last year in transition, and his ability to find creative ways to finish at the rim will leave you shaking your head. Kevin Durant looks much smoother putting the ball on the floor and finishing in traffic. Harden, Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha all showed they can finish the break with force.
Malik Rose To Join Thunder Broadcast Team
Thunder telecasts will get a major boost this season.
Former NBA forward Malik Rose, who played for the Thunder for the final half of the 2008-09 season, will serve as a studio analyst for FOX Sports Oklahoma during road games and select home games. Rose, who enjoyed a 13-year playing career primarily with San Antonio and New York, served as a studio analyst for the Knicks last year, as well as an in-game color analyst for the Austin Toros of the NBA D-League.
Rose will team up with FOX Sports’ current anchor tandem of John Rhadigan or Dana Larson. After playing 813 career NBA games, averaging 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds, Rose will bring authentic knowledge to the booth. And with play-by-play man Brian Davis and color commentator Grant Long kicking it back and forth to the FOX studio, there is a possibility for some real entertaining dialogue and in-depth insight in the banter between former players Long and Rose. Thunder fans should hope the broadcast team doesn’t play it conservatively and understands the special opportunity it has during segments with Long and Grant.
Either way, segments with Rose in the studio with just the anchor should make for great television. Thunder heads might not know much about Rose because he wasn’t in town long and didn’t warrant many interviews. But he’s a real delight. When he came to OKC his reputation for being a class act preceded him. But Rose’s first practice is when the OKC media found out what a joy he is to speak with. He’s candid, comfortable and clever. And he’s got stories for days.
Thunder heads are in for a real treat.
Desmond Mason Coming Back To OKC
Desmond Mason, the former fan favorite with OSU, the Hornets and the Thunder, is returning to Oklahoma City.
But for Act Four in Oklahoma, Mason is bringing his renowned art to the city. As The Oklahoman’s Steve Lackmeyer reports, Mason will soon be opening an art studio at Plaza Court in MidTown. According to Lackmeyer, Mason will paint pieces for clients and host events for local charities at the studio.
“My family and I are very happy to be back in Oklahoma City,” Mason said. “This area has been a big part of our lives for the last 10 years and we wanted to come back and be part of the growth in a city we love. Bringing my style of art, and the other business ventures we are planning, to a city that has embraced change is a special opportunity that I’m excited to be a part of. The leaders of this city have stepped up and taken the challenge and the development and renovation of MidTown is a big part of that.”
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Practice Notes & Quotes
Thunder Coach Scott Brooks put his team through roughly 2 1/2 hours of practice today, the first day of training camp. The team will reconvene Tuesday evening for the second portion of the first two-a-day set.
As promised, the focus was defense. In fact, Brooks said about two hours of the session was dedicated to defense. Not much was done that wasn’t performed last year. But players said afterward that’s a good thing.
“There’s only small changes on the defense so far,” said Thabo Sefolosha. “Most of the stuff is stuff we already know…It’s going to help a lot. I think last year we had success with the defense that the coaches teach. And being able to do it again, I think that’s really going to help us.”
Brooks said he always likes to conclude his training camp practices with some old-fashioned fundamental work. By the time the media was permitted beyond the training facility’s doors that’s precisely what was taking shape on the court. Players drilled on drive-and-kicks, setting screens and ball-handling before ending today’s first session.
“The good thing that I liked is everybody was in shape,” Brooks said. “We went through the practice with a lot of energy and a lot of effort. It was good. Another thing I like is they were able to pick up the things that we’ve taught the last few years pretty quickly. In four or five months you don’t forget everything, but you kind of forget an important part of it here and there. But the guys did a great job of bringing effort and challenging their teammates.”
- Several college coaches attended the first day of camp, watching the Thunder go through drills from a set of bleachers and chairs set up just off the the court’s east sideline. Oklahoma State Coach Travis Ford was in attendance, as well as U-C Irvine Coach Russ Turner, Illinois assistant and former OU assistant Jay Price and former OU assistant Jim Kerwin.
- I asked Jeff Green and Thabo Sefolosha, who are now in their fourth and fifth training camp, respectively, the best and worst part of camp. Sefolosha said “the best part is being back on the court with those guys. The season is right around the corner so just getting ready. There’s really no bad part about it. The legs are sore but it’s part of the deal.” Green told me, “two-a-days. That’s the worst part. But the best part is two-a-days, too.”
- Green said the mental challenge is a bigger obstacle than the physical toll camp takes. “You have to make sure you come focused. It’s a lot of drills. It’s not really a lot of contact so we just got to make sure we come focused.” How does great like to spend his time between sessions? “Sleep. Watch a movie. Kick back and relax.”
- Green also said that there already is a noticeable difference in the talent level of this year’s team versus last year’s squad. “Everybody worked on their game. You can see the improvement in a lot of guys. And when you bring all that talent together, it makes everybody better. It makes everybody step up their game.”
