Jazzfan1971 and FloppyMoose's Season Preview - The Thunder

[jazzfan1971]

Oklahoma City Thunder

Projected Lineup
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PG - Russell Westbrook, Reggie Jackson, Sebastian Telfair
SG - Jeremy Lamb, Anthony Morrow, Andre Roberson
SF - Kevin Durant, Perry Jones III, Lance Thomas
PF - Serge Ibaka, Nick Collison, Grant Jerrett
C - Kendrick Perkins, Steven Adams, Mitch McGary

Trading Block: I see a couple options here. Reggie Jackson could be moved as he looks like he's ready to find a new home and starting role. And Kendrick Perkins could easily be moved as it looks to me that Adams is ready to take over the starting position.

Position Battle: SG. Lamb, Morrow, or Roberson. I have absolutely no idea how that will shake out and who will be the starter and who will come off the bench. It could even be a player to be named later for all I know.

Mystery Man: I'd go with Jeremy Lamb. There are lots of folks that I could have chosen, but, Lamb seems to me like the X factor for the team this year. If he can come in as a starter and fulfull some of his promise from draft night the team will have a lot easier time.

Floppymusings:
Returning contenders are... contenders. I expect the Durant injury to affect the seed but not the western conference playoff scenario we've all been trained to expect: OKC/SAS/LAC (in some order) and whoever wins the remaining first round matchup. Of course this time it's possible that OKC faces one of those other teams in the *first* round.

Durant/Westbrook/Ibaka are all beasts. Jackson, Collison, Adams are very good support. They might be my frontrunners to come out of the crowded west.

Jazzfanramblings: Lets start with the good. I love that bench. I think Jackson, Morrow, Jones, Collison, and Adams would give the Jazz starters a run for their money. There is a lot to like off the Thunder bench. I think the Presti does a good job keeping the talent pantry stocked.

Then the bad. By my eye the Thunder have been the class of the West for a few years now, talent wise. But, team wise it's obviously been the Spurs. I think there is a disconnect there, and it's my belief that talent usually dominates. But, that hasn't happened for the Thunder. So, what is the problem? I'm going to have to take the easy way out and point a finger at the coach. I think the team has underperformed especially in the post season under Scott Brooks and the team could benefit from either a coaching change or at the very least a huge infusion of talent at the assistant level.

Then there is the unknowns. How will Durant's injury complicate things? How will his impending free agency complicate things?

This year is a bit of a make or break year for the Thunder in my mind. They've at least got to come out of the West this season or Brooks's job will be in jeopardy and I would think that Durant's comfort level with staying will be impacted. I think he'd be foolish to leave, it's a great situation and the Thunder look stocked to compete for years on end, but, that other side of the fence always does look a little tempting.

Lastly there is just a random musing: I'd like to see Adams start and give him as many minutes as he can handle. I think it's time to transition that center position, rather than wait until Perkins is all ready gone, do it now when he can stabilize the bench.

Projected record: 52/30 (lowered due to Durant injury)

[-Kees-]

Not a bad preview. A bit low on the record again, although we don't know how long Durant will actually be out.

2 things I'd like to see from the Thunder this year. First is to give minutes to Lamb and to have him come out of his shell. I've seen him play quite a bit and I think he has it, I think he can be a pretty strong 2 way player, that can play off the ball or handle it. He's got decent handles, a good shot, not great at getting to the rim but not bad, but he's pretty smart with the ball too. Length on defense. I've been a fan since he was drafted and I wanna see him do well.

Second is to get rid of Perkins. He's not bad on D, but he's pretty bad on offense (and takes too many shots). Not to mention his best function in the NBA is defending Dwight (who isn't on a super strong team anyways). Trade his expiring for a forward, move to a faster lineup where Adams plays C when they go big, and Ibaka/Collison plays C (with Durant at the 4) when they don't need the size. Getting a Wilson Chandler/Martell Webster/Gerald Henderson type for Perkins (give or take a small asset) would help a ton in making them faster, younger, and more versatile. 3 rotational bigs (Ibaka/Adams/Collison) along with PJ3/Durant who can both play the 4 is PLENTY of size to compete with the other top teams (Clipps, Spurs, Cavs, Bulls, ect).

[floppymoose]

I had OKC higher until Durant went down. I'm figuring 6-8 weeks out and 10 weeks before he is 100%. Unless something else happens OKC will still make the playoffs and be a contender once they get there.

[irie]

Seems about right, record wise. I'm disappointed with OKC every single off season. Year after year they fail to get adequate depth. Adams is good off the bench, but if he was starting OKC would have one of the worst backup centers in the NBA (Perkins). I like Jackson, and Morrow can shoot but that's about it.

They have awesome top end talent (obviously), but once again I see them coming up short because they just don't have enough production coming from their role players.

[Texas Chuck]

Jazzfanramblings: Lets start with the good. I love that bench. I think Jackson, Morrow, Jones, Collison, and Adams would give the Jazz starters a run for their money. There is a lot to like off the Thunder bench. I think the Presti does a good job keeping the talent pantry stocked.

Slow down with that bench. Jackson is really good and Adams should be the starting center so that's 2 really nice pieces. Collison is solid. But those wings are dreadful. Morrow should probably be the starting 2 which tells you all you need to know about the wings not named Durant. Lamb, Jones, Roberson haven't even established they belong in the league and Morrow is JAG.

Depth is a real problem for this team and it will be magnified with KD out.

[bondom34]

Jazzfanramblings: Lets start with the good. I love that bench. I think Jackson, Morrow, Jones, Collison, and Adams would give the Jazz starters a run for their money. There is a lot to like off the Thunder bench. I think the Presti does a good job keeping the talent pantry stocked.

Slow down with that bench. Jackson is really good and Adams should be the starting center so that's 2 really nice pieces. Collison is solid. But those wings are dreadful. Morrow should probably be the starting 2 which tells you all you need to know about the wings not named Durant. Lamb, Jones, Roberson haven't even established they belong in the league and Morrow is JAG.

Depth is a real problem for this team and it will be magnified with KD out.

Eh, respectfully disagree. I don't think they have an amazing bench, but its not as bad as you make it seem. They had the 9th ranked bench last year:
http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketball/fa ... iffeff/1-1
And most of that was the guys you listed. I think it's a middle of the road bench sure, but its not weak relative to other teams in ability, just in name recognition.