2018-2019 OKC Thunder Regular Season Pt 1: A Renewed Hope

[ThunderBolt]

The problem with Adams isn’t that he isn’t worth his contract but to be an elite team you have to get good and great players on cheap contracts. Adams contract by itself isn’t a huge problem but sams inability to get good players on value contracts has hurt this team. If Adams was making what Capela made and the remaining money were used to bolster the bench we could be in a much better position.

[RalphSampsonJr]

The problem with Adams isn’t that he isn’t worth his contract but to be an elite team you have to get good and great players on cheap contracts. Adams contract by itself isn’t a huge problem but sams inability to get good players on value contracts has hurt this team. If Adams was making what Capela made and the remaining money were used to bolster the bench we could be in a much better position.

You just quoted OKCs problem since it moved from seattle. Has never been able to be a deep team. Sometimes because of money other times because of Sam and other times because no worthy FAs wanna live in okc

[Pillendreher]

Since the Portland game:
Starters: 41 % of the possessions | 113.8 ORtG | 100.6 DRtG | +13.2 NetRtG
The other 59 % combined: 114.4 ORtG | 131.6 DRtG | -17.2 NetRtG

[SecondTake]

Since the Portland game:
Starters: 41 % of the possessions | 113.8 ORtG | 100.6 DRtG | +13.2 NetRtG
The other 59 % combined: 114.4 ORtG | 131.6 DRtG | -17.2 NetRtG

Do you have what our DRTG and ORTG was for todays game?

[Dn4sty]

Schroder has a role on this team. OKC doesn’t win this game without his second quarter, but he’s gotta be ok with not closing games, except on the occasion that he’s having games like he did against Warriors and Spurs at home.

[Pillendreher]

Since the Portland game:
Starters: 41 % of the possessions | 113.8 ORtG | 100.6 DRtG | +13.2 NetRtG
The other 59 % combined: 114.4 ORtG | 131.6 DRtG | -17.2 NetRtG

Do you have what our DRTG and ORTG was for todays game?

115 ORtG 112 DRtG.

[Kiwi_thunder]

I have been following this discussion about Adams with interest. Particularly this discussion around his block numbers. This is from his book ...

“I’d noticed that while all my stats were going up ... minutes, points, rebounds ... my block numbers were going down. And that’s because I was learning how to make stops before a block was required. Nick had been working with me a lot that season, helping me read movements on the court and shut down a shot before it’s even in motion.”

[RalphSampsonJr]

I have been following this discussion about Adams with interest. Particularly this discussion around his block numbers. This is from his book ...

“I’d noticed that while all my stats were going up ... minutes, points, rebounds ... my block numbers were going down. And that’s because I was learning how to make stops before a block was required. Nick had been working with me a lot that season, helping me read movements on the court and shut down a shot before it’s even in motion.”

Yep. Blocks are the last line of defense. When you are the Center on 2 of the 5 best defensive lineups you shouldnt need to block alot.

But hey.. guys like to watch highlights and boxscores then draw conclusions.. while most of us watch 48 minutes and understand whats going on

[Dn4sty]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

But Javale guys

[slick_watts]

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

look at what the sycophants have created. the fans who told westbrook he can 'do what he wants'. 'he's our point guard'. the thunder who gave him the key to the city for signing a maximum contract only the thunder could give him. what impetus was there to ever change?

during a season where the thunder are a surprise top defense in the nba, in which paul george is a surprise mvp candidate, steven adams may be a surprise all-star, and terrance ferguson may be surprise busting out-- the fact that the offensive sequences above in consecutive possessions from westbrook isn't surprising to any thunder fan is sad. our 30 year old, 10 year nba veteran superstar can't figure out that these are bad shots is the logical result of mindless post-kd sycophancy. it's too late to ask for anything different as his knees buckle and his confidence wavers in the face of opponents openly teasing him to shoot.

there was a window to stop this, but even now there are still fans defending this kind of crap like every other star player is so barren of self awareness. the thunder could actually be legit contenders right now and spitting and stomping on the faces of everyone who wanted presti to tank if westbrook only put in a modicum of work into becoming a different player, into becoming self aware. but he isn't, and all these surprises will be a waste.

