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Everybody overlooks us because we lost Harden, and Kevin Martin. People just don't understand how good KD & westbrook are. I truly believe if Westbrook was healthy last year we would of went to the finals and probably beat the heat.
The time we played the heat in 2012, the Heat played there best ball. That's the best series they ever played. Lebron averaged 30ppg+ and wade averaged around 22ppg. Bosh, chalmers and the rest of the role players played very solid for them to beat us in 5 games. This year spurs took them to 7 games, but the Heat didnt play as well. I honestly believe we played way better than the spurs. But at the end of the day the Spurs still get more credit, because they took it to game 7. I ask people how about the OKC finals, and Heat fans always respond with "Oh that was a easy finals, finished them in 5". But if you put it all together and look at it very closely we played better ball than the Spurs. Wade only showed up for 2 games in the finals, and Lebron shot 42%. If that was the case against us, we would of beat them in 5, let alone taking it to 7 and losing. Lets get it done this year!! This team deserves a ring

Who Cares. Let them. & Enjoy the Results. This team is one of 6 who can win the Chip! Its just about staying Healthy!

Balkman32 wrote:Who Cares. Let them. & Enjoy the Results. This team is one of 6 who can win the Chip! Its just about staying Healthy!

And adding talent to the team.

The season is too close for me to care about what people are saying... I pay some attention to it over the summer, but preseason is going on now, so there is actual basketball to watch, not just analysis

Everyone considers OKC one of the best in the league. Lacking third punch, it shouldn't surprise that they aren't a favorite, especially with Westy returning from injury.

Hope for health, watch a great team and see if PS fatigue renders Miami more vulnerable. Should be a great season.

I am not overlooking this team, but you have to admit they lost a lot of sizzle losing harden.
If anyhting, I am dissapointed because this squad could have been a dynasty, and Presti couldve been considered one of the great GMs of all time.
Now they become o e of the biggest "what-ifs" and the FO should be in hot water by the fans.

SF_Warriors wrote:I am not overlooking this team, but you have to admit they lost a lot of sizzle losing harden.
If anyhting, I am dissapointed because this squad could have been a dynasty, and Presti couldve been considered one of the great GMs of all time.
Now they become o e of the biggest "what-ifs" and the FO should be in hot water by the fans.

Oh...your still stuck in 2012...

Podirk, I think the issue with "losing Harden" is that the Thunder don't really have a third guy at the moment, at least now that Martins' gone. Even if Jackson and/or Lamb take a major leap forward, they won't replicate that sort of hyper-efficient action that both of the previous bench 2s provided, so it's pretty reasonable to expect OKC not to be quite as good as they have been of late.

Naturally, though, they still have KD and Russ, so they should remain a very good team that is a threat to beat anyone in the West. And who knows what'll happen in-season?

tsherkin wrote:Podirk, I think the issue with "losing Harden" is that the Thunder don't really have a third guy at the moment, at least now that Martins' gone. Even if Jackson and/or Lamb take a major leap forward, they won't replicate that sort of hyper-efficient action that both of the previous bench 2s provided, so it's pretty reasonable to expect OKC not to be quite as good as they have been of late.

Naturally, though, they still have KD and Russ, so they should remain a very good team that is a threat to beat anyone in the West. And who knows what'll happen in-season?

The post I replied to was just a rant regarding "The Trade"...

I agree the Thunder don't currently, and haven't had a 3rd option offensively like Harden. Yet the Thunder got better last year.

Thunder might never have a 6th man or 3rd option the caliber of Harden (a top 5 ranked player) but the team looks to have better balance offensively and defensively after the trade. As fun as Harden was to watch I'm much more excited to see Adams and Lamb grow with KD RW and SI.

Lamb has stepped up his defense drastically. His offense should mesh well with Reg once Russ returns.
Adams makes himself open and can catch passes and put them up accurately and quick. On the defensive side Adams is learning every play you can see him get better. He can move quickly and hold his ground.

The Martin TPE has the possibility to net a worthwhile vet that can spruce up the bench or fill in the starting lineup at SG or C next season.

Podirk wrote:I agree the Thunder don't currently, and haven't had a 3rd option offensively like Harden. Yet the Thunder got better last year.

Yes, but before he fell apart in the PS, Kevin Martin was doing a very good job of replacing Harden's efficient scoring, yeah? And there were other considerations. Independent of a third option, they're still a very good team, provided that Russ is healthy.

