12/23 - POSTGAME | Oklahoma City Thunder (103) - (89) Utah Jazz

[sleestak33]

Considering Utah wasn't at full strength without Gobert I'm still going to temper my enthusiasm although that's still a pretty good win on the road and at least they're winning some games now. It's astonishing they can win games with Carmelo going 6-18 and getting 3 points in 41 combined minutes from Roberson and Abrines. I think this entire season they might have reached their potential as a team just a few times, most notably against the Warriors. If they can get a streak of games going against good teams without injured players and actually look like they're improving I'll get on board but I think we're seeing fool's gold right now. Hopefully I'm wrong.

[hardenASG13]

Considering Utah wasn't at full strength without Gobert I'm still going to temper my enthusiasm although that's still a pretty good win on the road and at least they're winning some games now. It's astonishing they can win games with Carmelo going 6-18 and getting 3 points in 41 combined minutes from Roberson and Abrines. I think this entire season they might have reached their potential as a team just a few times, most notably against the Warriors. If they can get a streak of games going against good teams without injured players and actually look like they're improving I'll get on board but I think we're seeing fool's gold right now. Hopefully I'm wrong.

The league is very top heavy. Who are these great teams they aren't beating? Already killed the warriors. Their only competition come playoff time is golden State, houston, and cleveland. The spurs are so old, they're gonna be banged up all year. Okc will be in the 3 spot by the end of january.

[dakomish23]

Considering Utah wasn't at full strength without Gobert I'm still going to temper my enthusiasm although that's still a pretty good win on the road and at least they're winning some games now. It's astonishing they can win games with Carmelo going 6-18 and getting 3 points in 41 combined minutes from Roberson and Abrines. I think this entire season they might have reached their potential as a team just a few times, most notably against the Warriors. If they can get a streak of games going against good teams without injured players and actually look like they're improving I'll get on board but I think we're seeing fool's gold right now. Hopefully I'm wrong.

The league is very top heavy. Who are these great teams they aren't beating? Already killed the warriors. Their only competition come playoff time is golden State, houston, and cleveland. The spurs are so old, they're gonna be banged up all year. Okc will be in the 3 spot by the end of january.

Top 3? Wow. Your optimism makes me feel like a Debbie downer and I’ve stayed positive

Kawhi is a kaiju and that’s why I don’t see them catching SAS for the 3rd seed. 4-6 seems likely and injuries will probably play a big role in determining how OKC DEN MIN get seeded. Maybe even throw in POR if they can add some help on the wings.

[dakomish23]

Westbrook's really cut down the turnovers lately, which is a big factor for your improvement IMO. Hopefully he can keep that up.

Over the last 5 games he has 13 turnovers and 12 steals. So he has about made up for every turnover and has shot 58 % from the floor. Way better offense per poss. by him.

Add in the 45 assists and that makes that # pop out even more.

Russ last 5

28.8 / 8.6 / 9.0 / 2.4
58 / 36 / 80

Watch on YouTube

[hardenASG13]

Considering Utah wasn't at full strength without Gobert I'm still going to temper my enthusiasm although that's still a pretty good win on the road and at least they're winning some games now. It's astonishing they can win games with Carmelo going 6-18 and getting 3 points in 41 combined minutes from Roberson and Abrines. I think this entire season they might have reached their potential as a team just a few times, most notably against the Warriors. If they can get a streak of games going against good teams without injured players and actually look like they're improving I'll get on board but I think we're seeing fool's gold right now. Hopefully I'm wrong.

The league is very top heavy. Who are these great teams they aren't beating? Already killed the warriors. Their only competition come playoff time is golden State, houston, and cleveland. The spurs are so old, they're gonna be banged up all year. Okc will be in the 3 spot by the end of january.

Top 3? Wow. Your optimism makes me feel like a Debbie downer and I’ve stayed positive

Kawhi is a kaiju and that’s why I don’t see them catching SAS for the 3rd seed. 4-6 seems likely and injuries will probably play a big role in determining how OKC DEN MIN get seeded. Maybe even throw in POR if they can add some help on the wings.

Don't see them losing many games in January. Hopefully they beat houston and/or toronto coming up, they could go on a tear after that lots of games they should win.

[Pillendreher]

Westbrook's really cut down the turnovers lately, which is a big factor for your improvement IMO. Hopefully he can keep that up.

Over the last 5 games he has 13 turnovers and 12 steals. So he has about made up for every turnover and has shot 58 % from the floor. Way better offense per poss. by him.

Add in the 45 assists and that makes that # pop out even more.

Russ last 5

28.8 / 8.6 / 9.0 / 2.4
58 / 36 / 80

Watch on YouTube

I sure as hell hope so. Russ-George-Anthony last 5: 119.0 ORtG | 102.1 DRtG | +16.9 NetRtG. That's way more like it.

[dakomish23]

Over the last 5 games he has 13 turnovers and 12 steals. So he has about made up for every turnover and has shot 58 % from the floor. Way better offense per poss. by him.

Add in the 45 assists and that makes that # pop out even more.

Russ last 5

28.8 / 8.6 / 9.0 / 2.4
58 / 36 / 80

Watch on YouTube

I sure as hell hope so. Russ-George-Anthony last 5: 119.0 ORtG | 102.1 DRtG | +16.9 NetRtG. That's way more like it.

