OKC Thunder 2023-24 Regular Season Discussion

[Dadouv47]

JDub is so good attacking the rim...the mix of athleticism and skill allows him to score so easily

[Dadouv47]

Giddey was great last night but it's scary that we are gonna to rely on Giddey/Dort hitting their shots in the POs with the way the other team is gonna defend against us.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Giddey was great last night but it's scary that we are gonna to rely on Giddey/Dort hitting their shots in the POs with the way the other team is gonna defend against us.

Just like they were dependent on Roberson making his shots to win back in the day.

[getrichordie]

A lot of people were ready to give up on Giddey. He's making them eat crow now. He's finally finding his footing. Sure, he'll have his ups and downs in the future, but taking into account his entire tenure in OKC and how things have changed and moved so fast around him, I wouldn't be the least surprised if Presti offered him a Dort-esque extension.

[retrobro90]

There is something wrong with sga he came out early in the first tonight and hasent been playing very good lately. He took a shot a couple of games ago maybe that's it. Just not the same.

Kinda worrisome tbh and they're not being cautious with his minutes despite his early exit in the first. That quad injury during the jazz game has him a little hobbled. Tough stretch in the schedule with every game having big consequences so I don't see how they rest him.

I don't know if the consequences are that big. I would rather have a well rested Shai for the POs than having home court in a potential second round against the Wolves. We are gonna finish top 3 and I think it's pretty likely Denver finish first with such an easy schedule. I don't know if Shai could get to 100% with rest though so maybe it won't change anything but sitting him would be the best move IMO.

Realistically I just wanna avoid Dallas and LAL in the first round so if we can jockey for position to play PHX or SAC that would be ideal

[Dadouv47]

Kinda worrisome tbh and they're not being cautious with his minutes despite his early exit in the first. That quad injury during the jazz game has him a little hobbled. Tough stretch in the schedule with every game having big consequences so I don't see how they rest him.

I don't know if the consequences are that big. I would rather have a well rested Shai for the POs than having home court in a potential second round against the Wolves. We are gonna finish top 3 and I think it's pretty likely Denver finish first with such an easy schedule. I don't know if Shai could get to 100% with rest though so maybe it won't change anything but sitting him would be the best move IMO.

Realistically I just wanna avoid Dallas and LAL in the first round so if we can jockey for position to play PHX or SAC that would be ideal

Same. I think the worst would be playing LAL, then Dallas. I would rather play the Suns than the Kings even if I know that it can be tricky with their stars.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Realistically I just wanna avoid Dallas and LAL in the first round so if we can jockey for position to play PHX or SAC that would be ideal

There is no way to predict what position that would be. I think Sacramento, LAL and Dallas all send OKC home in the first round. Phoenix and GS are the better matchups for them of potential first round teams. OKC could play any of them as a top 3 seed. Right now Dallas is 6th with the winner of Sacramento and PHX being #7 and one of LAL, GS and PHX being 8th. Most likely Dallas, Sacramento and LAL end up 6/7/8 so OKC would have to drop to 4th to play NOLA/LAC to have a good first round matchup. I don't see OKC dropping that far even if they were to sit SGA for a week or two.

Sacramento is more beatable for OKC than LAL and Dallas, but I still don't like the matchup. It doesn't matter when OKC plays them because the West is good. OKC needs the #1 seed so they only have to go through one of Denver and Minny. Minny is probably the worst matchup in the NBA for OKC with their twin towers. Denver is great. If you want to look way too far down the line I think Boston is the easier matchup for them than the Bucks. Lopez and Giannis are an issue with their size advantage.

[Dadouv47]

Realistically I just wanna avoid Dallas and LAL in the first round so if we can jockey for position to play PHX or SAC that would be ideal

There is no way to predict what position that would be. I think Sacramento, LAL and Dallas all send OKC home in the first round. Phoenix and GS are the better matchups for them of potential first round teams. OKC could play any of them as a top 3 seed. Right now Dallas is 6th with the winner of Sacramento and PHX being #7 and one of LAL, GS and PHX being 8th. Most likely Dallas, Sacramento and LAL end up 6/7/8 so OKC would have to drop to 4th to play NOLA/LAC to have a good first round matchup. I don't see OKC dropping that far even if they were to sit SGA for a week or two.

