11/7 - POSTGAME | Oklahoma City Thunder (86) - (94) Sacramento Kings

[Dadouv47]

Thing is, this isn't an issue that will fix itself. Sure, we will have games where we knock these shots down and win by 20, but we cannot win against good teams when everyone just stands around on offense. Literally we make 2 passes on the 3 point line, hold the ball for 20 seconds and then chuck away. It's pathetic. With that Warriors game looming in a couple of weeks, it's not good. Donovan cannot take us to the next level. He's already lost us KD. We can't afford to lose PG too.

I agree. We brought Donovan because he was supposed to be one of the best offensive coaches, but he can only make 1 or 2 types of Pick and rolls. Old school type of offense that maybe is still working in college but not in the NBA anymore. Problem is, which coach is available? (No Mark Jackson please)

[Thundershock88]

Thing is, this isn't an issue that will fix itself. Sure, we will have games where we knock these shots down and win by 20, but we cannot win against good teams when everyone just stands around on offense. Literally we make 2 passes on the 3 point line, hold the ball for 20 seconds and then chuck away. It's pathetic. With that Warriors game looming in a couple of weeks, it's not good. Donovan cannot take us to the next level. He's already lost us KD. We can't afford to lose PG too.

I agree. We brought Donovan because he was supposed to be one of the best offensive coaches, but he can only make 1 or 2 types of Pick and rolls. Old school type of offense that maybe is still working in college but not in the NBA anymore. Problem is, which coach is available? (No Mark Jackson please)

I have to question the guys leadership at this point. He sits back passively while the refs continue to make bogus calls against his team. They should have been carrying his ass out of the arena when Melo got that flagrant 2. Then Russ gets a bogus flagrant and again, nothing. I want a coach who stands up for his guys. I think the reality is, he's just not ready for the NBA. He's a great college coach, and that's as far as it goes. Everyone should have known that when he let Roberson get roasted on the free throw line in a playoff game, instead of pulling him, simply because he wanted to show "confidence" in his guy.

[NOOB77]

The offense is a big big problem. I watched the game last night and glanced at some stats today. #2 in defense is really nice. Then I looked at PG - Melo and Russ stats and they all have scored the exact same number of points this year and they are very close in the shot attempts. Shockingly Melo has the least amount of attempts of the three. And just as shocking he is shooting the worst.

There is no movement that leads to easy buckets unless Adams rolls to the basket and Russ hits him. If there is player movement it ends up in a Melo or PG ISO. Otherwise everyone just stands around. No cutting to the basket. Whoever has the ball Adams runs over and offers a screen otherwise everyone just stands and watches no matter if it is a PG ISO - Melo ISO or Russ Pick N Roll.

This cant be the long term plan can it? I mean they have to put in some motion sets. Preach back cutting? Do something to move around. I think Melo had a post up in the fourth or late third Grant cut to the basket Melo hit him and then Grant kicked it out to Patterson for a 3 I think. But they never move on a regular basis.

On the ISO the off ball action should always still be happening. Back Screens. Flashing. Cut Throughs. Pin Downs. Crashing the Glass.

Last night was boring lifeless offensive basketball. Too much your turn my turn now it is his turn ect. That is on the coach man. Just hope that the offense figures itself out and the defense remains super strong.

[K_chile22]

Rockets fan coming in peace:

While I love poking fun at the Thunder, I think this board is overwhelmingly negative. Russ and George aren't going to play this bad all season (Felton and Grant probs won't play as well but that's an easy trade off to make). I'm not a fan of Donovan, but firing this early could make this an alarming early start into a disaster (see: 2016 Rockets, ultimately ended up great with MDA, but interim coach was butt, Thunder need to make the most of this season). Ride it out a few more weeks and then start really worrying. Maybe Melo and PG will see their Iso's need to go down, and Russ will be Russ level aggressive and everything is fine. I still think they hit 50 and I'm a Thunder hater.

[Andre Roberstan]

Rockets fan coming in peace:

While I love poking fun at the Thunder, I think this board is overwhelmingly negative. Russ and George aren't going to play this bad all season (Felton and Grant probs won't play as well but that's an easy trade off to make). I'm not a fan of Donovan, but firing this early could make this an alarming early start into a disaster (see: 2016 Rockets, ultimately ended up great with MDA, but interim coach was butt, Thunder need to make the most of this season). Ride it out a few more weeks and then start really worrying. Maybe Melo and PG will see their Iso's need to go down, and Russ will be Russ level aggressive and everything is fine. I still think they hit 50 and I'm a Thunder hater.

