Thunder Training Camp

Post #1 » by **SD2042** » Sun Oct 5, 2008 5:27 am

The NBA season is right around the corner and with the preseason up first. I decided to put up the thread dedicated to all things dealing with training camp until preseason ends. This will be stickied at the top of the page for everyone to checkout and post at. Thx.

sonic-ben · Post #2 » by **sonic-ben** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 12:30 am

questions.....

Swift how does He move... weight?

Petro has he added strength this offseason?

With Durrant has He added strength to his toothpick body... if so how much

Does D Byars bring outside shooting?

Post #3 » by **wizkid27** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 2:04 am

http://newsok.com/carlesimo-swift-is-a- ... le/3307502

Looks like the trio of centers are starting the season off with their usual bang!

The first preseason game is Oct 8 (Wednesday), it's on TV here in OKC... so we should be able to know a little bit more then

Sounds like DJ White is out with a jaw injury and Joe Smith has missed some practice just to rest up for the season. Pretty thin frontline to start out with...

Maybe we can see some of Collison at the 5 with Green at the 4. I think that could be an interesting mix (not neccessarily successful). But it that works, then I think this team is a lot closer to where they need to be long-term than many thought.

Post #4 » by **SD2042** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 7:55 am

This is the list of preseason games for the month of October for the Thunder.

Wed, Oct 08 Oklahoma City @ Minnesota PRE 9:00 PM ET -- --
Fri, Oct 10 Oklahoma City @ Sacramento PRE 10:00 PM ET -- --
Sat, Oct 11 Oklahoma City @ Golden State PRE 10:30 PM ET -- --
Mon, Oct 13 Oklahoma City @ Houston PRE 8:30 PM ET -- FSNHOU
Tue, Oct 14 L.A. Clippers vs. Oklahoma City PRE 8:00 PM ET -- --
Thu, Oct 23 Oklahoma City @ Phoenix PRE 10:00 PM ET -- --
Fri, Oct 24 Oklahoma City @ L.A. Lakers PRE 10:30 PM ET ESPN KCAL HD

Post #5 » by **wizkid27** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 2:53 pm

I believe that all of them are locally on TV here in OKC. KSBI, iirc, is the station (51 or something like that on Cox cable).

oksportsguy · Post #6 » by **oksportsguy** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 3:25 pm

wizkid27 wrote:I believe that all of them are locally on TV here in OKC. KSBI, iirc, is the station (51 or something like that on Cox cable).

Local TV channel is 52, Cox Cable is channel 9.

Post #7 » by **SD2042** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 4:54 pm

I've heard the stations were mention to pick up the games. The site didn't have the stations listed on their schedule. Thx wizkid.

Post #8 » by **wizkid27** » Mon Oct 6, 2008 6:47 pm

the station is listed on the Thunder's official webiste. Thanks for the channel clarification oksportsguy

sonic-ben · Post #9 » by **sonic-ben** » Tue Oct 7, 2008 12:38 am

wizkid27 wrote:http://newsok.com/carlesimo-swift-is-a-major-problem/article/3307502

Looks like the trio of centers are starting the season off with their usual bang!

The first preseason game is Oct 8 (Wednesday), it's on TV here in OKC... so we should be able to know a little bit more then

Sounds like DJ White is out with a jaw injury and Joe Smith has missed some practice just to rest up for the season. Pretty thin frontline to start out with...

Maybe we can see some of Collison at the 5 with Green at the 4. I think that could be an interesting mix (not neccessarily successful). But it that works, then I think this team is a lot closer to where they need to be long-term than many thought.

where is wilcox play... I know he is in the last year .. of contract

Green should play the three and durrant the two

Post #10 » by **wizkid27** » Tue Oct 7, 2008 2:35 am

Wilcox will be there, and I would guess that he'll start alongside Collison. I was just saying, I think Durant's future has to be at the 3. Therefore Green's gotta go the 2 or 4 route if they're both to be starters long-term. I think at this point, the 4 is more feasible for him.

