Oklahoma City Thunder Regular Season 2015-2016 Part 2

[The Flash Rises]

'Show me, don't tweet me'

[Bravenewworld]

Only about 15 years and one hall of famer here. Despite that, I can still recognize a spade when I see it. Nobody thinks Donovan can't become a solid coach, but that's completely beside the point.

By "nobody" you mean, you and a couple random people here.
The GMs of the NBA, the analysts, players, coaches, etc. they all see what he is attempting to do and are all at least willing to wait before they make the nonsense proclamations you are.

[bondom34]

Well here's an NBA scout about what's new:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2015/11/08/billy-donovan-kevin-durant-russell-westbrook-serge-ibaka-thunder/75414116/

“To me, the only difference is the play-calling. I’ll say this, there’s a lot more pick and rolls with Donovan, but it’s slowly gravitating toward the same stuff that it was. Isolation basketball, guys not passing to the open guy because they’ve got to get their shots, i.e. Russell and Kevin. They’re playing heavy minutes, and they’re getting pretty much all of the touches – which, they should get most of the touches. But still, if you’re going to be what you say you’re going to be as far as moving the ball around more and having a more open offense and less isolation, then you’ve got to show it. (They’re) not there yet, and that’s why everybody’s seeing these flaws now. They lost three games in a row because they played these teams that play defense.”

[spearsy23]

Only about 15 years and one hall of famer here. Despite that, I can still recognize a spade when I see it. Nobody thinks Donovan can't become a solid coach, but that's completely beside the point.

By "nobody" you mean, you and a couple random people here.
The GMs of the NBA, the analysts, players, coaches, etc. they all see what he is attempting to do and are all at least willing to wait before they make the nonsense proclamations you are.

I don't believe I nor Bondom have ever said he can't become solid. You're setting fire to your own strawman. He has been crap, not average, crap. That's an issue, he should have been more NBA ready than that if he was going to take over a team with championship aspirations from day 1. That's an issue, and his lack of experience doesn't excuse his inabilities in this situation. We didn't hire him to be good in a year or two.

And beyond that, If he becomes anything less than a great coach then firing Scott Brooks is a failure.

[bondom34]

Oh, and to add, the passing is actually DOWN last I checked. So there's that.

[Bravenewworld]

Only about 15 years and one hall of famer here. Despite that, I can still recognize a spade when I see it. Nobody thinks Donovan can't become a solid coach, but that's completely beside the point.

By "nobody" you mean, you and a couple random people here.
The GMs of the NBA, the analysts, players, coaches, etc. they all see what he is attempting to do and are all at least willing to wait before they make the nonsense proclamations you are.

I don't believe I nor Bondom have ever said he can't become solid. You're setting fire to your own strawman. He has been crap, not average, crap. That's an issue, he should have been more NBA ready than that if he was going to take over a team with championship aspirations from day 1. That's an issue, and his lack of experience doesn't excuse his inabilities in this situation. We didn't hire him to be good in a year or two.

And beyond that, If he becomes anything less than a great coach then firing Scott Brooks is a failure.

That was my bad, i misspoke, attempting to type as fast as possible to get this **** out of the way while i watch tv. Sorry, my bad.

The point is, again, no one else but you two and maybe one or two other people on mess. boards, seem to think the sky is falling whenever things don't go perfect. And don't act like you two didnt do this with Brooks also.
I believe it was you that said the "11-8, whats he doing right?", and im trying to point out, that any rational, reasonable person who has dealt in basketball.... or **** anything, knows to give these things time and that this is most likely not an indicator of anything.

"We didn't hire him to be good in a year or two. "

Im pretty sure since Presti is not an idiot, he fully recognized that Donovan may take a year or so to adjust to the NBA. Also hence why they brought in the staff around Donovan, that they did. IMO, in an attempt to speed up this process, that anyone should be able to recognize.
But hey, clearly you should be the GM of the thunder over Presti and the coach over Donovan.

[Marcus50]

I'm starting to want Scotty Brooks back

[bondom34]

By "nobody" you mean, you and a couple random people here.
The GMs of the NBA, the analysts, players, coaches, etc. they all see what he is attempting to do and are all at least willing to wait before they make the nonsense proclamations you are.

I don't believe I nor Bondom have ever said he can't become solid. You're setting fire to your own strawman. He has been crap, not average, crap. That's an issue, he should have been more NBA ready than that if he was going to take over a team with championship aspirations from day 1. That's an issue, and his lack of experience doesn't excuse his inabilities in this situation. We didn't hire him to be good in a year or two.

And beyond that, If he becomes anything less than a great coach then firing Scott Brooks is a failure.

That was my bad, i misspoke, attempting to type as fast as possible to get this **** out of the way while i watch tv. Sorry, my bad.

