OKC Thunder Offseason: Avengers Assemble

Pillendreher · Post #2521 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:50 am

spearsy23 wrote:Melo is Kanter like in his Ability to avoid contact on defense.

Robes will have to play the Ibaka role this season. Melo is certainly not gonna provide help defense like we're used to from our PF.

Pillendreher · Post #2522 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:51 am

Read on Twitter

One scrub gone, two to go.

spearsy23 · Post #2523 » by **spearsy23** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:59 am

Pillendreher wrote:
spearsy23 wrote:Melo is Kanter like in his Ability to avoid contact on defense.

Robes will have to play the Ibaka role this season. Melo is certainly not gonna provide help defense like we're used to from our PF.

Melo does at least have the foot speed to contest on the pick and roll, it would just be nice to see him not shying away from using his body to bump guys off their spots.

spearsy23 · Post #2524 » by **spearsy23** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 8:37 am

54 wins seems high to me. I'd bet closer to 50.

Pillendreher · Post #2525 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 9:28 am

spearsy23 wrote:
Pillendreher wrote:
spearsy23 wrote:Melo is Kanter like in his Ability to avoid contact on defense.

Robes will have to play the Ibaka role this season. Melo is certainly not gonna provide help defense like we're used to from our PF.

Melo does at least have the foot speed to contest on the pick and roll, it would just be nice to see him not shying away from using his body to bump guys off their spots.

Yeah. Especially at the ring, he was jumping out of the opposing player's way. Maybe it was just preseason, but if it isn't, Adams will have to be a lot better at protecting the rim.

spearsy23 · Post #2526 » by **spearsy23** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 9:59 am

Pillendreher wrote:
spearsy23 wrote:
Pillendreher wrote:
Robes will have to play the Ibaka role this season. Melo is certainly not gonna provide help defense like we're used to from our PF.

Melo does at least have the foot speed to contest on the pick and roll, it would just be nice to see him not shying away from using his body to bump guys off their spots.

Yeah. Especially at the ring, he was jumping out of the opposing player's way. Maybe it was just preseason, but if it isn't, Adams will have to be a lot better at protecting the rim.

Speaking of which, Steven looked awfully out of breath several times. I know it's Denver, but that doesn't bode well with no true backup center.

Pillendreher · Post #2527 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 10:14 am

spearsy23 wrote:
Pillendreher wrote:
spearsy23 wrote:Melo does at least have the foot speed to contest on the pick and roll, it would just be nice to see him not shying away from using his body to bump guys off their spots.

Yeah. Especially at the ring, he was jumping out of the opposing player's way. Maybe it was just preseason, but if it isn't, Adams will have to be a lot better at protecting the rim.

Speaking of which, Steven looked awfully out of breath several times. I know it's Denver, but that doesn't bode well with no true backup center.

I read somewhere that might have gotten even bigger (maybe it was on Discord,I don't know). I think Adams needs to be quick on his feet and gaining weight might be counterproductive to that.

And I still maintain that we need a defensive big who can anchor a defense. That's our most glaring hole right now. We might even have too many guys being able to play 2-4, but we do need a 2nd Center very much. Dakari looks too slow for the league. That might change down the road, but I'm not banking on that.

Post #2528 » by **ThunderBolt** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 2:11 pm

What do you guys think of a lineup of Russ, Adams, PG, Dre and PP? Do you think this will actually be our best lineup because of defensive strength?

I don’t mean that it would be or best lineup in the sense that Carmelo won’t work. Carmelo might fit great but the other lineup has the potential to be suffocating if Russ plays up to his defensive abilities.

Pillendreher · Post #2529 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 3:38 pm

Knrstz wrote:What do you guys think of a lineup of Russ, Adams, PG, Dre and PP? Do you think this will actually be our best lineup because of defensive strength?

I don’t mean that it would be or best lineup in the sense that Carmelo won’t work. Carmelo might fit great but the other lineup has the potential to be suffocating if Russ plays up to his defensive abilities.

It for sure will be interesting to see how well our starters defend. George's effort defensively in the preseason has been spectacular. If that carries over into the regular season and Robes and Adams keep their defensive impact or even improve it, we could be looking at 2015-2016 starter level defense even with Anthony (95.6 DRtG per stats.nba.com).

For that to happen, Roberson will have to be more of a rim protector and help defender on defense tho. I don't trust Anthony with that at all.

Kizz Fastfists · Post #2530 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 3:50 pm

Knrstz wrote:What do you guys think of a lineup of Russ, Adams, PG, Dre and PP? Do you think this will actually be our best lineup because of defensive strength?

I think the best lineup will end up being Russ, Ferguson, Roberson, PG and Adams.

alessandrux · Post #2531 » by **alessandrux** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 4:04 pm

Kizz Fastfists wrote:
Knrstz wrote:What do you guys think of a lineup of Russ, Adams, PG, Dre and PP? Do you think this will actually be our best lineup because of defensive strength?

I think the best lineup will end up being Russ, Ferguson, Roberson, PG and Adams.

