2017-2018 OKC Thunder Regular Season Thread part one: The Fellowship for A Ring

[Old Man Game]

your statement re: spacing v. shooting was the basketball highlight of the episode and is pertinent insight.

Yes that was very good.

Glad Slick specifically brought up the Denver game, it was glaringly obvious the difference setting screens can make in that game. Despite some people's claims that 'literally anyone' can do it, it's a legitimate basketball skill that can have a large impact on an offense.

After Justin primed me to look for it upon listening to that pod this morning I specifically watched Grant's screening tonight. He doesn't even make contact with the defender. He just pauses for a brief moment and then runs like he's going to roll to the rim. It's truly awful. How can you grow up around the game like that kid did and not get the concept?

[Old Man Game]

I've never been a Melo fan (as a ku fan kinda the opposite actually) but I am all about hoodie Melo. I want a shirsey-hoodie.

Also, I forgot nick and Melo played against each other that year.

That WSU shocker logo in your posts must be pretty depressed to learn you're a KU fan.

[spearsy23]

I've never been a Melo fan (as a ku fan kinda the opposite actually) but I am all about hoodie Melo. I want a shirsey-hoodie.

Also, I forgot nick and Melo played against each other that year.

That WSU shocker logo in your posts must be pretty depressed to learn you're a KU fan.

WSU grad that grew up closer to Lawrence. KU fan until I went to college and still a ku fan until they quit ducking us

[Pillendreher]

Trade. Jerami. Grant.

[Old Man Game]

I've never been a Melo fan (as a ku fan kinda the opposite actually) but I am all about hoodie Melo. I want a shirsey-hoodie.

Also, I forgot nick and Melo played against each other that year.

That WSU shocker logo in your posts must be pretty depressed to learn you're a KU fan.

WSU grad that grew up closer to Lawrence. KU fan until I went to college and still a ku fan until they quit ducking us

I had a similar thing happen growing up an OU fan and then going to Oklahoma State. But in my case we play them all the time so giving up that OU fandom was easy.

[Old Man Game]

Trade. Jerami. Grant.

Did you say play Jerami Grant more than Patrick Patterson? Will do. - Billy Donovan (probably)

[Pillendreher]

Trade. Jerami. Grant.

Did you say play Jerami Grant more than Patrick Patterson? Will do. - Billy Donovan (probably)

I guess he's still easing Patterson back in, but that only makes it more important to get another big. Jerami Grant is terrible.

[Old Man Game]

Trade. Jerami. Grant.

Did you say play Jerami Grant more than Patrick Patterson? Will do. - Billy Donovan (probably)

I guess he's still easing Patterson back in, but that only makes it more important to get another big. Jerami Grant is terrible.

I got a feeling Donovan is going to find some minutes for Grant though. He's mesmerized by that (mostly rudderless) leaping ability.

[bbms]

I think it's absolutely beautiful how good at defense Roberson and Adams grew together. I am convinced Durant is a complete idiot for underrating these two.

There were a couple of defensive possessions from the starting five that was a thing of beauty, honestly. The potential switchability, lenght, athleticism, explosion, toughness and ability to create turnovers of this defense is something nobody has in the league imo.

Westbrook looked very disciplined defensively and very selective with his aggression offensively, taking what the defense gave him. This is great. Aw man Westbrook is so dominant when he's in control.

This is just the beginning.

I don't care if Grant and Abrines gets consistent opportunities to show improvements in the first half of the season. I don't care at all, because I honestly think Grant's high energy and Abrines' craftiness could be really useful if they clean their games up. I only think that if they are gonna get the benefit of doubt, every other young player should have consistent opportunities too.

I'd give up on Donovan if Grant and Abrines experiments hurts badly Roberson's minutes against top perimeter offenses, though.

And that's the scary part: I wonder if the Thunder coaching staff believe Grant's performances are actually good, for instance.

[Dadouv47]

I think it's absolutely beautiful how good at defense Roberson and Adams grew together. I am convinced Durant is a complete idiot for underrating these two.

There were a couple of defensive possessions from the starting five that was a thing of beauty, honestly. The potential switchability, lenght, athleticism, explosion, toughness and ability to create turnovers of this defense is something nobody has in the league imo.

Westbrook looked very disciplined defensively and very selective with his aggression offensively, taking what the defense gave him. This is great. Aw man Westbrook is so dominant when he's in control.

This is just the beginning.

I don't care if Grant and Abrines gets consistent opportunities to show improvements in the first half of the season. I don't care at all, because I honestly think Grant's high energy and Abrines' craftiness could be really useful if they clean their games up. I only think that if they are gonna get the benefit of doubt, every other young player should have consistent opportunities too.

I'd give up on Donovan if Grant and Abrines experiments hurts badly Roberson's minutes against top perimeter offenses, though.

And that's the scary part: I wonder if the Thunder coaching staff believe Grant's performances are actually good, for instance.

I don't think he underrates them so much. He just wanted to find some stupid excuses for his pussy move.

[Old Man Game]

Local sports radio bloviator Jim Traber, who has made hating Roberson a big part of his act the last few years said this today, I kid you not: 'Yeah his defense is good so long as he doesn't shoot the ball.'

[bondom34]

Local sports radio bloviator Jim Traber, who has made hating Roberson a big part of his act the last few years said this today, I kid you not: 'Yeah his defense is good so long as he doesn't shoot the ball.'

That's by far the worst part of his defense.

[spearsy23]

Read on Twitter

Gonna go out on a limb and say this never happened last year

[Pillendreher]

**** just got real

[getrichordie]

**** just got real

Spoiler:

Darth Presti.

[spearsy23]

**** just got real

[img]https://i.redditmedia.com/BBTmO-DL2E8Mdb5cAWcKoEbj-yjOZ2bVQ56rJpW-FLg.jpg?w=505&s=6e5748c487766fbcc4c59cc581eced

This might be my favorite thing in the history of the universe. Hoodie Melo giveth and Hoodie Presti taketh away.

[Thabo Sefolosha]

Read on Twitter

[ThunderBolt]

Read on Twitter

The question is if Melo is double teamed, will he still shoot?

[thekaoswithin]

Uhhh...

So I'm definately more active on Reddit than here, but either way I've been a staunch Grant supporter. Like someone pointed out, I watched his screening, and it's bad. Like BAD. He just roughly completes the motion of a "screen" then goes back to where he was before.

Also, why do we always put him in the dunker spot? He doesn't get a good shot from it 90% and it doesn't help to space the floor either.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I've been a staunch Grant supporter.

What do you support about him? His 30% career 3pt percentage? 63% FT%? His 60% at the rim is solid, but he can't get there without being fed the ball there. He shoots 22% in the paint, not at the rim. 20% on mid-range 2s and 28% on long 2s. He plays mediocre defense. He has no ball skills. I wish he were a decent player. I wish everyone on the Thunder were an all-star caliber player. It just isn't the case. Grant is worse than Singler in on the court performance.