Billy Donovan...

spearsy23 · Post #101 » by **spearsy23** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 8:27 pm

truth18 wrote:Do OKC fans like this hire? I don't read the general board because it's basically nonsense with little good basketball discussion.

No from me. It's less to do with Donovan's coaching ability and more to do with the way the situation went down. We fired a guy to bring in a similar guy who the GM likes more.

I think Donovan will be fine, just like Brooks would have been fine, he'll be a good enough coach not to screw anything up. Just like Brooks, if this team is healthy he's a championship caliber coach.

Thundestruck · Post #102 » by **Thundestruck** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 8:59 pm

Maybe not a championship team yet but Cleveland tried to hire him last offseason which was kind of important one to them. But then again maybe his is also friend with the Cleveland GM.

spearsy23 · Post #103 » by **spearsy23** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 9:22 pm

Thundestruck wrote:Maybe not a championship team yet but Cleveland tried to hire him last offseason which was kind of important one to them. But then again maybe his is also friend with the Cleveland GM.

Unless I'm mistaken that was In May, when they were still a team that had missed the playoffs and were looking to develop high draft picks. If we were looking for a developmental guy I'd be much higher on Donovan, but I'd be even more confused about firing Brooks.

Thundestruck · Post #104 » by **Thundestruck** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 9:25 pm

It was May but it was still right before the knew they were going to make a run at James.

spearsy23 · Post #105 » by **spearsy23** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 9:32 pm

Thundestruck wrote:It was May but it was still right before the knew they were going to make a run at James.

Eh, I think most would have called it extremely unlikely at that point. Until the Heat were destroyed in the finals nobody thought there was a real chance he's leave, certainly not to Cleveland. Either way, that in no way negates the rest of the comment.

Thundestruck · Post #106 » by **Thundestruck** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 9:45 pm

My point was that the guy has had chances at NBA jobs in the past so I find it hard to consider that a nepotism hire. It is not like we are the only organization in basketball who has tried to hire the guy. I just have seen nothing out of following Presti all this time that suggests he would make any hire out of nepotism.

I mean you might be pissed Brooks got fired but your really think Presti would do all this to get a friend a job and nothing more? That just flies in the face of everything I've ever heard or read about Presti. It is not like we hired the head coach at Norman HS or Presti's college coach. You might not think it translates to the NBA but Donovan has a hell of a resume.

bbms · Post #107 » by **bbms** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:10 pm

Love the hiring. I've always been a big fan of looking for coaches from outside the NBA for this team as I've always felt this team should get tricky and creative. I'm not worried about this guys' transition to the NBA, since we have an experienced team.

His offense looks fitting for the Thunder. He is reported to run a lot of screen and spread offenses with high intensity off the ball, auto post ups sets and mono-ball dominant players. Thunder roster fits that offensively.

Defensively, Collison could even play as an assistent. This team has a defensive culture and I expect that to not go away while Donovan adapts.

Not too much to dislike. It'll come down to players buying it, keep up what they already are good at and get healthy. Outside of offense, I don't see much the Thunder will improve short term compared to Thunder's overall play when healthy, but I expect this to be a long term project. Donovan's record in small school is great.

With Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka, healthy, alone, Thunder goes right back to being a top team in the NBA. Any improvement Donovan can make for next season is a plus.

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spearsy23 · Post #108 » by **spearsy23** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:11 pm

Thundestruck wrote:My point was that the guy has had chances at NBA jobs in the past so I find it hard to consider that a nepotism hire. It is not like we are the only organization in basketball who has tried to hire the guy. I just have seen nothing out of following Presti all this time that suggests he would make any hire out of nepotism.

I mean you might be pissed Brooks got fired but your really think Presti would do all this to get a friend a job and nothing more? That just flies in the face of everything I've ever heard or read about Presti. It is not like we hired the head coach at Norman HS or Presti's college coach. You might not think it translates to the NBA but Donovan has a hell of a resume.

Nepotism doesn't mean that someone completely unqualified gets the job, it just means he was hired over BETTER and more deserving candidates because he has a relationship with Presti. If you disagree with that then we see the situation completely different. I think Donovan is Brooks light, so he doesn't really fit the reasons Presti stated for making a change. Yet, reports are that not only was he Presti's first choice, he was his only real consideration. Why would the worst fit be the first choice?

bbms · Post #109 » by **bbms** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:16 pm

spearsy23 wrote:
Thundestruck wrote:My point was that the guy has had chances at NBA jobs in the past so I find it hard to consider that a nepotism hire. It is not like we are the only organization in basketball who has tried to hire the guy. I just have seen nothing out of following Presti all this time that suggests he would make any hire out of nepotism.

I mean you might be pissed Brooks got fired but your really think Presti would do all this to get a friend a job and nothing more? That just flies in the face of everything I've ever heard or read about Presti. It is not like we hired the head coach at Norman HS or Presti's college coach. You might not think it translates to the NBA but Donovan has a hell of a resume.

Nepotism doesn't mean that someone completely unqualified gets the job, it just means he was hired over BETTER and more deserving candidates because he has a relationship with Presti. If you disagree with that then we see the situation completely different. I think Donovan is Brooks light, so he doesn't really fit the reasons Presti stated for making a change. Yet, reports are that not only was he Presti's first choice, he was his only real consideration. Why would the worst fit be the first choice?

