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

[CROklahoma]

If Donovan goes, get Ettore or maybe, pray for miracle and put a truck of money infront of Obradovic, and see him turn OKC into Spurs v2.0.

[slick_watts]

If Donovan goes, get Ettore or maybe, pray for miracle and put a truck of money infront of Obradovic, and see him turn OKC into Spurs v2.0.

it's popular sentiment but you need a roster capable of such things in order to get those results. spurs 2.0 isn't happening with russell westbrook at the pg for one, and definitely not with the abundance of inexperienced but athletic players on our roster.

recall that billy donovan brought with him ICE pnr coverage his first year, with match-up derived coverage and all that. which he had to abandon because it wasn't working for the players.

[CROklahoma]

Well, Russ has definately changed the way he aproaches the game, he actually is willing to make "assists before assists", i.e. passing the ball to the guy who has a better position to record a stat sheet assist.

Its a fact, we don't have a guy who is really respected by our roster.
When Obradovic sits with his players on airports (I'm working on one in Croatia), even there you can see the way players talk is different when he is around. He is treating every single game like its a NBA finals. It's not coincidence every team is throwing life time contracts infront of him in Euroleague.
What is there to lose if we're 1st round exit again ? We should try a drastic change of the culture, which would mean coaching first, and if that fails, which would mean Russ and PG don't buy into it, just do a fire sale of the players and let Zeljko try himself out in players league with a complete roster shift ...

[Kizz Fastfists]

If OKC loses to Portland without Nurkic in the first round, Donovan should be fired the very next day.
I'm tired of watching this team be held back from great things due 75% to coaching

The only chance Donovan gets fired is if they get swept by Portland. If they lose in 7, which is what I expect with PG hurt, there will be no significant changes just like last off-season. They'll use the PG was hurt excuse instead of accepting the reality that injuries happen and if your roster and coaching is unable to handle an injury then you were not good enough to begin with. The really bad part is that if it comes down to PG being hurt then the medical staff was letting him play down the stretch when he should have been being forced to sit and get healthy. That would be another in the long list of blunders by OKC's medical staff under Presti.

[Kizz Fastfists]

You sound really upset that OKC got an incredible draw with a legit chance to make it to WCF.

That is just comedy gold right there! Unless you are going to say that they just sat PG in a critical game 82 because they felt like it and not because he was too hurt to play they have no chance at the WCF. If PG is hurt as bad as I think sitting him last night indicates they are unlikely to be able to beat Portland at this point, which healthy they would easily do.

[spearsy23]

Why is everyone in the media and on other platforms taking this matchup as some kind of laugher? This is the same team that has a losing record over the last two months, right?

[Kizz Fastfists]

Why is everyone in the media and on other platforms taking this matchup as some kind of laugher? This is the same team that has a losing record over the last two months, right?

On paper OKC should win in 4/5. The problem is that Donovan isn't taken into account when comparing rosters and PG's shoulder is an unknown. If you tell me PG is 90%+ then I say OKC in 6. I don't believe PG is anywhere near that or he plays in game 82 with playoff seeding on the line so I am looking at Portland in 7 and it might not even take 7 if PG misses games. If PG ends up with a serious shoulder injury that costs him a large chunk of next season and people are still worshiping at the alter of Presti I will have no hope at all for this fan base to ever wake up.

[Dadouv47]

Why is everyone in the media and on other platforms taking this matchup as some kind of laugher? This is the same team that has a losing record over the last two months, right?

On paper OKC should win in 4/5. The problem is that Donovan isn't taken into account when comparing rosters and PG's shoulder is an unknown. If you tell me PG is 90%+ then I say OKC in 6. I don't believe PG is anywhere near that or he plays in game 82 with playoff seeding on the line so I am looking at Portland in 7 and it might not even take 7 if PG misses games. If PG ends up with a serious shoulder injury that costs him a large chunk of next season and people are still worshiping at the alter of Presti I will have no hope at all for this fan base to ever wake up.

So basically we should complain and be pessimistic about everything. I'm not optimistic at all by many things (our roster construction, coaching staff, PG13's injury) but you have to be stupid not to be just a bit satisfied about the fact that we are avoiding playing Gs or Houston and have a shot to advance to the second round (and who knows after that depending on PG13's shoulder).

[Kizz Fastfists]

So basically we should complain and be pessimistic about everything. I'm not optimistic at all by many things (our roster construction, coaching staff, PG13's injury) but you have to be stupid not to be just a bit satisfied about the fact that we are avoiding playing Gs or Houston and have a shot to advance to the second round (and who knows after that depending on PG13's shoulder).

