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Media day is come and gone, the offseason is officially over.

Discuss all the training camp / preseason goings on including: Serge Ibaka sporting a headband, Nick Collison sporting hair, Cole Aldrich's budding news career, and everyone working hard.

Ibaka wearing a headband?? Lord nooooooo!!!!!

pics or it didn't happen

I just sat through all the video.

And of course I watched the Ibaka video. A reporter asked him about possibly starting. He said he could start or come off the bench. He also said he likes coming off the bench but he will do what ever the team needs. And if he comes off the bench he is fine with that role.

Also saw the Nonad video, said he was happy in OKC. Enjoy it while it last Nonad, you're gone at the deadline.

Man, I can't wait for preseason to start. James Harden is going to tear it up this season. Thabo won't last as the starter.

Are both Collison and Kristic out?

If so there could be an opening for Cole to sneak into

Jimmy76 wrote:Are both Collison and Kristic out?

If so there could be an opening for Cole to sneak into

What he said^

Pretty sure we'll get a good look at Cole, Serge and DJ White during preseason.

Hopefully DJ has worked out how to play defense, because the dude is a scoring machine - it'd be real nice to have a post scorer at PF

KDfan35 wrote:

Jimmy76 wrote:Are both Collison and Kristic out?

If so there could be an opening for Cole to sneak into

What he said^

Anyone know the timeframe of these injuries? Will they be good to go at the start of the season?

boobie miles wrote:

KDfan35 wrote:

Jimmy76 wrote:Are both Collison and Kristic out?

If so there could be an opening for Cole to sneak into

What he said^

Anyone know the timeframe of these injuries? Will they be good to go at the start of the season?

Remember there just rookies so go easy on them. I'm not saying he would start like that. He will get some minutes while the other C's do the same.

If both Nick and Nonads are hurt for opening night I wouldn't be surprised to see BJ Mullns get the start. He's been here a year, knows all the sets and what the team is trying to get done on both sides of the floor.

I'd love for Cole to be head and shoulders above the rest of the guys and have him earn the starting spot, but considering the learning curve, I just don't know if he is going to be there so soon.

Plus I'd like to see what BJ can do given a chance in a starting role. Honestly his game reminds me of Nonads. Despite that I'd still like to see him get some burn.

I'm also curious to see what Presti does with DJ White. DJ can score and has a solid 15ft jumper but I just don't know if he is ever going to see the floor since his D is lacking. I hope he improved his D this Summer.

Nick always seems to have some kind of injury coming into the preseason, last year I think it was his ankle, and the year before his wrist.

If Krstic and Collison are out to start the year the team might be in a little bit of trouble. Those are the team's two smartest (and most effective) post defenders. People like wiff enjoy ragging on Krstic for whatever reason but he was just as effective as Collison defending the post giving up under .90 points per post play on over 200 chances.

I think Cole Aldrich will have to step up and be the guy. I think in that situation, the choice for me is between Ibaka and Aldrich. Aldrich probably provides more continuity since he's similar to Collison / Krstic. A solid post defender who knows how to move and understands positioning (at least I hope). Serge is an excellent defender in isolations, one of the best in the league. It's why he guards Amar'e so well. But he's poor in the post. I'd want Serge starting next to a good post defender like Krstic or Collison (or Aldrich). Not replacing them.

Mullens would have to make a quantum leap in ability to be put into the starting lineup. Maybe he could crack the rotation for some small minutes if both Collison and Krstic are out. I don't think he's improved enough to get legitimate run.

DJ is coming into training camp healthy for the first time, I hope he can get a shot. He's been a productive player at every level he's played (including NBA minutes), and I think his defensive problems are blown a little out of proportion.

slick_watts wrote: People like wiff enjoy ragging on Krstic for whatever reason but he was just as effective as Collison defending the post giving up under .90 points per post play on over 200 chances.

Come on Slick you are better than that. A "whatever" reason? Assault isn't exactly speeding on the freeway by 5 mph.

Sucker punching an opponent in the back of the head four times isn't exactly a "whatever" reason. Throwing a chair at an opponents head is a “whatever” reason?

Like I said before, Nonads was instigating that fight not trying to calm things down. If you can prove otherwise please feel free to explain. But film don’t lie dude.

But when it comes to his NBA game. He doesn't rebound well nor does he block a lot of shots. He plays "marginal" defense. Although he was at least efforting. But he just isn't a defensive presence. If you love to watch pick and pops Nonads is your man. Yes I know when he scored more than 10 points a game the Thunder won a boat load of games.

Since the day Nonads was signed I viewed him as a short term/affordable solution to the problem/hole in the middle that the Sonics had for an eternity and the Thunder inherited.

But time has run its course. It's time for Nonads and his fiba thuggish ways to giddee up on out of here. The Thunder have enough talent at Center now to trade Nonads if someone wants him or they can simply let him rot on the bench. But I have no desire to see that guy play a minute.

Krstic is actually a decent defender. Our best defender is probably Nick Collison, because he defends the post as well as Krstic and is better at rotating. But Krstic isn't a pushover in the post. The numbers can't really lie in this circumstance, the frequency he's scored on in the post isn't a subjective matter and he gives up fewer points there than Serge or (definitely) Green. Losing both Collison and Krstic would really hurt our post defense which is shaky to begin with.

Krstic also has a positive effect on our team defensive rebounding. I've mentioned this before, but he boxes out pretty well and has great fundamentals, often he'll be handling his assignment while someone else picks up the board. Which explains his net positive effect on our defensive rebounding...

Krstic might not have a long term future with the team but he was an important piece last season. A lot of his bad faults probably have a lot to do with playing next to Jeff Green (this works in reverse, too). I think unless Aldrich or Mullens (I guess) step it up big time this team will really miss him.

I'm curious about all this talent at center the Thunder has? I see a lot of 'ifs' and 'maybes'.

The fight's a non-issue for me, he apologized, it's over with, and he's not had any issues before or since. We come to different conclusions about it and that's fine.

slick_watts wrote:I'm curious about all this talent at center the Thunder has? I see a lot of 'ifs' and 'maybes'.

Worst case Nick for 24minutes. Serge for 12 and Cole for 12 with Mullens hoping to assert himself. Nonads it not needed.

EDIT Plus I expect Green to get close to 24 minutes at the PF spot.

slick_watts wrote:The fight's a non-issue for me, he apologized, it's over with, and he's not had any issues before or since. We come to different conclusions about it and that's fine.

I'll have to remember that "non issue" when talking about other players around the league. You aren't being consistent Slick and you know it.

How has millsap done? I wish your coach would give some pre-season minutes to players trying to make it in the NBA.

Lava Rock Kid wrote:How has millsap done? I wish your coach would give some pre-season minutes to players trying to make it in the NBA.

Millsap has been awesome when he has played

If he keeps it up Millsap could have a future as a defensive role player, maybe a little like Mbah a Moute on the Bucks but with a little less size. Nobody's really seen him play much yet since the first preseason game was not televised, but he's supposedly doing well in practice.

He probably won't make the team but hopefully he can stick around in Tulsa.