Can you explain why he's the worst fit?

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KD35Brah · Post #110 » by **KD35Brah** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:23 pm

Who has Insider??

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/ ... dmanPitino

TylersLakers · Post #111 » by **TylersLakers** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:43 pm

mccluskey wrote:
TylersLakers wrote:
Good bye Westbrook. I don't see a fit at all. He's an attack player at the PG spot and name me ONE player like that under Donovan. There's been none. I have a hard time believing Russ with his aggressive nature is going to be content with playing hot potato with the ball to get someone ELSE a good shot. If I was the Thunder, I would quietly begin shopping Westbrook around to see what you could get. If he stays, Billy has GOT to make some changes offensively, but he hasn't done that to this point, so why would he now?

I'm a lifelong Gator fan and I gotta say you don't know what you're talking about with this. The majority of point guards during the Donovan era have been attacking/scoring players - Jason Williams, Brett Nelson, Teddy Dupay, Anthony Roberson, Taurean Green, Nick Calathes, Erving Walker, Kenny Boynton, and Scottie Wilbekin all fit that mold. The PG is usually a top scorer in Donovan's offenses.

Green- More of a shooter/distributor
Erving Walker- Some hope for Westbrook thriving lol
Kenny Boynton- He was more off ball, coming off screens, streaky shooter, 2 guard in a 1's body
Wilbekin- Same as Green.

I've always thought Chauncey Billups would be the perfect Billy Donovan PG.

I don't know why, but I think Westbrook/Donovan will be clashing by mid season. Maybe trade him before it gets to that point?!?!?!

Either way, I'm excited to see Billy D in the NBA. It will be interesting.

Post #112 » by **bondom34** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:43 pm

I don't feel like neopotism is the word, but I see what spearsy's getting at. The job was his w/o a doubt, I even wonder if they would hire him over Ollie.

KD35Brah · Post #113 » by **KD35Brah** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 10:46 pm

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KD35Brah · Post #114 » by **KD35Brah** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:00 pm

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QPR · Post #115 » by **QPR** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 11:29 pm

spearsy23 wrote:Nepotism doesn't mean that someone completely unqualified gets the job, it just means he was hired over BETTER and more deserving candidates because he has a relationship with Presti. If you disagree with that then we see the situation completely different. I think Donovan is Brooks light, so he doesn't really fit the reasons Presti stated for making a change. Yet, reports are that not only was he Presti's first choice, he was his only real consideration. Why would the worst fit be the first choice?

Who is unequivocally better, to the point where you need to capitalise the letters?

Gentry - good resume, proven NBA coach but his biggest successes have been as an associate head coach/offensive coach
Messina - great CV, but like Donovan he has no experience in this league
Malone - thought he was impressive in Sacramento, but it's one thing going from a lottery situation to a contending one

Of course you can name 4-5 assistants in this league who don't have head coaching experience either, and they would IMO be just as, if not a bigger risk than Donovan.

Machete · Post #116 » by **Machete** » Fri May 1, 2015 12:05 am

I'm really excited! Go Okc!

kdthunderup · Post #117 » by **kdthunderup** » Fri May 1, 2015 3:02 am

After doing some research I'm really excited by the hire, but to be fair I would of been excited if the janitor replaced Brooks as head coach.

Watching a lot of the interviews on Youtube of him you can tell why he is such a well respected guy, he is definitely someone that will command respect and accountability something that Brooks lacked.

Post #118 » by **bondom34** » Fri May 1, 2015 3:03 am

kdthunderup wrote:After doing some research I'm really excited by the hire, but to be fair I would of been excited if the janitor replaced Brooks as head coach.

Watching a lot of the interviews on Youtube of him you can tell why he is such a well respected guy, he is definitely someone that will command respect and accountability something that Brooks lacked.

Same. As you all could tell, I wasn't happy initially but the more I've read the happier I am.

kdthunderup · Post #119 » by **kdthunderup** » Fri May 1, 2015 3:10 am

He seems to fit into OKC's value probably even more so then Brooks, and that was probably one of the main reasons people were scared when they fired Brooks that the culture of the team may go downhill.

Donovan to me has to be an upgrade on Brooks, I mean it's been quoted by players who have been traded here mid-season and had to adjust and Brooks himself that there really isn't much of an offense in structure, he just lets guys make their own plays and puts 100% faith in his players. Whilst Donovan has said he wants guys to play what's in front of them and make their own plays but he is a lot more structured and he demands accountability (which will help when Westbrook goes hero mode) from his players. He also won't be as stubborn as Brooks and won't play favorites with lineups.

Zagor · Post #120 » by **Zagor** » Fri May 1, 2015 11:24 am

First he needs support from KD,Russ and Ibaka. It is important that key players know what direction is he going to take.
After that,find assistant for defense. I think team will have some problems with defense because of Kanter and maybe because Morrow could be starting two guard.
Like Kerr,find two very good assistants with NBA experience,they will help him with transition to NBA.

But health is above everything. Last years Thunder had a lot of problems with injuries in most delicated periods.
I can't wait for new season!!