[kdthunderup]

With Grant and Ferguson coming into their own this season we should have the starters set for the next 2-3 years. The starters have one of the best net ratings in the league and Ferguson, Grant and Adams still have more development in them.

The only concern now will be making a formidable bench unit which it feels like we have never had.

[1bigfan13]

Schroder has a role on this team. OKC doesn’t win this game without his second quarter, but he’s gotta be ok with not closing games, except on the occasion that he’s having games like he did against Warriors and Spurs at home.

He definitely has a role on this team. I just wish the coaching staff would correct him when he goes into ball hog mode.

There are too many instances where he's out there playing 1 on 5 hunting for his own shot on 3 straight possessions or more. There was one stretch where the Sixers were making one of their runs that Schroder shot the ball on 5 of 6 OKC possessions.

That' unacceptable. It's no accident that OKC's leads tend to melt away when Schroder's on the court.

Luckily his shots were falling in the 2nd qtr because other than that stretch of play who didn't do a whole lot to help the team win. Which is why I'm hoping Ferguson continues to build on his recent stretch of good play. I'd much rather have Ferguson out there closing games than Schroder. Ferguson is a better defender, finisher at the rim, and he's developing into a solid floor spacer.

[1bigfan13]

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

look at what the sycophants have created. the fans who told westbrook he can 'do what he wants'. 'he's our point guard'. the thunder who gave him the key to the city for signing a maximum contract only the thunder could give him. what impetus was there to ever change?

during a season where the thunder are a surprise top defense in the nba, in which paul george is a surprise mvp candidate, steven adams may be a surprise all-star, and terrance ferguson may be surprise busting out-- the fact that the offensive sequences above in consecutive possessions from westbrook isn't surprising to any thunder fan is sad. our 30 year old, 10 year nba veteran superstar can't figure out that these are bad shots is the logical result of mindless post-kd sycophancy. it's too late to ask for anything different as his knees buckle and his confidence wavers in the face of opponents openly teasing him to shoot.

there was a window to stop this, but even now there are still fans defending this kind of crap like every other star player is so barren of self awareness. the thunder could actually be legit contenders right now and spitting and stomping on the faces of everyone who wanted presti to tank if westbrook only put in a modicum of work into becoming a different player, into becoming self aware. but he isn't, and all these surprises will be a waste.

He won't change because he's never had a coach with a backbone. Pop would have put an end to that crap a long time ago and Westbrook would have been better for it.

His self-awareness is trash. I understand having confidence in your abilities but you also have to have awareness of your limitations as a player and also understand time and place. Westbrook struggles with those things.

He'll self-correct for a game or two after the media questions him about an embarrassing performance. Then he'll fall right back into the same old bad habits, even though adjusting his game netted positive results. He lacks the self-restraint and intelligence to maintain that conservative style of play over the long haul .

[ThunderBolt]

This really needs to be the last year of chasing rainbows.

[spearsy23]

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

Gfycat Video - Click to Play

look at what the sycophants have created. the fans who told westbrook he can 'do what he wants'. 'he's our point guard'. the thunder who gave him the key to the city for signing a maximum contract only the thunder could give him. what impetus was there to ever change?

during a season where the thunder are a surprise top defense in the nba, in which paul george is a surprise mvp candidate, steven adams may be a surprise all-star, and terrance ferguson may be surprise busting out-- the fact that the offensive sequences above in consecutive possessions from westbrook isn't surprising to any thunder fan is sad. our 30 year old, 10 year nba veteran superstar can't figure out that these are bad shots is the logical result of mindless post-kd sycophancy. it's too late to ask for anything different as his knees buckle and his confidence wavers in the face of opponents openly teasing him to shoot.

there was a window to stop this, but even now there are still fans defending this kind of crap like every other star player is so barren of self awareness. the thunder could actually be legit contenders right now and spitting and stomping on the faces of everyone who wanted presti to tank if westbrook only put in a modicum of work into becoming a different player, into becoming self aware. but he isn't, and all these surprises will be a waste.

