Category — Kevin Durant

Billy Hunter is making the NBA players executive committee look like buffoons, particularly Mo Evans. Evans, once a teammate with Derek Fisher with the Lakers, has been the most vocal committee member about forcing Fisher out as president despite the union paying almost $5 million to Hunter’s family for union-related “work.” Please.
The committee went as far as dropping the name of Chris Paul, who also is a member of the committee and voted for Fisher’s ouster, as a possible successor to Fisher. Wonder where that came from?
Seriously, the stench is becoming unbearable.
Rick Fox was a guest on the “Petros & Money” show this afternoon on Fox Radio in L.A. Fox said the wackiness is just beginning. And though he didn’t elaborate, it’s a good guess more skeletons will be falling out of Hunter’s closet.
Bloomberg

The NBA finally spoke today, nailing the Lakers forward with a 7-game suspension.
ESPN LA

Magic Johnson showed his true colors. On the set of ABC’s NBA show Sunday, Johnson told viewers how appalled he was by the actions of Metta World Peace (and Andrew Bynum last season in Dallas, where he took out J.J. Barea during the playoffs), then saying World Peace should only be suspended 2 games. Come again?
Members of the Oklahoman staff are saying Metta World Peace should be suspended “indefinitely.” They’re obviously showing their true colors. One says 10 games, meaning MWP wouldn’t be available for a possible 2nd-round matchup between the Lakers and the Thunder. Thunder beat writer Darnell Mayberry seems to the voice of reason, saying 5 games. We concur.
NewsOK.com

A week ago, I listened to an outrageous sports-talk radio host rage about the greed of Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen for barking about playing in the Olympics for free. Worst, the radio host started comparing playing in the Olympics as an honor of serving your country just like fighting in a war. Stupid doesn’t begin to describe the latter. There isn’t ANYTHING that compares to war.
Mark Cuban has vehemently complained about this issue before. He’s right. And if it were up to Cuban, NBA players wouldn’t even be in the games. We find nothing wrong with that either.
Corporate America, the networks, Nike and many others rake in millions for serving their country (cough, cough), but the NBA players are expected to give away their services for free?
ESPN Dallas

Laker fans wonder why the rest of the world hates their guts? A flop by James Harden? Seriously, some of you idiots need to get out more.
After the moron move by World Metta Peace, NBA fans were treated to an outstanding game between the Lakers and Thunder. Harden’s lost (and we sincerely hope his injury doesn’t force him to miss any playing time in the playoffs) clearly hurt the Thunder, but lost in that was the play of Jordan Hill, who came off the bench and spelled Andrew Bynum for 14 points and 15 boards. Without him, the Lakers lose big.
Mike Brown claimed he had a “gut” feeling Hill would play well. We’ll give him that much, but why did it take the beer-belly Brown so long to go with his “gut?”
Also, props to the Thunder, particularly Serge Ibaka, for at least coming to Harden’s defense. The Clip Joint could take a page out of their playbook.
ESPN LA

Lot of idiots in Staples today.
Metta World Peace didn’t take his medication today and Ron Ron came out.

How big is this? For starters, the Thunder can sweep the season series, but more importantly, they can keep pace with the Spurs for the top seed in the West.
For the Lakers, it’s a bigger deal. A loss and they could be looking up at the Clip Joint, which hosts the Hornets Sunday night. The Grizzlies, who have won 4 straight, also are lurking only a game back. They’re off Sunday, but host the Cavs on Monday night.
If the Lakers fall to the No. 5 spot and get the Grizzlies in the 1st round, we’re betting the farm Memphis prevails. The Clippers in the No. 4 spot is the ideal situation for Laker fans because Lob City isn’t as tough a customer as the Grizzlies.

Spurs 121, Lakers 97.
Kobe Bryant returned, but it made little difference as San Antonio pounded the Lakers for the 2nd time in 3 meetings.
The Clip Joint, which we can only assume is celebrating 420 day, is excited with the result. The loss left the Lakers, who visit the Thunder in a Sunday showdown, just 1/2 game ahead of the Clippers for the No. 3 spot.
ESPN LA

This nugget via Twitter from Darnell Mayberry, the Oklahoman’s beat writer for the Thunder: “How good has Serge Ibaka been? He blocked 198 shots in 82 games last year. Through 60 games this season, he has 218 rejections.”

Watch the Thunder point guard rise on an alley oop from Kevin Durant in OKC’s blowout win over the club formerly known as the Kings.
“He’s had plenty of highlights. But this one was unreal because of how high he jumped and how much he cocked it back,” said Kevin Durant, according to Darnell Mayberry, who covers the Thunder for the Oklahoman.