Series Thread: 3) Houston Rockets vs 6) OKC Thunder

[bksballer89]

Probably.

But, a true pg would be wasted because Westbrook needs the ball in his hands to much.

That's why I think They need to target shooters.

They need a Kyrie, Thomas type of pg, if they go that route.

Yeah shooters on this team would turn them into a team who can make a deep run into the playoffs

 

[LAD]

Probably.

But, a true pg would be wasted because Westbrook needs the ball in his hands to much.

That's why I think They need to target shooters.

They need a Kyrie, Thomas type of pg, if they go that route.

See my thought process is take the ball OUT of RW's hands as much which would force him to play within the system. I think if they continue to let him run the offense they will eventually end up with what we saw last night.

It would be a shame to spend the money to surround him with shooters if he's going to revert to his bad habits. Because we all know that shooters have good nights & then not so good nights. Patience is needed in those situations & that's what RW has none of.

 

[Mecca]

Yeah shooters on this team would turn them into a team who can make a deep run into the playoffs

I really like Adams.

Can't wait to see how the Roberson situation turns out.

What's the price tag for a guy that is an outstanding perimeter defender.

But, couldnt throw the ball in the ocean, if he was standing at the bottom of it?

 

[Wishbone]

I really like Adams.

Can't wait to see how the Roberson situation turns out.

What's the price tag for a guy that is an outstanding perimeter defender.

But, couldnt throw the ball in the ocean, if he was standing at the bottom of it?

The Thunder can't afford to give Roberson more than 6 or 7 million per year.

 

[Mecca]

See my thought process is take the ball OUT of RW's hands as much which would force him to play within the system. I think if they continue to let him run the offense they will eventually end up with what we saw last night.

It would be a shame to spend the money to surround him with shooters if he's going to revert to his bad habits. Because we all know that shooters have good nights & then not so good nights. Patience is needed in those situations & that's what RW has none of.

Yeah, that ship has already sailed.....lol

If he wouldn't alter his approach for Durant, he's certainly not gonna do it for Taj, Adams and Kanter.

They already have Olidipo his extension.

So, they are stuck with that backcourt...the only option is to get a sweet shooting 3, a stretch 4 or a couple of bench snippers like Lou Williams.

 

[Mecca]

The Thunder can't afford to give Roberson more than 6 or 7 million per year.

.....and they shouldn't.

What do you think they'll do this Summer.

If you could get Gallo, that would be filthy.

But, that would have to be via trade?

 

[LAD]

Yeah, that ship has already sailed.....lol

If he wouldn't alter his approach for Durant, he's certainly not gonna do it for Taj, Adams and Kanter.

They already have Olidipo his extension.

So, they are stuck with that backcourt...the only option is to get a sweet shooting 3, a stretch 4 or a couple of bench snippers like Lou Williams.

All good points....

 

[tlance]

OKC needs 2 pieces.

Right now, they have wing defenders who can't score and shooters who can't defend. They need a legit 3 and D guy and a stretch 4. They get those pieces and they will be a lot better. Still though, Westbrook will continue to hold them back if he does not evolve as a player. He did the same damn thing playing alongside KD who is one of the most talented, efficient scorers of all time.

 

[Mecca]

OKC needs 2 pieces.

Right now, they have wing defenders who can't score and shooters who can't defend. They need a legit 3 and D guy and a stretch 4. They get those pieces and they will be a lot better. Still though, Westbrook will continue to hold them back if he does not evolve as a player. He did the same damn thing playing alongside KD who is one of the most talented, efficient scorers of all time.

Agree.

Hopefully, he got his " One man Band " mentality out of his system with his historic year.

@bksballer89 makes a good point that this roster was assembled with the thought that Durant would still be there.

After he bolted, the rest was put together in the fly.

#Can'tMakeWineOutOfSewerWater

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

They will have the 3rd highest payroll next season

Olapido, Kanter, Westbrook, and Adams will all be paid as top 30 players next year with gigantic long term deals. Adams and Olapido signed insane contract extensions that kick in.

They wont get high draft picks as long as Westbrooks gets them 39-46 wins.

They are unlikely to attract ring chasing bargain free agents who think OKC is real close.

