Are Thunder ready to win the title?

knowler · Post #1 » by **knowler** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:50 pm

Thunder have been among the contenders to win a title for 2 years, let's say. They used to have a lack of thugness, but Perkins' trade was regarded as a breakthrough. Now, with great defensive duo ( Perkins and Ibaka ) and 2 young stars, a lot of people say they are a legite candidate to win.

Anyway, I can't see them in series with Miami and Dallas. Lakers and Dallas also could be really dangerous. There are the main reasons:

- Perkins and Ibaka can't score, enough said.
- Westbrook is a dreadful fit. He takes Durant the ball away and that's the worst thing for Thunder. Durant is a way more efective than Westbrook, not mension Harden. The less shots Westbrook takes ( in PO, the better offensive flow is. His ego is also a problem. Sometimes he want's to prove that his the best player in this team. I don't have to remaind how it winded up in last play-offs.

Thunder need to get rid of Westbrook and acquire a decent PG, with 3 point range and PF/C who can score. Additionaly, having underrated James Harden, argubly the best 6'th man in the league, will make them a real contender.

What are your thoughts?

BIG EDDIE · Post #2 » by **BIG EDDIE** » Wed Feb 22, 2012 11:56 pm

Well, if you are asking what my first thought was when I read this: "How old are you?"

Krodis · Post #3 » by **Krodis** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 12:02 am

Durant has led the league in scoring the past two years, how many shots do people want him to take, 30? 40?

Balkman32 · Post #4 » by **Balkman32** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 1:43 am

Stop it! As long as they keep growing and Ibaka keeps gettin better this team is a top team. Their. Ore 4 are all under 25.

fallacy · Post #5 » by **fallacy** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 5:08 am

ಠ_ಠ

Thunder could easily win a title this year.

theokie · Post #6 » by **theokie** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:01 am

Ya you'd think if Durant had a decent PG playing next to him he could probably lead the league in scoring one of these years

Devilanche · Post #7 » by **Devilanche** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:26 am

theokie wrote:Ya you'd think if Durant had a decent PG playing next to him he could probably lead the league in scoring one of these years

A true PG would probably average 10 APG for Durant alone while Durant will be averaging close to 40-50 points. The rest of the team stays as it is, so we'll have game of Durant 50+ points, rest of team 50 points, and then they'll say Durant need scoring help...

Phailadelphia · Post #8 » by **Phailadelphia** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:51 am

- Westbrook is a dreadful fit. He takes Durant the ball away and that's the worst thing for Thunder. Durant is a way more efective than Westbrook, not mension Harden. The less shots Westbrook takes ( in PO, the better offensive flow is. His ego is also a problem. Sometimes he want's to prove that his the best player in this team. I don't have to remaind how it winded up in last play-offs.

Get out. Just....just leave.

knowler · Post #9 » by **knowler** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:06 am

I wrote they should acquire not only a decent PG, but also a PF who can score... PF could easily take 10-15 shots a game. Don't forget about Harden, who's really underrated. The game with Harden as a playmaker is a way better than with Westbrick.

My opinion about Westbrook was laughed at, so do you really think he's a perfect fit next to durant?
I take a PF with offensive skills and decent PG over Westbrook any time.

theokie · Post #10 » by **theokie** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:54 pm

knowler wrote:I wrote they should acquire not only a decent PG, but also a PF who can score... PF could easily take 10-15 shots a game. Don't forget about Harden, who's really underrated. The game with Harden as a playmaker is a way better than with Westbrick.

My opinion about Westbrook was laughed at, so do you really think he's a perfect fit next to durant?
I take a PF with offensive skills and decent PG over Westbrook any time.

Curious who falls into your category of decent PG and PF with offensive skills. And whats available for us to trade Westbrook for that.