The point is, again, no one else but you two and maybe one or two other people on mess. boards, seem to think the sky is falling whenever things don't go perfect. And don't act like you two didnt do this with Brooks also.
I believe it was you that said the "11-8, whats he doing right?", and im trying to point out, that any rational, reasonable person who has dealt in basketball.... or **** anything, knows to give these things time and that this is most likely not an indicator of anything.

"We didn't hire him to be good in a year or two. "

Im pretty sure since Presti is not an idiot, he fully recognized that Donovan may take a year or so to adjust to the NBA. Also hence why they brought in the staff around Donovan, that they did. IMO, in an attempt to speed up this process, that anyone should be able to recognize.
But hey, clearly you should be the GM of the thunder over Presti and the coach over Donovan.

By saying this you are admittedly ignoring all criticisms of Donovan made by actual basketball people then.

[Bravenewworld]

By saying this you are admittedly ignoring all criticisms of Donovan made by actual basketball people then.

Im not ignoring criticisms, i have my own of him, im simply not acting like the sky is falling. In fact i think we have a trade to make to get his system to fully function.... at least when it comes to the secondary unit.

And "actual basketball people" can you show me anyone aside from you two, who is a professional that is even remotely coming close to suggesting or acting the way you two are? Its not the criticism i have a problem with.... pay attention.... its the hyperbolic bs you come up with. Its the sky is falling mentality where you ignore a reality that.... i have to assume you know about but apparently not.

Its almost like you're the opposite of a Knicks fan at this point.

A Knicks fan will see a player make an impressive lay up and all the sudden that player is the next Michael Jordan.

You see a failed out of time out play, and all the sudden you ignore all the great oot plays we've seen this season so far and Donovan is not worthy of being our coach.

Its hilarious until one realizes how serious you are.

[bondom34]

By saying this you are admittedly ignoring all criticisms of Donovan made by actual basketball people then.

Im not ignoring criticisms, i have my own of him, im simply not acting like the sky is falling. In fact i think we have a trade to make to get his system to fully function.... at least when it comes to the secondary unit.

And "actual basketball people" can you show me anyone aside from you two, who is a professional that is even remotely coming close to suggesting or acting the way you two are? Its not the criticism i have a problem with.... pay attention.... its the hyperbolic bs you come up with. Its the sky is falling mentality where you ignore a reality that.... i have to assume you know about but apparently not.

Its almost like you're the opposite of a Knicks fan at this point.

A Knicks fan will see a player make an impressive lay up and all the sudden that player is the next Michael Jordan.

You see a failed out of time out play, and all the sudden you ignore all the great oot plays we've seen this season so far and Donovan is not worthy of being our coach.

Its hilarious until one realizes how serious you are.

I posted the link above to a scout. Plus plenty of at least somewhat credible NBA writers and people online (Simmons, Harawhatever, Harper).

[spearsy23]

By saying this you are admittedly ignoring all criticisms of Donovan made by actual basketball people then.

Im not ignoring criticisms, i have my own of him, im simply not acting like the sky is falling. In fact i think we have a trade to make to get his system to fully function.... at least when it comes to the secondary unit.

And "actual basketball people" can you show me anyone aside from you two, who is a professional that is even remotely coming close to suggesting or acting the way you two are? Its not the criticism i have a problem with.... pay attention.... its the hyperbolic bs you come up with. Its the sky is falling mentality where you ignore a reality that.... i have to assume you know about but apparently not.

Its almost like you're the opposite of a Knicks fan at this point.

A Knicks fan will see a player make an impressive lay up and all the sudden that player is the next Michael Jordan.

You see a failed out of time out play, and all the sudden you ignore all the great oot plays we've seen this season so far and Donovan is not worthy of being our coach.

Its hilarious until one realizes how serious you are.

I posted the link above to a scout. Plus plenty of at least somewhat credible NBA writers and people online (Simmons, Harawhatever, Harper).

Also Justin Termine, eddie Johnson and Frank Isola have all been critical on their radio shows.

[bondom34]

Im not ignoring criticisms, i have my own of him, im simply not acting like the sky is falling. In fact i think we have a trade to make to get his system to fully function.... at least when it comes to the secondary unit.

And "actual basketball people" can you show me anyone aside from you two, who is a professional that is even remotely coming close to suggesting or acting the way you two are? Its not the criticism i have a problem with.... pay attention.... its the hyperbolic bs you come up with. Its the sky is falling mentality where you ignore a reality that.... i have to assume you know about but apparently not.

Its almost like you're the opposite of a Knicks fan at this point.

A Knicks fan will see a player make an impressive lay up and all the sudden that player is the next Michael Jordan.

You see a failed out of time out play, and all the sudden you ignore all the great oot plays we've seen this season so far and Donovan is not worthy of being our coach.

Its hilarious until one realizes how serious you are.