THis is the roster for the next 4 years.
IT is basically going to be the same core. There is not much OKC can do about it.

 

[tlance]

Agree.

Hopefully, he got his " One man Band " mentality out of his system with his historic year.

@bksballer89 makes a good point that this roster was assembled with the thought that Durant would still be there.

After he bolted, the rest was put together in the fly.

#Can'tMakeWineOutOfSewerWater

I am not sure it was.

If they thought KD was coming back, wouldn't they have kept Ibaka? That trade looked like a forward looking/rebuilding move. It was great value, but it definitely left a gaping hole at the 4 position and made them worse in the short term.

 

[msgkings322]

They will have the 3rd highest payroll next season

Olapido, Kanter, Westbrook, and Adams will all be paid as top 30 players next year with gigantic long term deals. Adams and Olapido signed insane contract extensions that kick in.

They wont get high draft picks as long as Westbrooks gets them 39-46 wins.

They are unlikely to attract ring chasing bargain free agents who think OKC is real close.

THis is the roster for the next 4 years.
IT is basically going to be the same core. There is not much OKC can do about it.

Can't RW leave before that?

 

[Wishbone]

Westbrook has a year left on his contract. Oladipo and Adams are still very young so I don't mind that contract as long as they continue to grow and get better. Kanter is a good player but hes the wild card as far as trades go. The contracts that kills the Thunder is Kyle Singler. He's not an Nba player and hes locked in at 10 million per year.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Have you seen his roster? I have no issue with the # of shots. This roster sucks ass. Only issue I really have is all the jump shots he settled for. Needed to attack some more

It isn't as bad as Lebron's original Cavs team, that is for damn sure. Oladipo is a pretty good player. Roberson sucks at shooting but a great defender, actually has scored well so far in the series. He has a plethora of bigs: Kanter, Adams, Gibson. He doesn't have the best supporting cast but it isn't terrible they just a couple more shooters.

 

[LAD]

Can't RW leave before that?

If he forces a trade - but I believe he signed a 3 yr extension after KD left. And his player option kicks in after next season.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Honestly, he does this a lot. This is why I have been saying he is overrated.

Exactly, drive and kick it out or feed a big---he has a ton of good, reliable bigs but when he is shooting 3 after 3 it isn't helping his cause. I don't have a problem with the 43 shots (he missed 27) but it is the shot selection and settling when he can score at will. I understand he gets tired but it is more about him just settling when he doesn't need to, he has some good players around him instead of hoisting 3's all day. If he is in a rhythm shooting than that is fine but at some point you have to go back to what he does best----facilitating, going to the rim and getting to the free throw line.

 

[msgkings322]

If he forces a trade - but I believe he signed a 3 yr extension after KD left. And his player option kicks in after next season.

So he can decline his player option, and leave after next year. OKC would be smart to trade him and start the total teardown and rebuild, Philly style

 

[Shanemansj13]

His roster can't be that bad if he's averaging a triple double on the season with assists as part of that equation.

Wow...this is one for the record books. Fyi...that's not a good thing

 

[Shanemansj13]

Not only is Houston supporting cast better but they're the players Harden need around it. You surround superstars with shooters to make any defense pay for leaving one of the other players to help stop your superstar.

Russell Westbrook is not a superstar. You can't have a low IQ and be a superstar.

 

[Shanemansj13]

They will have the 3rd highest payroll next season

Olapido, Kanter, Westbrook, and Adams will all be paid as top 30 players next year with gigantic long term deals. Adams and Olapido signed insane contract extensions that kick in.

They wont get high draft picks as long as Westbrooks gets them 39-46 wins.

They are unlikely to attract ring chasing bargain free agents who think OKC is real close.

THis is the roster for the next 4 years.
IT is basically going to be the same core. There is not much OKC can do about it.

So they are paying Kanter to sit the bench, doesn't make sense. If he is getting Tristan Thompson money he better well be playing big minutes off the bench. He got 16 mins in Game 1 and 7 mins in Game 2. I just don't see this team going anywhere if they can't win with this core. It's isn't a bad core, but not the close to the best and RW being who he is is not good for any team