The Thunder Could Raise Banner Tonight
Is a Northwest Division championship banner about to be raised tonight?
The Thunder is planning something tonight. Something special.
We think it could be a pre-game presentation of a Northwest Division championship banner.
I touched on this topic last week. And it looks like the day has come.
The Thunder is encouraging fans to be in their seats by the start of the National Anthem so you won’t miss “a special presentation marking a Thunder team achievement.”
That pretty much says it all. What else could it be?
It sounds like Oklahoma City is about to get its first real banner.
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Flip Saunders’ Quick Take On MVP Voting
Derrick Rose (left) might be running away with the MVP award. But some think Russell Westbrook is just as, if not more, worthy.
A debate is raging in some circles about whether MVP front-runner Derrick Rose is really this season’s MVP.
Those in favor of Rose, myself including, point to his leadership, his offensive dominance, his clutch play, his ability to will his Chicago Bulls to victories, his penchant for making plays and his teammates better and how he carried his team through a rough start that saw Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah miss significant time this season to injury.
Those who dispute Rose’s candidacy argue its Chicago’s defensive system, not Rose, that makes the Bulls one of the best teams, while also pointing out that Rose’s teammates, while not All-Stars, are among the best at their respective positions.
On Monday night, prior to the Thunder taking on Washington, Wizards coach Flip Saunders chimed in. Saunders contends that Rose’s improvement can’t be ignored, regardless of how he is honored.
“I said last year that the most improved player in the league was Kevin Durant,” Saunders said. “It never goes to those types of guys. This year, it should be Derrick Rose. He might be MVP, too.”
Think about that. While it wasn’t his intention, Saunders essentially elevated the MIP, in some instances, as more valuable than the MVP. It’s a different way of looking at things. I agree with his overall point, though, which is a star’s development should be acknowledged and perhaps rewarded just like a role player’s, and without the development of those star’s talents, their respective franchises are always going to be afterthoughts.
Two years ago, I voted for Kevin Durant as the Most Improved Player. I was looked at cross-eyed by some, with several colleagues unable to conceive how a Rookie of the Year winner could come back and win MIP. (The award eventually went to Danny Granger.) It’s just one of the many ambiguous, unwritten rules that surround the league’s regular season awards and in part is what’s fueled the Derrick Rose debate.
“Just because you’re a great player, their improvement, Durant last year and Rose this year, they made more improvement than anybody. I don’t care where those other guys are at,” Saunders said. “(Kevin’s) improvement had a lot to do with them going from 23 (wins) to 50. I mean, in order to have that type of jump, you have to have a player playing at an MVP level. That’s what he played at least year and that’s what he played like this year.”
Monday Morning Mailbag
Sharpshooter Daequan Cook has heat up on the court and lit up our mailbag.
What a week!
Since we last emptied our inbox, the Thunder has lost on a buzzer-beater, gone into overtime twice (three times if you count double-OT) and hosted the Miami Heat.
Over that same span, Serge Ibaka has found the doghouse, Daequan Cook has found his stroke, Russell Westbrook registered his third triple-double of the year and Kevin Durant had a career night in the midst of averaging 35.5 points and 10.7 rebounds in four games.
Ready to do it all over again?
The Thunder has an abbreviated three-game schedule this week, hosting New Orleans on Wednesday before a road back-to-back set at Phoenix and Utah. It’ll be hard to top last week’s excitement. But with this team, you just never know.
Let’s get to the mailbag.
Where can we find stats/info on Pleiss? What team is he playing for and how is he playing? Are the Thunder keeping in touch with him and watching his development closely? – Daniel.
Eurobasket.com has stats that seem to be accurate and updated regularly. It looks like in 21 games Pleiss is averaging 9.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 20.6 minutes. The name of his team is Brose Baskets. And, yes, the Thunder’s front office keeps close tabs on him. Several front office executives have traveled across the water to check in with Pleiss and monitor his development. I hear he’s doing quite well. The Thunder has made it a point to maintain positive relationships with the international clubs that their draft picks play on. That was the case with Serge Ibaka and, to a lesser extent DeVon Hardin and Robert Vaden. It’s been no different with Pleiss.
This might be the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about, and I don’t mean this as a slight against Westbrook (I think he is a great, explosive player). But do you think the fact that he is not a “true” point guard holds the team back at all? Sometimes he gets into hero mode which takes others out of rhythm and Maynor sometimes seems to do a better job of getting everyone involved. Is this an issue for the Thunder or am I overreacting? – Timothy.