I posted the link above to a scout. Plus plenty of at least somewhat credible NBA writers and people online (Simmons, Harawhatever, Harper).

Also Justin Termine, eddie Johnson and Frank Isola have all been critical on their radio shows.

And Kenny Smith saying it right now on TV.

[spearsy23]

That was my bad, i misspoke, attempting to type as fast as possible to get this **** out of the way while i watch tv. Sorry, my bad.

The point is, again, no one else but you two and maybe one or two other people on mess. boards, seem to think the sky is falling whenever things don't go perfect. And don't act like you two didnt do this with Brooks also.
I believe it was you that said the "11-8, whats he doing right?", and im trying to point out, that any rational, reasonable person who has dealt in basketball.... or **** anything, knows to give these things time and that this is most likely not an indicator of anything.

I didn't ask what he is doing right. I asked what he is doing better than Scott Brooks. If I get a chance tonight I'll try and dig up stats on how his OOT plays, to my eyes they haven't looked particularly impressive but you may be right about them being better than Brooks. Of course we've struggled in close games, so I'd bet they haven't been so great in those situations.

"We didn't hire him to be good in a year or two. "

Im pretty sure since Presti is not an idiot, he fully recognized that Donovan may take a year or so to adjust to the NBA.

Then he is an idiot. I fully guarantee you that Donovan is expected to be at or above Brooks level by the 3/4 mark of the season. If that's not true then Presti was simply hiring his friend.

Despite what we believe, there is still the chance Durant leaves. If that happens because Donovan doesn't get his act together, then Presti and Donovan failed and Presti should get fired.

But hey, clearly you should be the GM of the thunder over Presti and the coach over Donovan.

and you should clearly be the GM of the Hawks/Raptors/Sixers and every other team you've criticized. Actually, I wish you were, it would make unloading Dion so much fun.

[bondom34]

Also I missed most of the 2nd Q, but reading DT's recap, seems like ball movement died when Russ sat. Also, never thought I'd say it and said it was way too knee jerk, but if Presti fd up that bad, he should get axed if KD leaves. Still don't see it, but if.

[spearsy23]

Also I missed most of the 2nd Q, but reading DT's recap, seems like ball movement died when Russ sat. Also, never thought I'd say it and said it was way too knee jerk, but if Presti fd up that bad, he should get axed if KD leaves. Still don't see it, but if.

It's a bit of a catch 22. If Durant leaves then Russ and Serge likely follow, which means Presti is the perfect GM to have, but it would also be his fault that the team was dismantled...

[Bravenewworld]

Also I missed most of the 2nd Q, but reading DT's recap, seems like ball movement died when Russ sat. Also, never thought I'd say it and said it was way too knee jerk, but if Presti fd up that bad, he should get axed if KD leaves. Still don't see it, but if.

That'd be a brilliant move.
If KD leaves, lets fire the best drafting GM.... most people have ever seen..... good decision making.


Any, night fellas. I might respond to some of the stuff you posted tomorrow but i have a couple more things to type out before i go to sleep and head to Orlando tomorrow morning.

[bondom34]

Also I missed most of the 2nd Q, but reading DT's recap, seems like ball movement died when Russ sat. Also, never thought I'd say it and said it was way too knee jerk, but if Presti fd up that bad, he should get axed if KD leaves. Still don't see it, but if.

It's a bit of a catch 22. If Durant leaves then Russ and Serge likely follow, which means Presti is the perfect GM to have, but it would also be his fault that the team was dismantled...

Also I missed most of the 2nd Q, but reading DT's recap, seems like ball movement died when Russ sat. Also, never thought I'd say it and said it was way too knee jerk, but if Presti fd up that bad, he should get axed if KD leaves. Still don't see it, but if.

That'd be a brilliant move.
If KD leaves, lets fire the best drafting GM.... most people have ever seen..... good decision making.


Any, night fellas. I might respond to some of the stuff you posted tomorrow but i have a couple more things to type out before i go to sleep and head to Orlando tomorrow morning.

Yeah, thats the problem.

[spearsy23]

'Show me, don't tweet me'

Both of our team's mottos right now. Preseason paper tigers.

[bondom34]

Sunday is game 20. If (big if right now) they win, how much better will they be than last year's record? 4 games. 4, with that roster last year.

[bondom34]

More on Lamb:

Lamb’s shot defense, something for which he rarely receives credit, has been phenomenal. Last season, he was tied for 15th of 141 wings in Points Against per Shot at 0.91. In 2015-2016, the Hornet has been even better with 0.73 Points Against per Shot and an Overall FG% Against of 33.52. These numbers rank him 2nd in both categories, trailing only LeBron James in each. Lamb’s Fouls per Shot defended rate has also decreased dramatically from a problematic .098 last season to an elite .048 currently.

http://www1.vantagesports.com/Articles/article_view/VmCyEiAAAB8AoKcx

Sigh