Sacramento is more beatable for OKC than LAL and Dallas, but I still don't like the matchup. It doesn't matter when OKC plays them because the West is good. OKC needs the #1 seed so they only have to go through one of Denver and Minny. Minny is probably the worst matchup in the NBA for OKC with their twin towers. Denver is great. If you want to look way too far down the line I think Boston is the easier matchup for them than the Bucks. Lopez and Giannis are an issue with their size advantage.

I don't think the Wolves are such a bad match up despite the size issue. It's a small sample size but somehow we struggled more against the Lakers (Chet couldn't defend on AD) and Sac to a lesser extent.

Don't like the idea of playing Dallas because of Luka ability to slow the pace and their trades at the deadline improved their team a lot. They are on fire lately.

I think we will have a 50/50 chance to advance to the second round if SGA is feeling better (I would give us less than 50 against the Lakers though)

[kdthunderup]

I’m not worried about the Lakers. It’s only the past couple of matchups (one on a b2b in LA) where they have got the better of us. I feel like we have usually had their number over the past couple of seasons.

Also SGA has been playing banged up and is out tonight against Houston. Explains why he has looked below his best and the team as an extension as of late.

[Big nick]

Kinda worrisome tbh and they're not being cautious with his minutes despite his early exit in the first. That quad injury during the jazz game has him a little hobbled. Tough stretch in the schedule with every game having big consequences so I don't see how they rest him.

I don't know if the consequences are that big. I would rather have a well rested Shai for the POs than having home court in a potential second round against the Wolves. We are gonna finish top 3 and I think it's pretty likely Denver finish first with such an easy schedule. I don't know if Shai could get to 100% with rest though so maybe it won't change anything but sitting him would be the best move IMO.

Realistically I just wanna avoid Dallas and LAL in the first round so if we can jockey for position to play PHX or SAC that would be ideal

I feel the same way better matchips with phx or sac lakers and dallas will send us home.

[Dadouv47]

Wonder how JDub will play tonight as the first option.

[Dadouv47]

I guess our players want to show that Shai is the MVP in the league because I haven't seen something this ugly since 2021

[Thabo Sefolosha]

[mr570]

What is Isaiah Joe's next contract?

[RingoKid]

That is filthy !

[cjmcallist]

Didn’t get to watch the game. Did we get a taste of Giddey + spacing last night?

If so, could be good to showcase him for a couple of games here.

[Devilanche]

A lot of people were ready to give up on Giddey. He's making them eat crow now. He's finally finding his footing. Sure, he'll have his ups and downs in the future, but taking into account his entire tenure in OKC and how things have changed and moved so fast around him, I wouldn't be the least surprised if Presti offered him a Dort-esque extension.

Just how much are we able and willing to pay for Giddey ? Vs how much he might want ?

The trio of SGA / JDub/ Chet will take bulk of our salary.

[BlazersBroncos]

A lot of people were ready to give up on Giddey. He's making them eat crow now. He's finally finding his footing. Sure, he'll have his ups and downs in the future, but taking into account his entire tenure in OKC and how things have changed and moved so fast around him, I wouldn't be the least surprised if Presti offered him a Dort-esque extension.

Just how much are we able and willing to pay for Giddey ? Vs how much he might want ?

The trio of SGA / JDub/ Chet will take bulk of our salary.

You pay him and if needed move him when Jalen / Chet are due for a payday.

If he continues developing, you simply pay them all and deal w/ the $$$ repercussions.

[cjmcallist]

This team is awesome and legit.

Said it before but Giddey’s year this year could be our “Steph’s ankle”. My hope is we can get him on a decent contract and then he takes off.

[RingoKid]

Giddey got his mojo back !