Game 19: Oklahoma City Thunder (7-11) @ New Orleans Pelicans (6-13) - 5:00 PM ET

[ThunderBolt]

Chris Paul cost us some draft position tonight

I would not want any player not playing to win. If I'm a team scouting CP3 or any player for a trade I want to see them doing everything they can to win.

I wouldn't expect less. Just tongue in cheek saying he carried us down the stretch

He does it without even looking like he’s trying most of the time.

[spearsy23]

I would not want any player not playing to win. If I'm a team scouting CP3 or any player for a trade I want to see them doing everything they can to win.

I wouldn't expect less. Just tongue in cheek saying he carried us down the stretch

He does it without even looking like he’s trying most of the time.

So much of his work is just making exactly the right play half a second before anyone else realizes it's available. There was one roll by Steven where the ball arrived exactly as he came open.

[Galloisdaman]

Chris Paul cost us some draft position tonight

I would not want any player not playing to win. If I'm a team scouting CP3 or any player for a trade I want to see them doing everything they can to win.

I wouldn't expect less. Just tongue in cheek saying he carried us down the stretch

I understand. Just pointing out that if draft position goes down his trade value might go up. I still want playoffs even if I'm the only one lol ☺

[ThunderBolt]

I would not want any player not playing to win. If I'm a team scouting CP3 or any player for a trade I want to see them doing everything they can to win.

I wouldn't expect less. Just tongue in cheek saying he carried us down the stretch

I understand. Just pointing out that if draft position goes down his trade value might go up. I still want playoffs even if I'm the only one lol ☺

I predict Gallo will be in the playoffs this year.

[Galloisdaman]

I wouldn't expect less. Just tongue in cheek saying he carried us down the stretch

I understand. Just pointing out that if draft position goes down his trade value might go up. I still want playoffs even if I'm the only one lol ☺

I predict Gallo will be in the playoffs this year.

LOL I meant as a Thunder player but I guess that it could be somewhere else

[Old Man Game]

With doc rivers Shai was a high in player. Under Billy’s tutelage he looks like Andrew Wiggins of years past.

He just looks like one of those promising but not yet good young players on a bad team that'll get maxed on his extension almost by default whether a case can be made that he's worth it or not.

I don't know, I'm not seeing franchise cornerstone here. Too unathletic playing the way he does. Doesn't do other things like distribute well enough to make up for it. Maybe if he can get to the line more but he seems sort of limited by how awkward some of his attempts around the rim are.

[Dadouv47]

With doc rivers Shai was a high in player. Under Billy’s tutelage he looks like Andrew Wiggins of years past.

He just looks like one of those promising but not yet good young players on a bad team that'll get maxed on his extension almost by default whether a case can be made that he's worth it or not.

I don't know, I'm not seeing franchise cornerstone here. Too unathletic playing the way he does. Doesn't do other things like distribute well enough to make up for it. Maybe if he can get to the line more but he seems sort of limited by how awkward some of his attempts around the rim are.

Maybe let's wait 2023 before claiming something like this

[ThunderBolt]

With doc rivers Shai was a high in player. Under Billy’s tutelage he looks like Andrew Wiggins of years past.

He just looks like one of those promising but not yet good young players on a bad team that'll get maxed on his extension almost by default whether a case can be made that he's worth it or not.

I don't know, I'm not seeing franchise cornerstone here. Too unathletic playing the way he does. Doesn't do other things like distribute well enough to make up for it. Maybe if he can get to the line more but he seems sort of limited by how awkward some of his attempts around the rim are.

I'm still hopeful he can't be a solid number 2 guy on a great team. I'm a little surprised he's not a better defender given his length. If he comes out and goes for 30 the next game on 60 percent shooting, it will be much easier to feel good about his trajectory. For myself, its easy to get too high or low based on recent trends. His role this year is so much different. He's gone from being a feel good story on the clippers to the face of a franchise and now being honed in on by the opposing team's defense.

I really do believe a lot of his recent struggles are more confidence related than lack of skills. He looks a step slower because he doesn't trust himself. Yesterday he once again passed up a great look from three to drive to the basket. He ended up getting fouled but the three was the better shot. However he clearly wasn't comfortable taking it because he was missing them the whole game. This is where I think coaching plays a big part. Not all of Shai's struggles are Billy's fault but I think a good coach can help a young struggling player succeed. If Billy wants to prove his worth, helping Shai get on track this year would be a great start.

[Galloisdaman]

Some quick thoughts as someone that watched SGA as a rookie a lot.

1. Some of your expectations for him months ago might have been too high.

2. Some of you are too down on him now.

3. I think he will fit somewhere in the middle.

4. Doc got bashed last season for his use of SGA as well but anytime a coach plays a young player as much as SGA they are showing a lot of faith in them.

5. SGA will have games where he looks great and others where he does not. He has a high ceiling but like many young players he will have to find his consistency level. Bottom line is don't expect SGA to be a top 10 player but when you have a 2nd year player averaging 18ppg that is reason to have high hopes. Try not to get too carried away after some down games. SGA was never expected to replace Paul George but he could be a future all star.