Ya its nice to say that we should upgrade all of our players into different and better ones. Id rather have Dwight Howard than Kendrick Perkins but thats not gonna happen

Phailadelphia · Post #11 » by **Phailadelphia** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:56 pm

knowler wrote:I wrote they should acquire not only a decent PG, but also a PF who can score... PF could easily take 10-15 shots a game. Don't forget about Harden, who's really underrated. The game with Harden as a playmaker is a way better than with Westbrick.

My opinion about Westbrook was laughed at, so do you really think he's a perfect fit next to durant?
I take a PF with offensive skills and decent PG over Westbrook any time.

Have you not watched Westbrook play this season? He's come into his own and is leaps and bounds better than 2010-2011. Yeah, he had a bad postseason. That happens sometimes, but you can't let a 23-game postseason streak judge him as a whole, or even as the player he is this year.

The notion that Westbrook should settle into a traditional PG role is stupid because 1) that's not the type of player he is, and 2) he's the 2nd scoring option on this team. If both he and Durant are shooting 50%+ it does not matter who gets more touches. Sefolosha can't score, Ibaka can't score, Perkins can't score. That leaves Durant and Westbrook playing 2v5 on offense until Harden and company enter the game.

And how can you even come in here and say "a better PG" when Westbrook is already a top 5 player at his position? Let me give you some advice: Take off the rose-colored glasses and watch this team play with all bias aside. You'll see very quickly that Westbrook has become a top 10 player in the game this year and is absolutely ridiculously good at what he does. It's clear you're too hung up on what happened last year to make a rational judgment of him this season and not only is it unfair but translates to a poor understanding of how this team plays ball.

/rant

MASH Transit · Post #12 » by **MASH Transit** » Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:43 pm

I don't think OKC is ready for a title, no. I do think the Thunder can make it to the finals this year though, and I think that would bode well for them moving forward.

The team needs more experience, and cohesion. They're close, but they're not quite there yet.

It wouldn't hurt to replace Scott Brooks with someone like Jerry Sloan.

wiff · Post #13 » by **wiff** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 6:36 am

Yes they have taken the steps to progress. Lost in the first round made it to the conference finals. Next stop NBA title. They are old enough but most importantly they are experienced enough too.

Hoopz Afrik · Post #14 » by **Hoopz Afrik** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 5:47 pm

They have to be the team to beat out of the West. Everyone blows this whole KD and Westbrook 'situation' out of proportion. I can't think of a team in the West, Lakers and Mavs included, that I'd take in a 7-game series against the Thunder with the way they've been playing ball this year. I think they're ready and poised to make a legitimate run.

bbms · Post #15 » by **bbms** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 10:22 pm

Gregg Popovich is the man I fear the most in the West.

I think if you gameplan the Thunder well, you have a great chance even if you don't have an elite roster. Face the truth: until Thunder prove me wrong, our offensive scheme is very fragile and reliant on Kevin Durant's geniality to be efficient. Strong and aggressive defense to force turnovers will ever kill us until we see significant improvements on offensive system, rotations and design.

I like the Thunder the most of the NBA teams, but it's a frustration waiting to happen. Last season wasn't frustrating, but I guess this will be.

manvir_samra · Post #16 » by **manvir_samra** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 11:54 pm

The Thunder could win if they end up facing the right teams. But i still doubt their ability to get past LA (lakers and clips), Miami or Chicago

knowler · Post #17 » by **knowler** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 12:07 am

Phailadelphia wrote:
knowler wrote:I wrote they should acquire not only a decent PG, but also a PF who can score... PF could easily take 10-15 shots a game. Don't forget about Harden, who's really underrated. The game with Harden as a playmaker is a way better than with Westbrick.

My opinion about Westbrook was laughed at, so do you really think he's a perfect fit next to durant?
I take a PF with offensive skills and decent PG over Westbrook any time.

Have you not watched Westbrook play this season? He's come into his own and is leaps and bounds better than 2010-2011. Yeah, he had a bad postseason. That happens sometimes, but you can't let a 23-game postseason streak judge him as a whole, or even as the player he is this year.