I think we agree on the bold part. Then you follow it up by basically saying you have to be stupid to not be satisfied that none of it is going to change. I find that confusing.

My argument would be you have to be brain dead to not be completely upset that OKC just lucked into the best possible scenario to maintain the status quo for next season when you are not happy with the roster or the coaching staff. How can you say that you aren't happy with things, but you are satisfied with the outcome that most guarantees the things you are not happy with stay the same. That is like saying you are not happy that your wife is sleeping with other men, but you are satisfied that she sleeps with you once a month.

[Dadouv47]

So basically we should complain and be pessimistic about everything. I'm not optimistic at all by many things (our roster construction, coaching staff, PG13's injury) but you have to be stupid not to be just a bit satisfied about the fact that we are avoiding playing Gs or Houston and have a shot to advance to the second round (and who knows after that depending on PG13's shoulder).

I think we agree on the bold part. Then you follow it up by basically saying you have to be stupid to not be satisfied that none of it is going to change. I find that confusing.

My argument would be you have to be brain dead to not be completely upset that OKC just lucked into the best possible scenario to maintain the status quo for next season when you are not happy with the roster or the coaching staff. How can you say that you aren't happy with things, but you are satisfied with the outcome that most guarantees the things you are not happy with stay the same. That is like saying you are not happy that your wife is sleeping with other men, but you are satisfied that she sleeps with you once a month.

My argument is that besides everything that is going wrong with our team, we are VERY lucky to have a decent shot to go to the WCF with a semi healthy PG13. Maybe we have 10 or 15% to go to the WCF, but that's GREAT comparing to our previous situation (which was basically losing in the first round against Houston or Gs).
WIll I be satisfied if we don't recruit some better shooters for next year? Nope. Do I want to get rid of Billy Donovan? Sure (but I know Presti loves him). If somehow we can go back to the WCF I will be really happy. If we lose against the blazers without Nurkic I will blame Presti if he doesn't fire Donovan. And if we lose in 6 games Denver, well it's gonna hurt but whatever.

In any cases I hope Presti will recruit some wing scorers because it has been an issue for YEARS with our team. The outcome of the playoffs won't change my mind about this. Now I just want to cheer for my team. Offseason is another deal.

[bondom34]

It's almost like sometimes you should enjoy when a team you like gets lucky. Just a little.

[Dadouv47]

It's almost like sometimes you should enjoy when a team you like gets lucky. Just a little.

Yup. And lucky doesn't mean that we will succeed. But at least we have some hope now (something that was almost impossible in the last weeks)

[Dn4sty]

It's almost like sometimes you should enjoy when a team you like gets lucky. Just a little.

Sometimes fans (and I think fan is still an accurate description for this situation) over scrutinize and analyze everything to a crazy level, which prevents them from actually enjoying the moment.

This was me the Oklahoma Sooners football team a few years ago. I was almost making myself sick.

There are times for scrutiny, but I think the last 48 hours is a cause for at least some minor enjoyment by everyone.

[ThunderBolt]

I do think Kizz has a valid point that we could have just enough success to maintain the status quo. We finished with a worse seed than last year and have countless issues. Presti acknowledged before the season we needed more shooting and the biggest move he made was cutting Abrines. He also guaranteed Donovan’s final year. There isn’t anything wrong with enjoying the playoffs anymore than there is anything wrong with looking at the bigger picture. Look at this thread title, “a renewed hope”. Were fans reasons for hope validated by what we’ve seen so far?

[Dadouv47]

I do think Kizz has a valid point that we could have just enough success to maintain the status quo. We finished with a worse seed than last year and have countless issues. Presti acknowledged before the season we needed more shooting and the biggest move he made was cutting Abrines. He also guaranteed Donovan’s final year. There isn’t anything wrong with enjoying the playoffs anymore than there is anything wrong with looking at the bigger picture. Look at this thread title, “a renewed hope”. Were fans reasons for hope validated by what we’ve seen so far?

Well I don't blame OP for making ''a renewed hope'' thread. Our offseason wasn't perfect but it was far from bad :
- PG stayed (first time in OKC history that we are able to sign a star/superstar in free agency)
- We got Noel on a VERY nice salary
- We got rid of Melo (and some people had hope about Schroeder)
- We signed Grant on a relatively nice contract
- We hoped Roberson would come back in the end of last year or beginning of this year (at least semi healthy)

Still missing some shooters (even if Abrines was supposed to be there) and still kept Donvovan, but overall it was a good offseason.