I would replace Ferguson with Abrines for the linup which I expect to be our best. (I think I'm giving Abrines the nod over Ferguson because i expect the "Rookie-treatment" for Ferguson by the refs.)

Pillendreher · Post #2532 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 4:36 pm

Kizz Fastfists wrote:
Knrstz wrote:What do you guys think of a lineup of Russ, Adams, PG, Dre and PP? Do you think this will actually be our best lineup because of defensive strength?

I think the best lineup will end up being Russ, Ferguson, Roberson, PG and Adams.

Ferguson? Let's see if this guy can get rotation minutes before we crown him our difference maker

Post #2533 » by **ThunderBolt** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 4:52 pm

Kizz Fastfists wrote:
Knrstz wrote:What do you guys think of a lineup of Russ, Adams, PG, Dre and PP? Do you think this will actually be our best lineup because of defensive strength?

I think the best lineup will end up being Russ, Ferguson, Roberson, PG and Adams.

You have higher immediate expectations for Ferguson than most.

Kizz Fastfists · Post #2534 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:01 pm

Knrstz wrote:You have higher immediate expectations for Ferguson that most.

I have a much higher opinion of Ferguson then most people. Not just short-term, but also long-term. I expect him to be a good 3&D guy right away. I expect him to end up being a top 3 player from this draft and will not be surprised one bit when he is the best player from this draft in 3 years and the best player on the Thunder before the end of his rookie contract as Russ declines.

Pillendreher · Post #2535 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:35 pm

Kizz Fastfists wrote:
Knrstz wrote:You have higher immediate expectations for Ferguson that most.

I have a much higher opinion of Ferguson then most people. Not just short-term, but also long-term. I expect him to be a good 3&D guy right away. I expect him to end up being a top 3 player from this draft and will not be surprised one bit when he is the best player from this draft in 3 years and the best player on the Thunder before the end of his rookie contract as Russ declines.

I like this optimistic version of you way more than the 'Everybody's trash' version

Quick question tho: Didn't Ferguson suck in Australia? Why should he vastly outplay expectations now? :-?

spearsy23 · Post #2536 » by **spearsy23** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:57 pm

Pillendreher wrote:
Kizz Fastfists wrote:
Knrstz wrote:You have higher immediate expectations for Ferguson that most.

I have a much higher opinion of Ferguson then most people. Not just short-term, but also long-term. I expect him to be a good 3&D guy right away. I expect him to end up being a top 3 player from this draft and will not be surprised one bit when he is the best player from this draft in 3 years and the best player on the Thunder before the end of his rookie contract as Russ declines.

I like this optimistic version of you way more than the 'Everybody's trash' version

Quick question tho: Didn't Ferguson suck in Australia? Why should he vastly outplay expectations now?

I'm not as high on ferguson as kizz, but I've liked the kid through the whole draft process. Saying he sucked in Australia is kinda like Abrines sucking last year. From what I've read He went to a man's league and held his own against grown adults, especially defensively, while struggling with a longer three point line and a team trying to win games with no real investment in his development. He is still rail thin, and we saw in preseason that the Australian teams play a tough brand of basketball that is going to be rough on a guy that young and small. Maybe it's being a bit overly optimistic, but I think struggling in that league was better for him short term than having moderate success in the ncaa would've been. And I think it's shown in preseason, he's looked like he belonged on the court even though he's a project.

Atomic Punk · Post #2537 » by **Atomic Punk** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 8:30 pm

Semaj and Canaan both waived. Go get Perk.

Pillendreher · Post #2538 » by **Pillendreher** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 8:38 pm

Read on Twitter

Best move of the offseason.

Old Man Game · Post #2539 » by **Old Man Game** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 9:03 pm

Pillendreher wrote:

Read on Twitter

Best move of the offseason.

Part of this tweet should have been posted a year ago.

Old Man Game · Post #2540 » by **Old Man Game** » Sat Oct 14, 2017 9:09 pm

Pillendreher wrote:
Kizz Fastfists wrote:
Knrstz wrote:You have higher immediate expectations for Ferguson that most.

I have a much higher opinion of Ferguson then most people. Not just short-term, but also long-term. I expect him to be a good 3&D guy right away. I expect him to end up being a top 3 player from this draft and will not be surprised one bit when he is the best player from this draft in 3 years and the best player on the Thunder before the end of his rookie contract as Russ declines.

I like this optimistic version of you way more than the 'Everybody's trash' version

Quick question tho: Didn't Ferguson suck in Australia? Why should he vastly outplay expectations now?

His net rating was horrible down there. In his defense it would be hard to go to a foreign country at 18 years old and play against grown men even if that isn't a top tier league in terms of the competition. But then again its got to count for something when we're evaluating him. I don't think we can dismiss it entirely. To me at a minimum it shows he probably needs to physically mature a bit before we can expect him to really contribute.

Adelaide NBL 30 17 .470 .457 3.57 4.54 4.08 5.75 15.93 0.76 1.54 16.20 129.47 -3.33 1.00 92.9 (Ortg) 114.6 (Drtg) 5.37 (PER)
https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Terrance-Ferguson/Summary/52037