State of the Thunder

[msgkings322]

Totally different situation

Totally?

 

[bksballer89]

Totally?

Yea. IMO at least

 

[DJ]

Bad loss to the Magic....

 

[bksballer89]

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Cannot throw dirt on them just yet
They will turn it around. They will get hot at some point. There is way too much talent on that roster.

The problem is that there is too many GREAT teams in the West.
It is hard enough for any team to win two road series, yet alone 3 or 4 road series.

A team might need 55 wins to get a home series in the West. It might be less, but no worse than 50 wins.

Do they have a 47-15 type of run in them to get to 55 wins?

 

[bksballer89]

Cannot throw dirt on them just yet
They will turn it around. They will get hot at some point. There is way too much talent on that roster.

The problem is that there is too many GREAT teams in the West.
It is hard enough for any team to win two road series, yet alone 3 or 4 road series.

A team might need 55 wins to get a home series in the West. It might be less, but no worse than 50 wins.

Do they have a 47-15 type of run in them to get to 55 wins?

Not sure I agree with that based on what I've seen from Minnesota. GSW and Hou will win more than 55. The Spurs might depending on when Leonard comes back. Portland is currently 4th at 13-8 followed by Minnesota who are 13-9. I think high 40's get you HCA in round 1

 

[wildturkey]

Forgot to post this the other day. Really good piece:

The Thunder Have a Russell Westbrook Problem

 

[Wishbone]

Thunder are tanking for a lottery pick.

 

[trojanfan12]

I agree that it's a bit early to bury the Thunder, but early returns are not favorable. Earlier I compared them to the Heat in their first year when Lebron, D-Wade and Bosh were taking turns rather than just playing basketball.

That is still happening with the Thunder and they don't have a facilitator like Lebron to set up and feed the hot hand.

Just on talent, I agree that it's likely that the Thunder will get hot at some point, put together some wins and start looking like the team they thought they had.

Problem is, in the West it's going to be difficult to put together a long run.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

Lebron (25), D-Wade (28), and Bosh (25) were all a bit younger at this point in time.
All 3 were committed to long term deals. All 3 had wanted to be there and discussed it months ahead of time.

Carmelo (33), Westbrook (29), and George (27) are slightly older.
Only Westbrook is signed for next year. 2 of the 3 never considered OKC until it happened.


It is tough to find a situation comparable to OKC, where everyone is all-in vets without any long term contracts.

It is almost unchartered territory.

 

[CitySushi]

 

[trojanfan12]

Lebron (25), D-Wade (28), and Bosh (25) were all a bit younger at this point in time.
All 3 were committed to long term deals. All 3 had wanted to be there and discussed it months ahead of time.

Carmelo (33), Westbrook (29), and George (27) are slightly older.
Only Westbrook is signed for next year. 2 of the 3 never considered OKC until it happened.


It is tough to find a situation comparable to OKC, where everyone is all-in vets without any long term contracts.

It is almost unchartered territory.

True, but ultimately they are still making the same mistake the Heat did in their first year together.

Having said that, being a bit older makes them, as individuals, more set in their ways and how they play. That would make changing more difficult than it was for the Heat.

Agree too that PG was traded to OKC. I can't recall him ever saying he had any interest in playing there prior to the trade. All of the talk was him wanting to be a Laker. So he may not be as invested as the Heat big 3.

Add in Melo who is 33 and never shown a willingness to change how he plays and it's going to be tough, especially with how Westbrook likes to play. Also, if memory serves, Melo never expressed any interest in OKC prior to waiving his no trade clause which he may have only done to get the hell out New York.

 

[The Derski]

Aaron Gordon dropping a 40/15 bomb on they ass. They = OKC

 

[tlance]

Forgot to post this the other day. Really good piece:

The Thunder Have a Russell Westbrook Problem

This is a great article. Thanks for Sharing.

It basically summarizes every beef I have ever had with Russ.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Thunder are tanking for a lottery pick.

Hope they do. Means PG13 is coming our way!

 

[DorianRo]

Any team with Westbrook as a lead dog will NEVER go anywhere. In fact, any team with Westbrook involved will never go anywhere. Thunder couldn't even win a title with Durant/Westbrook/Harden. If you can't win a title with that trio forget it

 

[bksballer89]

3 straight wins for OKC with games upcoming vs Brooklyn, Memphis, and Charlotte.

No excuse for them not to extend this win streak to 6

 

[Wishbone]

Any team with Westbrook as a lead dog will NEVER go anywhere. In fact, any team with Westbrook involved will never go anywhere. Thunder couldn't even win a title with Durant/Westbrook/Harden. If you can't win a title with that trio forget it

Durant couldn't win one until he went to Golden State. Harden has never won one. Not sure your point.

 

[CitySushi]

Durant couldn't win one until he went to Golden State. Harden has never won one. Not sure your point.

Honest question, if you would have swapped out Westbrook for say Curry or any other active point guard at the time, do you believe the Thunder would have had more or less success when Durant was on the team? I'm curious to know from a Thunder fan perspective.

 

[Wishbone]

Honest question, if you would have swapped out Westbrook for say Curry or any other active point guard at the time, do you believe the Thunder would have had more or less success when Durant was on the team? I'm curious to know from a Thunder fan perspective.

Durant being soft is why the Thunder didn't win it all. He single handily lost game 6 vs the Warriors. I believe Westbrook and Curry could win one together. You see how the Warriors even with all that talent has regressed this year with cupcake on the team.