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.
Those pesky perimeter shooting problems could be a thing of the past now, too. It’s one scrimmage, but Mo Peterson and Daequan Cook both looked great shooting from beyond the arc. Peterson’s release, perhaps because he’s a lefty, looks a little questionable but it swishes through the net all the same. And when Peterson is on, he looks like he still could be deadly. He hit one 3 from the right corner with a defender right in his jersey. I mean, the defender was so close to blocking the shot that when Peterson released it I thought it was about to be an airball. Instead, it dropped right through the rim, barely touching the net.
To end the fireworks, Durant drilled a game-winner to give his blue team a 12-11 come-from-behind win. Durant crossed over on Westbrook, pulled up from about 15 feet and swished a jumper with 0.7 tenths of a second left on the clock. Before the sequence got going good, there was a funny feeling in the gym that everybody knew what was about to happen. And when it did we still shook our heads in amazement.
“Last year, we didn’t scrimmage (until) after the first three or four days,” Brooks said. “But our guys are picking up things pretty quick. I thought they did a very good job in the scrimmage. Normally when you stop doing the drills and the stations, you kind of lose the things that you work on during the scrimmage because of fatigue. But they stuck with it and did a good job during it.”
- Nick Collison spoke to the media today and said he isn’t sure how he acquired the bone bruise in his left knee. He added that it is painful and that he isn’t sure when he might be able to return to the lineup. Collison admitted that the setback is indeed frustrating after getting his right knee repaired early this summer and thinking he’d come into this season healthy. But Collison said he is now able to handle his disappointment better than he would have earlier in his career, so he seems to be keeping his spirits high.
- Durant was extremely vocal during the scrimmage, as vocal as I’ve ever heard him. Before attempting a free throw on one stoppage he could be heard telling his teammates, “This (expletive) ain’t pick-up. Let’s get back.” I asked Durant if he will be more vocal throughout the season this year. “I’m the type of guy that likes to lead by example, but I think it is good at some times to be vocal and tell my teammates what to do…I did it a little bit last year, but this year I’m trying to learn day by day. I know I’m not the perfect leader but my teammates help me out a lot.”
- One last note about the brief exchange between Harden and Millsap. It was really nothing. Both got emotional but it lasted about two seconds. They didn’t even have to be separated. So it wasn’t a big deal. But what was impressive was how the undrafted rookie camper challenged the 2009 No. 3 overall pick. Millsap is the younger brother of Utah bruiser Paul Millsap so I would imagine Elijah learned at an early age how to defend himself and not back down from anyone.
- In speaking about the new guys, Durant said, “One guy that I think has a great chance to make our team is Elijah Millsap. Great defender. Great all-around player.” Seeing as how the Thunder already is carrying the league maximum of 15 players, I initially rolled my eyes at the statement. But who’s likely to know more about the Thunder’s inner-workings, the face of the franchise or me? Right. I’m going to keep an eye on Millsap over the next three weeks. But know that he’ll have to be so good that he snatches someone’s job away and forces the front office to trade or waive a guy.
- If you didn’t know by now, today is Durant’s 22nd birthday. And at the end of practice, Durant got “serenaded” by the four rookies. The team forced them to wear party hats and blow on little birthday kazoos. Funny sight. I would have gotten a picture of Aldrich but I was quickly shooed away by a Thunder employee. At any rate, Durant enjoyed the sentiment, even if the signing was dreadfully out of tune. “To celebrate with my teammates and during practice was even better. I had a good day. It’s the thought that counts. So I appreciate them a lot for that.”
- The morning session ended with a highly competitive and thoroughly entertaining defensive drill. Brooks placed one player in the paint and stationed three lines of players around the arc, one at each wing spot and one at the top of the 3-point line. Really, the drill sharpens both one-one-one offensive skills as well as defensive skills. Westbrook was a stud during the drill, almost effortlessly stopping all three players from scoring while also getting some get back on Durant for crossing him over before hitting the game winner during the scrimmage. Westbrook stripped Durant about a second before Durant was about to dribble. And it took Durant a second to even realize Westbrook had stolen the ball so quickly. Durant later darn near posterized Ibaka but tried to flush it on his head so hard that the ball bounced out. Tweety Carter had a sick crossover move. And there was a bit of comedy when Carter was once matched up with Aldrich. You can imagine what that looked like for a moment when Aldrich finally worked his way to the post from the top of the key. Carter ultimately stripped Aldrich and earned a round of applause.
-DM-
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[...] Darnell Mayberry on yesterday’s Thunder practice: “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.” [...]
So I’m guessing you’re enjoying covering this camp a lot more than in 2008?