When it comes to the question about the possibility of having enough success to maintain the status quo, it's another discussion. I personally believe that playing Portland is great because if we lose against a rival without his 2nd or 3rd best player, it would put more pressure on Presti than if we lose to Houston or Gs in 5-6 games in the first round. Sure, if he wins, the possibility of ''status quo'' for next year is higher, but I hope Presti is smart enough to make the right signings. We also don't know if Bennett wants to keep spending money, so if by some miracle we could reach the WCF, I believe it could motivates him to keep spending money which would allow Presti to sign one or two role players (If Presti will finally sign a decent wing that's another question).

Making a coaching change is obviously a key factor for many fans. I believe most of us here want Billy Donovan gone, but I also think we all know that Presti would find ANY excuse in order to keep him for next year. I personally believe that missing the playoffs would have been the only way to get rid of Donovan.

[spearsy23]

A hard fought second round series is still a success for this team, and still in play.

[Dn4sty]

I do think Kizz has a valid point that we could have just enough success to maintain the status quo. We finished with a worse seed than last year and have countless issues. Presti acknowledged before the season we needed more shooting and the biggest move he made was cutting Abrines. He also guaranteed Donovan’s final year. There isn’t anything wrong with enjoying the playoffs anymore than there is anything wrong with looking at the bigger picture. Look at this thread title, “a renewed hope”. Were fans reasons for hope validated by what we’ve seen so far?

Sure, but your way of expressing things come across as genuine conversation, not blatant patronizing

[Dn4sty]

I do think Kizz has a valid point that we could have just enough success to maintain the status quo. We finished with a worse seed than last year and have countless issues. Presti acknowledged before the season we needed more shooting and the biggest move he made was cutting Abrines. He also guaranteed Donovan’s final year. There isn’t anything wrong with enjoying the playoffs anymore than there is anything wrong with looking at the bigger picture. Look at this thread title, “a renewed hope”. Were fans reasons for hope validated by what we’ve seen so far?

Also Abrines basically cut himself.

[ThunderBolt]

Spoiler:

I do think Kizz has a valid point that we could have just enough success to maintain the status quo. We finished with a worse seed than last year and have countless issues. Presti acknowledged before the season we needed more shooting and the biggest move he made was cutting Abrines. He also guaranteed Donovan’s final year. There isn’t anything wrong with enjoying the playoffs anymore than there is anything wrong with looking at the bigger picture. Look at this thread title, “a renewed hope”. Were fans reasons for hope validated by what we’ve seen so far?

Well I don't blame OP for making ''a renewed hope'' thread. Our offseason wasn't perfect but it was far from bad :
- PG stayed (first time in OKC history that we are able to sign a star/superstar in free agency)
- We got Noel on a VERY nice salary
- We got rid of Melo (and some people had hope about Schroeder)
- We signed Grant on a relatively nice contract
- We hoped Roberson would come back in the end of last year or beginning of this year (at least semi healthy)

Still missing some shooters (even if Abrines was supposed to be there) and still kept Donvovan, but overall it was a good offseason.

When it comes to the question about the possibility of having enough success to maintain the status quo, it's another discussion. I personally believe that playing Portland is great because if we lose against a rival without his 2nd or 3rd best player, it would put more pressure on Presti than if we lose to Houston or Gs in 5-6 games in the first round. Sure, if he wins, the possibility of ''status quo'' for next year is higher, but I hope Presti is smart enough to make the right signings. We also don't know if Bennett wants to keep spending money, so if by some miracle we could reach the WCF, I believe it could motivates him to keep spending money which would allow Presti to sign one or two role players (If Presti will finally sign a decent wing that's another question).

Making a coaching change is obviously a key factor for many fans. I believe most of us here want Billy Donovan gone, but I also think we all know that Presti would find ANY excuse in order to keep him for next year. I personally believe that missing the playoffs would have been the only way to get rid of Donovan.

I don’t blame anyone for creating a thread about renewed hope. Keeping George was pretty cool. However it’s hard to see how we could do anything that could top signing George and getting rid of Melo.

[bondom34]

And to clarify ThunderBolt, Dn4sty said it. There are going to be differences in opinion on everything from players to direction of teams. I see it on pretty much every board here. But there's a difference between expressing it and being nothing but patronizing.