- One thing I was curious about was whether Brooks is more demanding now than he was last year. It’s a potentially telling trait to watch as the preseason moves along. The Thunder now has a pleasant yet potentially perilous mix of lofty expectations and a nine-man rotation that has returned intact along with an upgrade in talent. That can put a lot of pressure on a coach. Should be interesting to see how Brooks manages it going forward. Said Green: “When you’ve got a set of guys who’ve been here a couple of years, you expect the best out of them. He expects us to help him. That’s what we’re here to do. We have a lot of new faces, and we’re trying to get them on the same page as us.”
- A huge smile creased the face of former OU forward Longar Longar as soon as I asked him about participating in training camp some 30 miles south of Norman. “When my agent called me and told me about it he said, “Oklahoma City called you to training camp.’ So I was really excited about it. I’m only 25 minutes away and they told me, “Just come in the next day.’ So I just drove up here and checked in. It was great news and I thank them for a great opportunity to come in and compete with these guys, to be able to just learn some things I don’t know about in the NBA game.”
- Brooks said the team will conduct two-a-days on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. NBA teams are allowed six two-a-day sessions under league rules, with only one session allowed to be a full-contact practice.
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Carmelo Anthony to Nets deal appears dead
Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony smiles during a news conference at the NBA basketball team's media day Monday, Sept. 27, 2010, in Denver. AP PHOTO
It appears that Carmelo Anthony will remain in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s division — at least for the time being.
Several news outlets are reporting that the deal is dead and Anthony is staying a Nugget.
Carmelo Anthony won’t be wearing a Nets’ uniform, at least for the time being.
An NBA source with knowledge of the discussions said the widely reported four-team trade that featured Denver, Utah and Charlotte is off and that Anthony would be staying with the Nuggets. For how long, though, remains to be seen.
Nets general manager Billy King issued a deadline of today for the Nuggets to decide whether they wanted to trade Anthony. As has been the case all along, the Nuggets weren’t ready to pull the trigger on a deal so the Nets backed out.
In the original proposed four-team trade, the Nets were sending Derrick Favors and two future first-round picks to Denver, Devin Harris to Charlotte and Quinton Ross to Utah. In return the Nets were getting Anthony.
Collison Out Indefinitely With A Bone Bruise
Thunder forward Nick Collison is out indefinitely. PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
The Thunder has announced that forward Nick Collison will miss an unidentified amount of training camp after tests Tuesday morning revealed a bone bruise in his left knee.
The team, according to a press release, has decided that the best course of action is to rest the 6-10 reserve and re-evaluate him in the coming weeks to determine his availability.
Collison wasn’t made available to the media on Tuesday. But one positive is that the injury is not to the same knee that Collison underwent arthroscopic surgery on in mid-May so there is no further damage to the right knee that trouble the six-year veteran throughout last season.
Still, no matter when Collison is able to return this latest setback has to be considered disheartening. Collison labored through numerous injuries last season, including myriad finger, knee and ankle ailments. He was hoping to start this season with a clean bill of health. At the team’s Media Day on Monday, Collison told me his surgically repaired right knee was good to go, sounding confident that it shouldn’t be an issue this season. He apparently had no idea the left one would turn into a thing.
“The knee is doing great,” Collison said. “It feels a lot better now than it did last year pretty much all year. Even the year before, that’s kind of something I’ve been dealing with for awhile. It feels strong and ready to go. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
After having to stay off the court in the weeks that immediately followed the surgery, Collison said Monday that his rehab had progressed to the point where he was actively participating in pick-up games over the past two to three weeks working himself back into shape. Now, it’s unclear when he’ll be able to return to the lineup.
His absence puts the Thunder down two big men from last year’s nine-man rotation. Nenad Krstic will miss a good portion of this preseason after undergoing surgery last Tuesday to repair a fractured right index finger.
So who stands to gain from the walking wounded?
Keep an eye on the quartet of Serge Ibaka, Byron Mullens, Cole Aldrich and D.J. White. While it might come as a shock, White could benefit the most from the Thunder’s current situation. Mullens still might not be ready to contribute consistent minutes, Aldrich is a rookie who could struggle to fully grasp the team’s concepts and Ibaka’s role seems to be set as an energizer off the bench for now. That leaves White as the most likely player to prosper. Even if Krstic and Collison are both back for the regular season opener on Oct. 27, White could carve out a bigger role for himself with the Thunder or, at the very least, string together some preseason performances that turn enough heads throughout the league that another team gives him a shot.
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Daequan Cook Riding Old School
On a nice day, this pretty blue slab is sure to make you do a double take if seen around the metro. And once you get past the vehicle’s beauty, you might notice that the driver is none other than new Thunder guard Daequan Cook.
Ask Cook about his wheels, in this instance his ’69 Buick LeSabre, and it quickly becomes clear that he’s quite proud of this ride.
“That’s not an every day car. It’s an old-school,” Cook said. “On good days…I will drive it when the sun’s out. And when it’s feeling pretty good I’ll drive it.”
Cook admits that he’s not a collector but enjoys taking this puppy for a spin.
“I’m not really into cars (that much),” Cook said. “That’s just a car that’s been around for awhile for me now.”
I’m not sure what else Cook has in the garage, but I’d like to soon find out. Judging by this bad boy, Cook has a nice taste in automobiles, with a flare for punching it up just enough without going over the top.
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