The notion that Westbrook should settle into a traditional PG role is stupid because 1) that's not the type of player he is, and 2) he's the 2nd scoring option on this team. If both he and Durant are shooting 50%+ it does not matter who gets more touches. Sefolosha can't score, Ibaka can't score, Perkins can't score. That leaves Durant and Westbrook playing 2v5 on offense until Harden and company enter the game.

And how can you even come in here and say "a better PG" when Westbrook is already a top 5 player at his position? Let me give you some advice: Take off the rose-colored glasses and watch this team play with all bias aside. You'll see very quickly that Westbrook has become a top 10 player in the game this year and is absolutely ridiculously good at what he does. It's clear you're too hung up on what happened last year to make a rational judgment of him this season and not only is it unfair but translates to a poor understanding of how this team plays ball.

/rant

But the thing is, that postseason is what really metters. I'm far from judging such a young player after a few series in play-offs. I do understand that his game has a lot of room to improvement, but actually his ego seems to have been the main problem. And it's not that easy to change. Now it can be ok: Thunder win games, Westbrook makes highlights etc, but do u remember any problems this time last year? Play-offs will be a real test for him.
I know he's been improved since last year, but I still can't see him being second-best player in the best NBA team.

Second of all, I didn't write that you need a better PG, but a better fit. For me they would't be champions as long as they don't have scoring PF/C. Westbrook should be sacrifice or Thunder will still be among contenders and that's it.

Devilanche · Post #18 » by **Devilanche** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:19 am

knowler wrote:But the thing is, that postseason is what really metters. I'm far from judging such a young player after a few series in play-offs. I do understand that his game has a lot of room to improvement, but actually his ego seems to have been the main problem. And it's not that easy to change. Now it can be ok: Thunder win games, Westbrook makes highlights etc, but do u remember any problems this time last year? Play-offs will be a real test for him.
I know he's been improved since last year, but I still can't see him being second-best player in the best NBA team.

Can we just move away from Westbrook and his ego problem? The boy just want to win and he saw his first option unable to get free so he does what he always has been doing, taking on the responsibility.

If we can't get a better shot on our first option, it's on a whole lot of players, Durant for not getting himself free, Setters for not setting picks, off ball players like Harden for not making runs to keep defence honest. Brooks for not running a better play. Westbrook for not guiding his team mate to run the plays he wants.

Why is Westbrook alone the target of the losses?

There's alot one can be worried about him, his turnovers, his at times reckless play when he makes it a 1 on 1, his playmaking/court vision can be improved on, but we failed to see this ego thing that you are seeing.

If he had passed the ball to a well covered durant, would our losses be on Durant for being well covered or would it still have been on Westbrook for passing to a well covered player?

SpinninHouse · Post #19 » by **SpinninHouse** » Mon Feb 27, 2012 4:46 am

Bulls fan here. I pray we beat Miami in the ECF. But if we don't, you guys have to run them off the court in the Finals. This is not a request, but a demand. Can't see those fools dancing like Puff Daddy after winning a ring.

Gordon · Post #20 » by **Gordon** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:11 am

In my opinion Oklahoma is not ready to win title as currently build. They will need to address two things first - PG and coach.

Russell Westbrook:
Usage rate: 30.2 (2nd to Kobe Bryant)
Assist percentage: 17,2 (58th out of 62 PGs)

Westbrook is great player and Top 5 PG, but as currently constructed i doubt this team can win a title with him as the playmaker. He just doesn`t make his teammates better. I would take trade him for a decent PG and low post threat in a heartbeat, with Harden taking more scoring/ballhandling load. I believe Westbrook is really more suited for a SG Wade-type role, where he can focus on scoring and play some PG when needed.

Scott Brooks:
13th ranked defense

With defensive specialists like Ibaka, Sefolosha, Perkins and superstars who play about average defense, Oklahoma should be Top 5 defensive team atleast. I blame Brooks for not getting enough out of his assets.