Westbrook an early favorite for MVP
Bovada.lv has Russell Westbrook as the 2-to-1 favorite to win the 2016-17 NBA Most Valuable Player Award over Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Thunder rookie Alex Abrines was sitting on the bench without a knee brace on, an empty seat on each side of him.
Spain was in the midst of its second consecutive blowout in the group stage of the Olympics on Monday. Even little-used Jose Calderon saw playing time in the third quarter. Abrines was the last man left.
After playing less than two minutes in Spain’s first four games of the Olympics, Abrines finally saw some more action in a 92-73 win against Argentina. Entering Spain’s final game of Group B play, there were questions about Abrines’ health. He didn’t play in Spain’s two previous games, missing a loss to Brazil for precautionary reasons due to a sore left knee.
With the game in hand against an aging Argentine squad, Abrines played less than two minutes.
He scored the first two points of his Olympic career on 2-of-2 from the free throw line, blocked a shot, and missed his only 3-point attempt.
But being able to play any at all was a good sign for the 23-year-old.
Abrines’ knee soreness hasn’t been reported as patellar tendinitis, but the guard has a history of the injury. The best prescription for such an injury is rest, and Abrines was able to do so by sitting out against Brazil and logging a DNP against Lithuania last week.
With Spain’s slew of experienced guards and the knee injury, Abrines has had little opportunity for playing time. It may be even tougher to come by in the knockout rounds, as Spain’s guards are heating up, shooting 46.8 percent from 3-point range (15-of-32) in the last two games.
Spain finished second in Group B and will play France in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. The winner could potentially face the United States in the semifinals on Friday.
BOVADA: WESTBROOK IS MVP FAVORITE
The Russell Westbrook-for-MVP hype machine is in full swing.
Bovada.lv has the Thunder All-Star as the (very) early betting favorite to win the 2016-17 NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Westbrook is listed as the 2-to-1 favorite, with Stephen
Curry (4/1), LeBron James (5/1) and Kevin Durant (12/1) the next closest.
Westbrook has finished fourth in MVP voting the last two seasons. With Durant off to Golden State, it’s no surprise that Westbrook is getting buzz as the front-runner for the award. He averaged 23.5 points, 10.4 assists and 7.8 rebounds with Durant last season, so there’s expected to at least be an increase in his points per game based on the Thunder needing to compensate for the scoring punch lost.
Westbrook’s all-around game (18 triple-doubles last season) coupled with him becoming the focal point of the Thunder offense projects for numbers that could make it his award to lose in the eyes of voters, especially if he’s able to elevate the Thunder to 50 or more wins and a playoff spot in the rugged Western Conference.
SABONIS, LITHUANIA STRUGGLE BUT ADVANCE
It was a rough night for Thunder rookie Domantas Sabonis and Lithuania, but they’re still moving on to the knockout round.
In a 90-81 loss to Croatia, Sabonis started 0-of-4 from the field. The Croatian defense was sagging off into the paint, giving Sabonis open jumpers the 20-year-old failed to convert.
By the time Sabonis saw his first shot go in — an 18-foot attempt in the third quarter — the Lithuanians were trailing by 13. Sabonis picked up three quick fouls in the period and had to sit the final three minutes of the third. With Lithuania electing to go with more 3-point shooting in the fourth in an attempt to rally, Sabonis didn’t play in the final quarter, finishing with his fewest points (two) and minutes of the Games (11).
Despite the loss, Sabonis’ Olympics continues. Lithuania finished third in Group B and will play Australia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Sabonis should face some intriguing challenges from Andrew
Bogut, Aron Baynes and Joe Ingles — all NBA frontcourt players.