Thunder still a long way from making noise 2008-11-11 News Chicago Bulls

Kevin Durant's smooth stroke, range, ability to create his own shot and increased court awareness. He dropped 37 points despite his team running only a few sets for him — some handoffs, cross-screens followed by down-screens, single-doubles and high screen-and-rolls. At least 25 of his points were accomplished by his own do-it-yourself maneuvers. This young man can stick it!

Earl Watson's ability to hound T.J. Ford and stay in front of him for the first 36 minutes. Also Watson's decision-making in a broken field.

Robert Swift's length and hustle that indicates he very might turn out to be an effective garbage man in the Thunder's second unit.

NBA roundup

The head coach has to know all the intricacies of the offense, either by being involved with it as a player or diligently studying it with either Jackson or Winter. Even though Tex's book, The Triple-Post Offense, is an invaluable guide, there has to be some kind of hands-on education for the particulars to be thoroughly mastered. When Quinn Buckner coached Dallas, he had his lead assistant, Randy Wittman, read the book as a prelude to installing the triangle — but the specifics remained elusive.

The players have to completely embrace the discipline and unselfishness that the triangle requires. Michael Jordan resisted the offense until the Bulls faced the Lakers in the 1991 Finals. And when Jimmy Cleamons (Jackson's long-time assistant) tried to run the triangle during his stint as Mavs coach, his players (led by Jason Kidd and Jamal Mashburn) rebelled.

The commitment to the triangle has to be a total one. It simply can't be used on a part-time basis.

Tex and Phil have special drills that break the triangle down into its component parts and with the judicious accretion and expansion of these drills, know precisely how to instill its principles to their players.

Many of Jackson's teams — even though they might have been running the triangle for years — need several weeks to fine-tune the offense. This is why some of his squads in Chicago and Los Angeles have struggled at the starts of seasons. And if a coach has his job on the line, he'll be reluctant to start off limping instead of running.

So, for the triangle to be implemented, a coach needs job security, the respect of his players, players who are mature and flexible, total belief in the offense, the ability to teach it and absolute mastery of its ins and outs.

Sadly, it appears that when Tex and Phil retire, the triangle will become extinct in the NBA.

Straight shooting

One of the most interesting aspects of tuning in to so many NBA games is being able to listen to (and watch) each team's TV analyst at work. Almost all of them are ex-NBA players, and except for Walt Frazier (Knicks), every one is also a homer.

Many of them are very good at what they do: Greg Kelser (Pistons), Scott Hastings (Nuggets), Jon McGlocklin (Bucks), Quinn Buckner (Pacers), Jim Barnett (Warriors) and Matt Goukas (Magic).

Some are just OK: Stu Lantz (Lakers), Sean Elliot (Spurs) and Tony Fiorentino (Heat).

And a few are awful: Mike Fratello (Nets) and Ron Boone (Jazz), with Austin Carr (Cavaliers) being absolutely the worst.

But the best TV color man by far is Jerry Reynolds (Kings), and here's why:

For someone who has coached the Kings, been their general manager and is director of player personnel, he's not as much of a homer as expected.

He doesn't spout unnecessary statistics.

He's extremely knowledgeable.

He doesn't talk too much.

He's humorous in a folksy sort of way.

Here's how Reynolds explains his long, happy marriage: "I don't try to run my wife's life, and I don't try to run mine."

Travels with Charley

Here's another incident that suggested to me that I was not cut out to be a professional basketball coach.

Back in the late 1980s, ESPN used to broadcast CBA games on a weekly basis. I was coaching the Rockford Lightning and before a game in Charleston, W. Va., I was asked to tape a segment that would be shown at halftime.

Instead of using winning percentage to determine standings, the CBA utilized the quarter-point system, where each team was awarded a point for every quarter it won (a half point for ties), with the game-winner getting a three-point bonus. I was asked: What did I think of the system?