Big_Mac79 · Post #11 » by **Big_Mac79** » Tue Oct 7, 2008 3:41 am

Anyone know if any games will be on NBATV?

Post #12 » by **SD2042** » Tue Oct 7, 2008 4:48 am

There hasn't been any mention of the games being picked up by NBATV yet.

Post #13 » by **wizkid27** » Tue Oct 7, 2008 3:33 pm

The Oct 24th OKC @ LAL preseason game will be on ESPN at 10:30 EST.

Other than that, the first natl televised game is against New Orleans in OKC on Nov 21.

Post #14 » by **SD2042** » Tue Oct 7, 2008 10:18 pm

wizkid27 wrote:Wilcox will be there, and I would guess that he'll start alongside Collison. I was just saying, I think Durant's future has to be at the 3. Therefore Green's gotta go the 2 or 4 route if they're both to be starters long-term. I think at this point, the 4 is more feasible for him.

it would make the most sense to have Durant at the SF spot with his versitility and ability to score on offense. I haven't watch him enough to say how he is defensively to say if he's good or not. either way, KD at the SF spot needs to be consider here for the Thunder. As for Jeff Green, he has the game of a PF with the way he plays defense, crashes the boards, and ability to contribute offensively on the court.

One question on Chris Wilcox. Do anyone feels he will be a Thunder player for the long term or will the team consider trade options or let him walk away July 1st 2009?

Post #15 » by **wizkid27** » Tue Oct 7, 2008 10:53 pm

The overall sentiment seems to be pretty negative about him. Personally I would take Collison over him any day. With Wilcox (to me) effort is a big concern, I don't get the impression that he's out there playing for the team every night... when he is playing well, I feel like he's doing it for himself.

On the other hand, if he could really step it up and be the center alongside Green and Durant to form the frontcourt... that could be as ideal as one of the trio of centers developing into a big time player. Collison could be the ideal post backup, and then we're just in need of a shooting guard and a couple of backup perimeter players.

Post #16 » by **SD2042** » Tue Oct 7, 2008 11:01 pm

I don't know about Wilcox being a center. He doesn't have the mass and spine to play at the position. He would be like Amare Stoudemire getting dominated by Chris Bosh in the post or in the mid range game. Keep him at PF where he would be the most effective.

Hiphophead101 · Post #17 » by **Hiphophead101** » Wed Oct 8, 2008 2:13 am

Wilcox couldnt be a center, he is a power forward. Nobody even tinkered with that over the past 3 seasons.

Collison, on the other hand can play center fine. (20/20 game vs. Amare) Averaged near 10/10 last year playing a lot at C.

Best case Scenario - Thunder (almost put sonics, =P) get BJ Mullens and dont worry about the C slot ever again.

Post #18 » by **wizkid27** » Wed Oct 8, 2008 1:45 pm

In this system, long-term, I don't think that Wilcox has a spot at PF or Center. But, I do see it as more likely that he works his butt off and fits into a center role than challenging for minutes at the PF longterm. I agree that Collison can play the center spot now and do a fine enough job, but looking long term I think he fits perfectly onto the bench to be the primary backup for both spots.

I think that most would agree that the best case scenario is that we take a sure-fire center next year in the draft and sign a big time shooting guard with the extra cash. Then, I think we'd pretty much be on the way.

Post #19 » by **SD2042** » Wed Oct 8, 2008 5:12 pm

Which SG you have in mind?

Post #20 » by **wizkid27** » Wed Oct 8, 2008 5:46 pm

Really don't know. The only one that jumps right out is Ben Gordon, but I don't know if I'm even a fan of bringing him in. He seems like he's perfectly suited as a 6th man to backup both guard positions, but with the kind of $$ he wants to see he'd have to be a starter. I think that a guy like Gordon (quick, perimeter scoring guard with a solid long-range shot) would go a long way towards addressing weaknesses that the combo Westbrook and Durant has at this point