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State of the Thunder

Scapegoat

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Cupcake looked pretty good in last year's playoffs.

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He wasn't under pressure. That's why he went there rainbow.
 

gordontrue

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longest current winning streak in the league
 

CitySushi

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Funny. But we will find out. All the pressure is on gs. Cupcake isn't good in that situation.

Because there was zero pressure last year when KD opted to sign with a 73 win team? Anything less than a championship last year was a complete an utter failure. I don't know what additional pressure you could have on your shoulders.
 

Scapegoat

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Because there was zero pressure last year when KD opted to sign with a 73 win team? Anything less than a championship last year was a complete an utter failure. I don't know what additional pressure you could have on your shoulders.

I understand what you're saying. But that's a different kind of pressure. And I'm in now way saying he isn't a good player.
 

gordontrue

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Because there was zero pressure last year when KD opted to sign with a 73 win team? Anything less than a championship last year was a complete an utter failure. I don't know what additional pressure you could have on your shoulders.

Yep. Had this argument alot back when LeBron went to Miami.

People say its the "easy way out". In terms of the likelihood of being able to accomplish your goals.... yes. In terms of the pressure and the consequences if you fail... no way.
 

tlance

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Yep. Had this argument alot back when LeBron went to Miami.

People say its the "easy way out". In terms of the likelihood of being able to accomplish your goals.... yes. In terms of the pressure and the consequences if you fail... no way.

And, KD made some huge shots last year.

There is not a single player in the NBA I would rather have for a last second play, ball in hand and the game on the line. Not 1.
 

Scapegoat

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Why would he be under any additional pressure this year then?

He isn't. And there was less pressure last year for HIM to carry the team. That's why he went there. He went to a team that was already favored to will the title. Why would have won it with or without him.
And yes he made some big shots.
 

Scapegoat

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And, KD made some huge shots last year.

There is not a single player in the NBA I would rather have for a last second play, ball in hand and the game on the line. Not 1.

There is at least one player on his own team I would prefer to take the last second shot.
 

Scapegoat

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At no point have I said he's a bad player. He's just not the player that thrives under the pressure.
 

gohusk

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There is at least one player on his own team I would prefer to take the last second shot.

Yeah, but there's one player on his team that 90%+ of the rest of the league would prefer over their current option as well.
 

msgkings322

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He isn't. And there was less pressure last year for HIM to carry the team. That's why he went there. He went to a team that was already favored to will the title. Why would have won it with or without him.
And yes he made some big shots.

So why did you post "All the pressure is on gs. Cupcake isn't good in that situation"?

Which is it?
 

gordontrue

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And, KD made some huge shots last year.

There is not a single player in the NBA I would rather have for a last second play, ball in hand and the game on the line. Not 1.

No ifs ands or buts about it, he was unbelievably clutch.

If I had to pick someone to take the ball and shoot the last shot... I would take Durant. I think I'd still take LeBron in terms of putting the ball in someone's hands for the last play.... but its close.
 

Scapegoat

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So why did you post "All the pressure is on gs. Cupcake isn't good in that situation"?

Which is it?

True. I guess I was thinking compared to the Thunder. Thunder were so bad at the first of the season people wrote them off as contenders. So I stated that wrong. He still has enough talent around him to keep most of the pressure off of directly him. Also I think the system Kerr runs maximizes their talent and keep everyone involved. It's my opinion Kerr is the second best coach in the NBA.
 

msgkings322

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True. I guess I was thinking compared to the Thunder. Thunder were so bad at the first of the season people wrote them off as contenders. So I stated that wrong. He still has enough talent around him to keep most of the pressure off of directly him. Also I think the system Kerr runs maximizes their talent and keep everyone involved. It's my opinion Kerr is the second best coach in the NBA.
There's no question there's less pressure when you are one of 4 big time stars vs one of 2. It's one of the reasons this Warriors team is among the best ever assembled. And why KD going there was so good for people who like to watch high level basketball, played about as well as it can be and in a very entertaining fashion.

I understand why Thunder fans are butthurt of course, but too bad
 

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I have to say one thing about my previous assessment of the Thunder. I had first said I believed that Russ would need to simply be more efficient and reduce his shots, while increasing his assist/to ratio. He needed to get Melo and PG involved and defer. The more I watch them play, I think it may be the opposite way around.

I still believe Russ to be still pretty inefficient, but it's his killer instinct that makes him great and could make the team successful. He needs to be the alpha of that team. If he defers, he simply becomes a shell of himself. It's not in his DNA to defer. He just can't do it, and if he does it makes the team overall worse. I think that's what we saw to begin the year.

I think what has to happen is Melo and PG need to defer moreso than Russ. While it's not ideal for them individually, they're going to have to be the role players on this team. The Thunder are not a 3 headed monster. It's one dominant player and surrounding role players. Great role players, but role players nonetheless.

It's also why I think there's a huge possibility PG leaves in the off-season. Winning cures a lot, but PG is being relegated to a role player position for arguably a top 15-20 player in this league in his prime.

Russ needs to dominate the ball, and Melo and PG need to be the side kicks. It's not ideal and not a way I would choose to play, but I think it's the only way for this Thunder team to continue forward.
 

Scapegoat

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There's no question there's less pressure when you are one of 4 big time stars vs one of 2. It's one of the reasons this Warriors team is among the best ever assembled. And why KD going there was so good for people who like to watch high level basketball, played about as well as it can be and in a very entertaining fashion.

I understand why Thunder fans are butthurt of course, but too bad

All it takes is the word cupcake to get a pretty good response out of several cupcake fans.
 

Scapegoat

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I have to say one thing about my previous assessment of the Thunder. I had first said I believed that Russ would need to simply be more efficient and reduce his shots, while increasing his assist/to ratio. He needed to get Melo and PG involved and defer. The more I watch them play, I think it may be the opposite way around.

I still believe Russ to be still pretty inefficient, but it's his killer instinct that makes him great and could make the team successful. He needs to be the alpha of that team. If he defers, he simply becomes a shell of himself. It's not in his DNA to defer. He just can't do it, and if he does it makes the team overall worse. I think that's what we saw to begin the year.

I think what has to happen is Melo and PG need to defer moreso than Russ. While it's not ideal for them individually, they're going to have to be the role players on this team. The Thunder are not a 3 headed monster. It's one dominant player and surrounding role players. Great role players, but role players nonetheless.

It's also why I think there's a huge possibility PG leaves in the off-season. Winning cures a lot, but PG is being relegated to a role player position for arguably a top 15-20 player in this league in his prime.

Russ needs to dominate the ball, and Melo and PG need to be the side kicks. It's not ideal and not a way I would choose to play, but I think it's the only way for this Thunder team to continue forward.

I agree for the most part.
 
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