You’re overreacting. Westbrook’s hero-mode mentality looks terrible at times. But no one has any complaints when that style takes over and wins games. Besides, how many “true” point guards are there in the league today? Three? Four? Maybe. The NBA has changed. John Stockton isn’t walking through that door. I will say that Westbrook has fallen in love with his pull-up jumper. I wrote last year that it was much better even though the stats didn’t indicate as much. But this year, Westbrook has become more consistent and the numbers bear out that fact. Now, he forces it too much at times and that does in fact hurt the team. But he’s not the only one who takes bad or rushed shots. The bottom line, though, is Westbrook helps this team much, much more than he hurts it. And he’s got to be on the floor, doing exactly what’s brought him this far.
Kevin Durant’s Greatest Achievement
What's next for No. 35?
On Wednesday, Kevin Durant had a career night with 47 points and 18 rebounds.
On Thursday, he was named an All-Star starter for the first time.
The awards and accolades just keep pouring in for the Thunder’s fourth-year star. Since being drafted second overall in 2007, Durant has won Rookie of the Year, led the league in scoring, earned All-NBA First Team honors, carried his team to the playoffs, finished as runner-up in MVP voting, carried Team USA to a gold medal in the FIBA World Championship and, last but not least, won back-to-back H-O-R-S-E competitions.
What’s been the most impressive? Our panel tackles that topic in today’s question of the day.
What has been the most impressive achievement in Kevin Durant’s career?
JENNI CARLSON
Making Oklahoma City forget about Chris Paul. Folks here loved that guy when the Hornets were in town. Could they ever be so smitten with another? Um, yes. Kevin Durant has won people over with his game and his personality. He has that hard-working, credit-deferring style that is beloved here. That he was able to come in and capture hearts in Oklahoma City so quickly speaks to his talent and his persona.
BERRY TRAMEL
Kevin Durant’s most impressive achievement thus far has been his acceleration into the NBA’s holy of holies. Think about it. When it comes to NBA superstardom, Durant ranks only behind LeBron and Kobe. Durant already has passed Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, all those Celtics, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and whoever else I’m leaving out. I would say Durant, Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard are about even at No. 3 on the list. And Durant is just in his fourth season and hasn’t even won a playoff series yet. Amazing. But that’s a testament to his skill, his demeanor and his attitude. He’s what everyone is looking for.
JOHN ROHDE
Kevin Durant is a franchise’s dream, not only for what he does on the court but for what he doesn’t do off it. This guy doesn’t mess up. Ever. He doesn’t even mis-tweet. There isn’t an athlete out there who hasn’t messed up at least once on Twitter — except Kevin Durant. This kid has the entire state of Oklahoma in the palm of his hand, and he went to the University of Texas. This is bordering on ridiculous.
MIKE SHERMAN
Leading his team to the playoffs at age 21 brands Kevin Durant as a winner, the most coveted distinction for any athlete. It’s the mark of an elite player. It puts him in the same club as Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett. And it sets him apart from other young stars. Isiah Thomas didn’t do it. Dirk Nowitzki didn’t do it. Paul Pierce didn’t do it. Kevin Durant did, and proving himself as a leader and a winner before his 22nd birthday is clearly his most impressive accomplishment.
DARNELL MAYBERRY
Cue Frank Sinatra because Durant’s biggest achievement to date isn’t anything he’s done on a basketball court. Durant’s most impressive feat is how he’s done it his way. Durant has dared to be different and been unafraid to step away from the status quo. That’s no simple task when you walk into the big business world of professional basketball as an 18-year-old pup. Durant has remained true to himself, his family and his friends. The glitz and glamour of the NBA has not changed him. He loves the game, not the lifestyle, and remains as gentile a superstar as you will ever meet. Everyone, from fans, to media members, to arena employees, to teammates to coaches and front office staffers, seemingly can tell a heartwarming story about something gracious and genuine Durant has done for them. That’s who he is. And none of the awards or accolades has tarnished that tremendous trait. Like Sinatra, Durant has faced it all and stood tall and done it his way.
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Westbrook Named West Player of Week
Russell Westbrook has been named the Western Conference Player of the Week, the NBA announced today.
For games played Jan. 10-16, Westbrook averaged 27.5 points, a league-best 13 assists and nine rebounds to help the Thunder go 2-0 in games against Houston and Orlando. Westbrook notched his second triple-double of the season in a Jan. 13 win over the Magic.
This marks the third time Westbrook has won the honor this season. He also took home the award for the week ending Nov. 21 and Dec. 5.
In 41 games, Westbrook is averaging 22.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.9 steals, all career highs.
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