The Martin TPE has the possibility to net a worthwhile vet that can spruce up the bench or fill in the starting lineup at SG or C next season.

And this is precisely why I am always interested in what teams look like just after the trade deadline and in general around the All-Star break.

you guys make me sick. Overlooked??????
you guys aren't overlooked. for the record, I am a long time suffering Knick fan. We finally got 2 great players on our team--and one can't play for the last 2 years b/c his knees are shot. Owners have spent billions trying to get the right talent, the right team together to win a chip.there are long suffering fan bases with good owners who fail, and terrible owners who fail---and have no realistic or unrealistic chance at winning a chip in the lifetime of most of their fans.

your ownership did it right. Drafting 3 young, healthy, FRANCHISE players. oh yeah, their games all fit. oh yeah, they also happen to know how to win. youd guys had 2 generations of great basketball to look forward to///////and what does your organization do? they break it up.

It's unforgiveable.
look at how hard it was for the heat to win, with all of their talent. It's hard to win a chip.
it's hard to be in a position to win a chip. Your ownership simply doesn't deserve an NBA team. they are not willing to do what it takes to win---and everybody hates them for it.

Overlooked. No, everybody knows KD and his boy are more than good enough to win. but everybody except some of you, want to pretend that you're closer to it---- when,in fact it, doesn't matter how close you get---the Thunder organization can't be trusted.

KD knows how hard it is to win. He and Westbrook can play their hearts out---the fans can be all in. But if the organization isn't all in --you guys are just as #*^!! as Sacramento fans-- or some would say Knick fans.
that's why KD will play like an MVP for the remainder of his contract, and then leave.

Now, some of you will disagree with this long-winded post. but you can't ignore that my perspective has validity. Or atleast, It is to be considered.
Everybody will be shocked if you guys win--not b/c we don't love and want your players, but b/c your ownership are POS

and believe me, I know about POS ownership. I'm also a Mets fan.

riter wrote:you guys make me sick. Overlooked??????
you guys aren't overlooked. for the record, I am a long time suffering Knick fan. We finally got 2 great players on our team--and one can't play for the last 2 years b/c his knees are shot. Owners have spent billions trying to get the right talent, the right team together to win a chip.there are long suffering fan bases with good owners who fail, and terrible owners who fail---and have no realistic or unrealistic chance at winning a chip in the lifetime of most of their fans.

your ownership did it right. Drafting 3 young, healthy, FRANCHISE players. oh yeah, their games all fit. oh yeah, they also happen to know how to win. youd guys had 2 generations of great basketball to look forward to///////and what does your organization do? they break it up.

It's unforgiveable.
look at how hard it was for the heat to win, with all of their talent. It's hard to win a chip.
it's hard to be in a position to win a chip. Your ownership simply doesn't deserve an NBA team. they are not willing to do what it takes to win---and everybody hates them for it.

Overlooked. No, everybody knows KD and his boy are more than good enough to win. but everybody except some of you, want to pretend that you're closer to it---- when,in fact it, doesn't matter how close you get---the Thunder organization can't be trusted.

KD knows how hard it is to win. He and Westbrook can play their hearts out---the fans can be all in. But if the organization isn't all in --you guys are just as #*^!! as Sacramento fans-- or some would say Knick fans.
that's why KD will play like an MVP for the remainder of his contract, and then leave.

Now, some of you will disagree with this long-winded post. but you can't ignore that my perspective has validity. Or atleast, It is to be considered.
Everybody will be shocked if you guys win--not b/c we don't love and want your players, but b/c your ownership are POS

and believe me, I know about POS ownership. I'm also a Mets fan.

Unforgivable?? Trading Harden for future assets opposed to giving him max riding out a year or two and trading away talent while at the same time not being able to bring in decent FAs.

Ownership is POS?? Because they aren't willing to spend 100+ million on a team that will get bounced in the 2nd round? B/c they don't give out awful contracts that hamper the teams future?
Ownership knows the length of the CBA and knows the repeater tax rules and is waiting for next off season to 'spend'.

Respect the passion but the message?

Yeah, losing Harden wasn't great but the financial considerations were there with a view to the new CBA and retaining KD and Westy... Plus, the return was at least reasonable. Not ideal but such is life.

How is anyone overlooking the Thunder? Ask anyone and I bet 99% of basketball fans have them at the very least the third seed in the West. And how can you blame people for thinking the Thunder got worse over the offseason? Basically the team is relying on Lamb to step up and be the third scorer in their go-to lineup, which had been Harden two years ago and KMartin the year before.