You think it's bad now, you should have seen us at the end of last season.

[Thabo Sefolosha]

Rockets fan coming in peace:

While I love poking fun at the Thunder, I think this board is overwhelmingly negative. Russ and George aren't going to play this bad all season (Felton and Grant probs won't play as well but that's an easy trade off to make). I'm not a fan of Donovan, but firing this early could make this an alarming early start into a disaster (see: 2016 Rockets, ultimately ended up great with MDA, but interim coach was butt, Thunder need to make the most of this season). Ride it out a few more weeks and then start really worrying. Maybe Melo and PG will see their Iso's need to go down, and Russ will be Russ level aggressive and everything is fine. I still think they hit 50 and I'm a Thunder hater.

appreciated

[getrichordie]

My finger is on the panic button, but I'm not quite ready to press it. The Heat took a while to gel. They started off 12-8 in their first 20 games when they first came together and they had the best player on the planet. I think there's a chance we end up 10-10.

But I have to say this, this squad needs two things. A reliable floor-spacer in the starting lineup to replace Roberson and a veteran backup defensive big who can hang if an opposing teams decide to go small. That would be a huge help to this team.

I think once Pat-Pat's 3s start falling, the team will be in a much better place. But have to worry about that surgery. Is it affecting him or is he just still shaking off the rust? We need to figure out what's going on with him.

I'm sorry, but whatever is going on with Westbrook, he has to be better. This is his team and he's taking some crazy shots and not playing the smartest basketball. This echoes what I've said about him relying so much on his athleticism and not his BBIQ and that is hurting our team bad. It's almost like there's some payday hangover.

I mean, I know I will get some who won't agree with this. I know I don't have popular opinions, but I think we can all agree that a big change needs to be made. We can't have 2 out of the 3 of our wings not be able to shoot a 3.

[bondom34]

Russ needs to be himself. He's too darn worried about making people happy and its hurting him. And they need to stop the switching defense.

[getrichordie]

Russ needs to be himself. He's too darn worried about making people happy and its hurting him. And they need to stop the switching defense.

I really don't think that's it. Our defense has been solid. Our DRtg is 96.9 - right up there with the Celtics (96.0). Should the Celtics stop switching, too?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The offense is broken. Anthony is shooting horribly from 3 so far. 50% from 2, but it's hurting the spacing. Anthony is more suited for the second unit with his play-style. Let him do his ISO-ball and find the open guy on the opposing second unit. Ultimately, I'd like to see Anthony see about 3-4 minutes a quarter with the SL, but we know that's not going to happen. His ego would take a hit, I would think. Also, Anthony is shooting 3s reasonably well from the left wing. Run plays for him there. The right-wing? No.

Westbrook draws fouls. He needs to hit his free throws. If he's hitting his free throws, we are probably 6-4 instead of 4-6. Have to wonder if his play-style and all of these back-to-back playoff runs are starting to take a toll on him mentally and physically, especially after his crazy high USG rate last year. He's bound to regress, but he has to learn to incorporate some 3&D in his game to be more effective at a lower usage rate.

Paul George has been mister consistent. Plays excellent defense and hits the 3 at a high rate. He's averaging 2.4 steals a game and you can count on him to get buckets and make the right play. Westbrook could learn a lot from him.

Adams has been awesome. Period.

Yeah, everyone loves Roberson on this board. But a player like him is getting phased out quick in this run and gun league. He needs to be replaced. He's soaking up a lot of minutes from guys who can actually put the ball in the basket. I'd actually like to see what some George-Roberson or Melo-Roberson pick and rolls look like with Roberson rolling to the basket to see if he can create some type of action but I think teams just aren't worried about him enough to really help on him so much that gives those guys space.

Ultimately, we need a trade or limit Roberson's minutes and plug in Abrines to see we can get a spark from him.

I really don't think that letting Westbrook "do his thing" works really well because teams are just clogging the paint against us and asking Roberson, Melo, George to make a shot and 1 is not like the other from the 3.

[bondom34]

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I really don't think that letting Westbrook "do his thing" works really well because teams are just clogging the paint against us and asking Roberson, Melo, George to make a shot and 1 is not like the other from the 3.

Won't even touch the other part because we've done that debate a million times, but this has been working for years with him there, it should be working better now than in the past. Russ being himself would work better than ever with this talent in theory.