Def more of what was expected. How do you get these #’s right after the game? Clean the glass?

[Pillendreher]

Add in the 45 assists and that makes that # pop out even more.

Russ last 5

28.8 / 8.6 / 9.0 / 2.4
58 / 36 / 80

Watch on YouTube

I sure as hell hope so. Russ-George-Anthony last 5: 119.0 ORtG | 102.1 DRtG | +16.9 NetRtG. That's way more like it.

Def more of what was expected. How do you get these #’s right after the game? Clean the glass?

http://stats.nba.com/team/1610612760/lineups-advanced/?Season=2017-18&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&GroupQuantity=3&LastNGames=5

[sleestak33]

Considering Utah wasn't at full strength without Gobert I'm still going to temper my enthusiasm although that's still a pretty good win on the road and at least they're winning some games now. It's astonishing they can win games with Carmelo going 6-18 and getting 3 points in 41 combined minutes from Roberson and Abrines. I think this entire season they might have reached their potential as a team just a few times, most notably against the Warriors. If they can get a streak of games going against good teams without injured players and actually look like they're improving I'll get on board but I think we're seeing fool's gold right now. Hopefully I'm wrong.

The league is very top heavy. Who are these great teams they aren't beating? Already killed the warriors. Their only competition come playoff time is golden State, houston, and cleveland. The spurs are so old, they're gonna be banged up all year. Okc will be in the 3 spot by the end of january.

I like your enthusiasm but I think what we've seen all year is what we're going to continue to see. The product is what it is at this point. I keep thinking that the talent level of the Big3 and Adams will eventually kick in enough to see them at least start winning close games and that's starting to happen to some degree. I hope you're right.

[hardenASG13]

Considering Utah wasn't at full strength without Gobert I'm still going to temper my enthusiasm although that's still a pretty good win on the road and at least they're winning some games now. It's astonishing they can win games with Carmelo going 6-18 and getting 3 points in 41 combined minutes from Roberson and Abrines. I think this entire season they might have reached their potential as a team just a few times, most notably against the Warriors. If they can get a streak of games going against good teams without injured players and actually look like they're improving I'll get on board but I think we're seeing fool's gold right now. Hopefully I'm wrong.

The league is very top heavy. Who are these great teams they aren't beating? Already killed the warriors. Their only competition come playoff time is golden State, houston, and cleveland. The spurs are so old, they're gonna be banged up all year. Okc will be in the 3 spot by the end of january.

I like your enthusiasm but I think what we've seen all year is what we're going to continue to see. The product is what it is at this point. I keep thinking that the talent level of the Big3 and Adams will eventually kick in enough to see them at least start winning close games and that's starting to happen to some degree. I hope you're right.

I hope so too. Melo isos were clearly hurting the team, while him taking spot up 3s has looked very good, allowing Russ to play more like himself and dominate, again. The grass isn't greener many other places.

[sleestak33]

The league is very top heavy. Who are these great teams they aren't beating? Already killed the warriors. Their only competition come playoff time is golden State, houston, and cleveland. The spurs are so old, they're gonna be banged up all year. Okc will be in the 3 spot by the end of january.

I like your enthusiasm but I think what we've seen all year is what we're going to continue to see. The product is what it is at this point. I keep thinking that the talent level of the Big3 and Adams will eventually kick in enough to see them at least start winning close games and that's starting to happen to some degree. I hope you're right.

I hope so too. Melo isos were clearly hurting the team, while him taking spot up 3s has looked very good, allowing Russ to play more like himself and dominate, again. The grass isn't greener many other places.

The problem is Patterson and Abrines have both been awful pretty much all year and I just don't see that changing. They were counting on both of them to play a big role (especially Patterson who they were talking about starting before they got Carmelo) and they just aren't producing. Plus they keep starting Roberson who allows other teams to play 5 against 4 for the 30 minutes per game he plays. Watch Roberson's defender in this game tonight against Houston and you'll see all the issues he causes on offense. This game will be the poster child for why Roberson should be benched permanently and his minutes cut to about 14.

[ThunderBolt]

I like your enthusiasm but I think what we've seen all year is what we're going to continue to see. The product is what it is at this point. I keep thinking that the talent level of the Big3 and Adams will eventually kick in enough to see them at least start winning close games and that's starting to happen to some degree. I hope you're right.

I hope so too. Melo isos were clearly hurting the team, while him taking spot up 3s has looked very good, allowing Russ to play more like himself and dominate, again. The grass isn't greener many other places.

The problem is Patterson and Abrines have both been awful pretty much all year and I just don't see that changing. They were counting on both of them to play a big role (especially Patterson who they were talking about starting before they got Carmelo) and they just aren't producing. Plus they keep starting Roberson who allows other teams to play 5 against 4 for the 30 minutes per game he plays. Watch Roberson's defender in this game tonight against Houston and you'll see all the issues he causes on offense. This game will be the poster child for why Roberson should be benched permanently and his minutes cut to about 14.

You made the same prediction about the Golden State game with Klay Thompson. Then went Klay went 3-12 with 9 poInts you chose not to revisit the subject.