Roberson, Payne, Morrow

[hollasin]

Roberson had a good game, could he have made a couple more shots yes but overall a good game. KD and Russ need to stay in his ear to keep his confidence up if he can make those wide open 3's they are giving him puts the team in a much better spot

As for Payne and Morrow if last night's game doesn't get them back in the lineup over Singler (who made a few hustle plays but not 22 minutes worth), Foye who seems to bring nothing at the moment, then take some of Dions minutes I don't know what Billy gets paid for.

Payne is the 3rd best decision maker behind KD and Russ plus he can shot. Morrow is just Morrow he's going to hit shots may give up a shot but he will hustle and fight while on the court. Even if Payne and Morrow go back to playing with Kanter and Waiters while Russ or KD are on the court it helps the bench. Can't have 58 minutes combined from 3 players and get 10 or so points.

All that said Thunder call that last timeout or have a few less turnovers and the topic of discussion is different today. Last not KD not nice showed up and he needs to stay around for the rest of the season

[OKCintheUK9]

I've been totally perplexed by the lineups this season, and particularly in the last couple of weeks. At first I assumed they must know what they are doing and I was missing something, but they have been losing more as the lineups get stranger.

All season I have wondered, where is Morrow? I know he's a specialist, but putting him on the floor for a while seems to be an easy way to just get some extra points on the board. How could anybody resist that temptation? Even if it's not for a ton of minutes. (But a few minutes in garbage time is no good – especially if he's getting rusty from lack of use.) Passing over him to have Singler playing the role of three point guy is crazy. In our house we all just automatically moan and cover our eyes when anybody passes to Singler in the corner...

Is there any good reason for the Morrow exclusion that anybody can see? Or is it just a case of a coach having favourites?

I've also been wondering why is McGary permanently on the bench? I remember well what an impact he made last year, and from what I've seen of him particularly in the summer league, he's gotten past the problem with fouling. But they haven't even given him a try.

The third mystery is, why has Payne disappeared from the floor? He made a big difference to the bench, and aside from his obvious contributions, made the other players more effective. These recent games I felt were just crying out for him. It's almost Payne-ful seeing that unfilled gap especially in the Warriors game.

So what is happening with these two? Is it the ups and downs of personal favouritism? Or is because they carry the label "rookie", there is a mental barrier to using them in big games or towards the end of the season, regardless of what they can add?

I also wondered whether Donovan/management have already given up on keeping KD and on doing well this season, and see themselves as long-term rebuilding, so they are focusing mainly on the players one level down in terms of experience.

[bondom34]

If that were true, Cam would play.

[Bravenewworld]

All season I have wondered, where is Morrow? I know he's a specialist, but putting him on the floor for a while seems to be an easy way to just get some extra points on the board. How could anybody resist that temptation? Even if it's not for a ton of minutes. (But a few minutes in garbage time is no good – especially if he's getting rusty from lack of use.) Passing over him to have Singler playing the role of three point guy is crazy. In our house we all just automatically moan and cover our eyes when anybody passes to Singler in the corner...

Is there any good reason for the Morrow exclusion that anybody can see? Or is it just a case of a coach having favourites?

Singler is signed long term, has to get used to playing with OKC and on top of it has to develop as a player and if worse comes to worse, eventually they would want him to come in long term for KD if KD is injured again and at the very least take his shooting role.
Morrow, having been on so many teams and through so many coaches seemed to adjust very quickly to our system and he is established as a player already and does not need to go through the learning curve Singler does.

I've also been wondering why is McGary permanently on the bench? I remember well what an impact he made last year, and from what I've seen of him particularly in the summer league, he's gotten past the problem with fouling. But they haven't even given him a try.

Ibaka, Kanter, Collison, Durant. Its kind of hard to get him minutes at his best position. It would really be nice to see him get more minutes and to watch him develop, but there is not a whole lot of free'd up minutes to give him.

The third mystery is, why has Payne disappeared from the floor? He made a big difference to the bench, and aside from his obvious contributions, made the other players more effective. These recent games I felt were just crying out for him. It's almost Payne-ful seeing that unfilled gap especially in the Warriors game.

No idea.
If i had to guess, it would be because they are getting ready for a PO line up.

I also wondered whether Donovan/management have already given up on keeping KD and on doing well this season, and see themselves as long-term rebuilding, so they are focusing mainly on the players one level down in terms of experience.

Im not sure what this means or how these conclusions have been drawn.
I would love to know when a team with a new coach and fairly new revamped roster who is a top 4 seed in the west and will post 55-58 wins is "management already given up on doing well this season". In what world is that the reality of the situation?
The part i dont even understand is the last part about focusing on players one level down... i dont know what that means or how you've arrived at that conclusion.