Category — Kevin Durant

Bouncing around the sports world as we play a little hard ball.
Police State: Opening Day at Dodger Stadium is usually a thing of beauty. It will be again today, but the festivities will be a bit tamer this year. Unfortunately, a heavy presence by the popo, much of it in response to the tragic beating of Giants’ fan Bryan Stow last year, will take some of the fun out of going to the old ballpark. Still, fans will be able to enjoy the beauty of Clayton Kershaw, who will receive his Cy Young award on Wednesday, opens on the mound for the Dodgers against the Pirates.
L.A. Times
Vin Scully to miss Opening Day: Even worst, the Dodger legend and Hall of Fame broadcaster won’t be in the lineup today because he’s home nursing a severe cold. Get well soon, Vinny.
ESPN LA
“Pop” goes the Spurs’ run: Are you reading this Mike Brown? Maybe 1 day you could take another page out your daddy Gregg Popovich’s playbook. The San Antonio coach gave Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker the night off as the Jazz ended the club’s 11-game winning streak in Utah last night. The Spurs dropped a game back of the Thunder, who hammered the Bucks. The Lakers visit the well-rested Spurs in the season’s 1st meeting between the 2 club on Wednesday.
San Antonio Express-News
Sorry doesn’t cut it: The Marlins show a little backbone by suspending Manager Ozzie Guillen for 5 games.
Miami Herald

Football players smoking weed and engaging in bad behavior at Florida under Urban Meyer?: This is news? Last time we checked, Florida, Miami and Florida State (see a pattern here?) have all been among the country’s top renegade programs. When Randy Shannon tried to clean up Miami, he got fired. So…
Sporting News
Can Derrick Rose stay healthy?: Word out of Chicago is the Bulls point guard tweaked an ankle in Sunday’s loss to the Knicks and will be a game-time decision when the 2 clubs meet again tonight.
Chicago Tribune
What do the Cards need with Albert Pujols when they have Mr. Freese?: The St. Louis third baseman and World Series hero continues to rake it as the club is off to a strong start.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Speaking of the real deal…: Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes appears to be all of that.
San Jose Mercury News
It’s still Tiger’s world: Bubba Watson won the Masters, but the neighbors are still talking about the temper tantrums of Tiger Woods.
N.Y. Daily News

Andrew Bynum’s hot line tonight in the Lakers’ 113-108 victory over the Clip Joint: 36 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks, and Lord knows how many more he altered. We also got a kick out of Bynum, who returned after spraining an ankle against the Warriors, frequently going out to challenge Chris Paul. Once, he blocked Paul’s shot and on another occasion he made the Clippers point guard put so much arc on it, he barely touched the rim.
But Bynum’s best move had to be jumping in the face of Tommy Griffin’s son Blake after the Clipper forward, who seems to revel more and more in his status as resident thug, shoved Mr. Softy (Pau Gasol), who was driving for a layup.
Just like a like of folks (we see you OKC) who are hoping for Thunder-Heat NBA final, there are plenty in L.A. praying for a Laker-Clipper bout in the opening round. We 2nd that emotion.
NBA.com

Lamar Odom certainly could take a page out of Derek Fisher’s playbook. Do you see Fisher crying about the Lakers dumping him? Didn’t think so.
Thunder 102, Lakers 93.
It wasn’t that close. Worst, for the Lakers, they seem to be fading down the stretch. Blame Mike Brown. His tactics sometimes resemble ones from a rookie coach instead of 1 who has been in the league for years. Instead of giving players like Kobe Bryant a much needed blow heading down the stretch, he continues to push, push, push. Bryant is 3rd in the NBA in minutes played and that shouldn’t be the case at his age. Brown could take a page out of his daddy Pop’s playbook.
The Lakers also seem to be bickering more and pointing figures at each other lately. Another reason this is a tired squad.
But there were no excuses on Thursday night, when the Thunder pounded them. Tired or not, they simply got their asses handed to them.

With Magic Johnson and the purchase of the Dodgers dominating the spotlight, the return of Derek Fisher tonight has slipped under the radar.
NewsOK.com

Thunder 103, Heat 87.
If Kendrick Perkins is nailing you on offense, it’s a good bet you’re getting hammered. The Heat can attest, falling to the Thunder today in what some considered a preview of the NBA Finals. Perkins finished with a season-high 16 points, most of them coming on dunks as Kevin Durant and the Thunder took advantage of the Heat’s help defense leaving Perkins open.
NewsOK.com

An ABA game broke out tonight in Oklahoma City.
AP

Are you watching this Miami?
Now these lines are just off the charters: 3 players scored at least 30 for the Thunder tonight in their 115-104 victory over the Suns. Russell Westbrook led the way with 31 points, while James Harden and Kevin Durant each delivered 30. Then there’s Serge Ibaka, who added 18 points, 20 rebounds and 3 blocks, though the latter numbers are are a walk in the park for him.
Those 4 combined for all but 6 of the Thunder’s points. Oh and they covered too.
NewsOK.com

That comes from the mother of Kevin Durant, the humble and most grounded superstar one could ever encounter. Rick Maese pens an excellent piece on Oklahoma City’s finest. And this story reflects why I believe the Thunder will shake up the world and capture an NBA title this season.
Washington Post

West 152, East 149.
Kevin Durant’s hot line: 36 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals.

Thunder 100, Lakers 85.
Oklahoma City’s finest finished the All-Star break tied with the Heat for the best record in the NBA after hammering the Lakers in the 4th quarter. This didn’t go over well with Kobe Bryant, who missed 17 shots and got into an extended jawing match with James Harden, who frequently beat him to the punch and back on the break.
We have no clue what was said between the 2, but this classic tweet says plenty. From the Bill Walton Trip (@NotBillWalton): “Tonight James Harden got deep into Kobe’s head. Good job. But the real winner is Vanessa Bryant for getting deep into Kobe’s pocket.”
NewsOK.com