How good is the starting lineup?

[hardenASG13]

I have been following this discussion about Adams with interest. Particularly this discussion around his block numbers. This is from his book ...

“I’d noticed that while all my stats were going up ... minutes, points, rebounds ... my block numbers were going down. And that’s because I was learning how to make stops before a block was required. Nick had been working with me a lot that season, helping me read movements on the court and shut down a shot before it’s even in motion.”

Yep. Blocks are the last line of defense. When you are the Center on 2 of the 5 best defensive lineups you shouldnt need to block alot.

But hey.. guys like to watch highlights and boxscores then draw conclusions.. while most of us watch 48 minutes and understand whats going on

[CROklahoma]

Schroder has a role on this team. OKC doesn’t win this game without his second quarter, but he’s gotta be ok with not closing games, except on the occasion that he’s having games like he did against Warriors and Spurs at home.

OKC was up double dig before he entered the game, his 11 points are getting depleted by Philly having a field day and going gangbang on him. Pille posted our DRTG was close to 200 on that stretches.

Any p&r guy who can have Noel as his screener with Nader and lets say TLC alongside PPat would easily give us better production than that.
Stop with looking at the box score stats. I was blind and looked for just it and some of the advanced stats a few years ago, I'm all for advanced stats now. Dunno why in 2019 no big TVs dont show em alongside basic.

Schroeder should atleast have a good footwork on D, and not allow 5" bigger guys blowing and penetrating perimeter ...
He is doing no good for us ...

[NaturalThunder]

Schroder has a role on this team. OKC doesn’t win this game without his second quarter, but he’s gotta be ok with not closing games, except on the occasion that he’s having games like he did against Warriors and Spurs at home.

OKC was up double dig before he entered the game, his 11 points are getting depleted by Philly having a field day and going gangbang on him. Pille posted our DRTG was close to 200 on that stretches.

Any p&r guy who can have Noel as his screener with Nader and lets say TLC alongside PPat would easily give us better production than that.
Stop with looking at the box score stats. I was blind and looked for just it and some of the advanced stats a few years ago, I'm all for advanced stats now. Dunno why in 2019 no big TVs dont show em alongside basic.

Schroeder should atleast have a good footwork on D, and not allow 5" bigger guys blowing and penetrating perimeter ...
He is doing no good for us ...

This post only works if you ignore the slight exaggerations.

But, Schroder is basically 5'10" and 150 pounds. That alone puts him at a huge disadvantage against 99% of NBA players. However, his physical limitations aren't the only reason he's a horrible defensive player. He also has horrible defensive instincts.

[Pillendreher]

look at what the sycophants have created. the fans who told westbrook he can 'do what he wants'. 'he's our point guard'. the thunder who gave him the key to the city for signing a maximum contract only the thunder could give him. what impetus was there to ever change?

What a bunch of crap. Like Russell Westbrook was a choir boy until 2016 and then when the fanbase started to rally behind him, he turned into a comic book like villain.

Doesn't it ever bore you regurgitate this stuff constantly? Imagine being this delusional, thinking that fans can influence players like that. But alas, you can't help yourself.

[slick_watts]

look at what the sycophants have created. the fans who told westbrook he can 'do what he wants'. 'he's our point guard'. the thunder who gave him the key to the city for signing a maximum contract only the thunder could give him. what impetus was there to ever change?

What a bunch of crap. Like Russell Westbrook was a choir boy until 2016 and then when the fanbase started to rally behind him, he turned into a comic book like villain.

Doesn't it ever bore you regurgitate this stuff constantly? Imagine being this delusional, thinking that fans can influence players like that. But alas, you can't help yourself.

fans, teams, media can and do influence players all the time. these are human beings, the entire point is that they are not super heroes. the response to kd leaving and westbrook staying, and the entire 2016-17 season set the table.