[Old Man Game]

Some quick thoughts as someone that watched SGA as a rookie a lot.

1. Some of your expectations for him months ago might have been too high.

2. Some of you are too down on him now.

3. I think he will fit somewhere in the middle.

4. Doc got bashed last season for his use of SGA as well but anytime a coach plays a young player as much as SGA they are showing a lot of faith in them.

5. SGA will have games where he looks great and others where he does not. He has a high ceiling but like many young players he will have to find his consistency level. Bottom line is don't expect SGA to be a top 10 player but when you have a 2nd year player averaging 18ppg that is reason to have high hopes. Try not to get too carried away after some down games. SGA was never expected to replace Paul George but he could be a future all star.

To be clear, I expect him to be a really nice player. I just don't see franchise cornerstone guy at this point. Which, given the way the organization appears to be conducting itself with regard to him, seems to be what they are inviting fans to believe.

[Dadouv47]

Some quick thoughts as someone that watched SGA as a rookie a lot.

1. Some of your expectations for him months ago might have been too high.

2. Some of you are too down on him now.

3. I think he will fit somewhere in the middle.

4. Doc got bashed last season for his use of SGA as well but anytime a coach plays a young player as much as SGA they are showing a lot of faith in them.

5. SGA will have games where he looks great and others where he does not. He has a high ceiling but like many young players he will have to find his consistency level. Bottom line is don't expect SGA to be a top 10 player but when you have a 2nd year player averaging 18ppg that is reason to have high hopes. Try not to get too carried away after some down games. SGA was never expected to replace Paul George but he could be a future all star.

Knew many people would overreact and be disappointed because we expect a lot from him and he's our only very good prospect. We are rebuilding for the first time since KD/Westbrook/Harden era so the fans are putting a lot of pressure on him.
He's still projected as a future all star though so thinking he may be a top 10 or top 20 player in this league isn't crazy. Time will tell.

[Galloisdaman]

Some quick thoughts as someone that watched SGA as a rookie a lot.

1. Some of your expectations for him months ago might have been too high.

2. Some of you are too down on him now.

3. I think he will fit somewhere in the middle.

4. Doc got bashed last season for his use of SGA as well but anytime a coach plays a young player as much as SGA they are showing a lot of faith in them.

5. SGA will have games where he looks great and others where he does not. He has a high ceiling but like many young players he will have to find his consistency level. Bottom line is don't expect SGA to be a top 10 player but when you have a 2nd year player averaging 18ppg that is reason to have high hopes. Try not to get too carried away after some down games. SGA was never expected to replace Paul George but he could be a future all star.

To be clear, I expect him to be a really nice player. I just don't see franchise cornerstone guy at this point. Which, given the way the organization appears to be conducting itself with regard to him, seems to be what they are inviting fans to believe.

I can not speak about any of the organizations messaging but I think your expectations are fair. "Franchise" players are elite for a reason. They do not come around everyday. Some people will say we have seen champions like the Pistons without any true elite players. We have had many #1 overall picks not become elite. SGA has already proved he is a worthy starter. If he can reach allstar level then I think you should be thrilled based on all the other components of the trade. Today is different but in the old days some very good players did not even scratch their surface in their first 100 NBA games.

[ThunderBolt]

Shai is about the only thing worth watching for right now. I think we know what we have with everyone else. Bazley is so young he's like a puppy that we get excited about anything positive. It may be over analyzing of Shai's game but I don't think most opinions have been over the top. He's been pretty mediocre for a while and a lot of him numbers are a reflection of his early success. Its fair to wonder if this is what we'll see for the rest of the year or if he'll take the next leap. An older version of Oladipo looked pretty average in OKC and took a big jump later. Definitely no reason to give up but we've got to talk about something on this board.

[Dn4sty]

Shai is about the only thing worth watching for right now. I think we know what we have with everyone else. Bazley is so young he's like a puppy that we get excited about anything positive. It may be over analyzing of Shai's game but I don't think most opinions have been over the top. He's been pretty mediocre for a while and a lot of him numbers are a reflection of his early success. Its fair to wonder if this is what we'll see for the rest of the year or if he'll take the next leap. An older version of Oladipo looked pretty average in OKC and took a big jump later. Definitely no reason to give up but we've got to talk about something on this board.

I think all of us got a little too excited about Shai. However that doesn’t mean he won’t meet some (if not all of those goals). If we are evaluating him as a 2nd year player 20 games into his second season, I think our evaluation of him is much better.

The only players in his draft class I’d take over him right now for sure are Doncic, Jackson, and Young.

[kdthunderup]

I think Shai will become a Horford type player where he doesn't have a glaring weakness but no elite skill that makes him the number 1 option.

In a way it easier to build around a Horford type player than it is with someone like Simmons (can't shoot) or Young (can't defend) since he will work well in any team or system.