2018-2019 OKC Thunder Regular Season Pt 1: A Renewed Hope

[spearsy23]

It's time.

[bondom34]

https://www.si.com/nba/2018/10/15/thunder-paul-george-russell-westbrook-free-agency-pacers-lakers

[ThunderBolt]

Too soon? I kid.

[Pillendreher]

https://www.si.com/nba/2018/10/15/thunder-paul-george-russell-westbrook-free-agency-pacers-lakers

Theirs was a bond formed in a powder keg. It’s a genuine wonder that Westbrook and George—two proud, competitive people with no working experience together—never grated on one another enough to cause sparks. “As you would do in a marriage,” George says, “you talk. You work things out. You don’t take things with you. You don’t let things build up. If there’s a problem, you address it and you move on.” You never go to sleep angry on a private jet after dropping three straight games on the road. With enough communication, a season of blown leads and false starts gave way to the kinship of shared experience. In every new low, a window. “When you hang out with somebody all season long,” Westbrook said, “through ups and downs, the positives and negatives, you get an opportunity to see a person.”

Watch on YouTube

[Pillendreher]

538 has released its season predictions:

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2019-nba-predictions/

Thunder at +4.6 at 53 wins.


East:

1. Raptors | 56-26 | +6.0
2. Celtics | 54-28 | +5.0
3. 76ers | 53-29 | +4.5
4. Wizards | 48-34 | +2.7
5. Bucks | 47-35 | +2.1
6. Pacers | 43-39 | +0.8
7. Heat | 41-41 | 0.0
8. Pistons | 40-42 | -0.5
-----------------------------------
9. Hornets | 38-44 | -1.2
10. Nets | 36-46 | -2.1
11. Magic | 32-50 | -3.3
12. Cavaliers | 30-52 | -4.3
13. Hawks | 28-54 | -5.0
14. Bulls | 27-55 | -5.3
15. Knicks | 23-59 | -7.2

West:

1. Warriors | 63-19 | +9.2
2. Rockets | 56-26 | +5.7
3. Jazz | 55-27 | +5.5
4. Thunder | 53-29 | +4.6
5. Nuggets | 50-32 | +3.5
6. Lakers | 48-34 | +2.6
7. Timberwolves | 45-37 | +1.7
8. Pelicans | 45-37 | +1.7
-----------------------------------
9. Trail Blazers | 39-43 | -0.8
10. Spurs | 37-45 | -1.6
11. Grizzlies | 33-49 | -3.0
12. Clippers | 33-49 | -3.0
13. Mavericks | 28-54 | -5.0
14. Suns | 26-56 | -5.9
15. Kings | 23-59 | -7.4

[spearsy23]

I think 53 and a hard fought second round series would be a good year.

[Pillendreher]

Read on Twitter

[wco81]

That 538 has some separation between the seeds instead of tiebreakers determining the seeding like last year.

[Old Man Game]

https://www.si.com/nba/2018/10/15/thunder-paul-george-russell-westbrook-free-agency-pacers-lakers

OMG, I think this may be my favorite thing ever written about Russell Westbrook: "Consider how it must feel to watch Westbrook blast a crater into an opposing defense after spending years with a game manager like George Hill..."

[Old Man Game]

Read on Twitter

It definitely makes him easier to spot on the floor regardless of how big your TV is so there's that.

[bondom34]

https://www.si.com/nba/2018/10/15/thunder-paul-george-russell-westbrook-free-agency-pacers-lakers

OMG, I thing this may be my favorite thing ever written about Russell Westbrook: "Consider how it must feel to watch Westbrook blast a crater into an opposing defense after spending years with a game manager like George Hill..."

I love that line. It says a lot about what guys learn to like or appreciate in teammates (or dislike).

[slick_watts]

it is worth noting that this initialization of 538's projections have andre roberson in for 1700+ minutes. if you halve that, the projection looks closer to the 48.5 O/U. if you take him out completely, even worse. projections for all our non-george non-westbrook wings other than roberson are dreadful, schroder included.

538 is running a CARMELO based projection concurrently with their typical ELO this year, meaning it will adjust projected minutes and even ratings as the season goes. that should be interesting.

[bondom34]

FWIW, Goldstein's PIPM ones have 50-32, feels closer to me.

[Pillendreher]

https://www.welt.de/sport/article181814088/Dennis-Schroeder-NBA-Star-stellt-exklusiv-seine-Familie-vor.html

Article in a German newspaper about Schröder and his family.

Sent from my Redmi Note 5 Pro using RealGM mobile app

[thekaoswithin]

50 wins seems shaky to me given how trash we looked on defence without Robes. Russ is gonna miss time too and we don't know about rust when he comes back. If everything goes well, 55, but this could easily be a crash and burn as well given how tough the West will be.

[Pillendreher]

50 wins seems shaky to me given how trash we looked on defence without Robes.

I simply refuse to believe that Andre Roberson by himself can make or break our defense. If that were indeed the case, then what is the team even doing?

[bondom34]

https://theathletic.com/592822/2018/10/16/men-of-mystery-thunder-face-many-questions-heading-into-the-2018-19-season/

2 things stand out:

Where does Abdel Nader fit in?

As the Thunder wrapped practice on Monday, Nader scorched some teammates — including George, Scrhöder and Raymond Felton — in a 3-point shooting competition. There wasn’t a defender in his face or game pressure on his mind, but his shot was fluid and on target. “Abdel is one of our better shooters,” George said. “He can really spread the floor, doesn’t need much time to get it off. So that’s a huge weapon, especially playing around me, playing around Russ.”

But knee soreness kept Nader out of all four Thunder preseason games. He’s hardly practiced. Unlike Westbrook, a former MVP and the cornerstone of the franchise, Nader is an unknown. There’s no real feel for how the Thunder might use him.

I think he's maybe getting minutes now.

How much heat is under Billy Donovan’s seat?

Some.

The Thunder is a patient organization, and there’s an understanding that Donovan hasn’t been dealt the easiest hand the past two seasons. Kevin Durant left in free agency after Donovan’s first year in Oklahoma City. Last season’s team had considerable roster turnover, including the addition of Anthony days before training camp began.

But this roster has been designed with Donovan in mind. He wants additional playmakers and he has them. He wants versatility and he’s been given it. The Thunder’s health hasn’t helped, but the expectation is that ultimately this team will be whole. Once it is, Donovan will be expected to make the most of it. That doesn’t mean Donovan will be shown the door if the team stumbles out of the gate.

But what happens if the team fails for a third straight season to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs?

That’s a question for another time.

[bondom34]

Also Pelton updated with the injury:

6. Oklahoma City Thunder

Average wins: 45.8 | Playoffs: 87 percent

An additional patella procedure for starting wing Andre Roberson, now expected to miss the first 30 games after having a loose suture removed from his left knee, caused Oklahoma City's projection to drop by 1.1 wins.

The Thunder won at a pace of nearly five fewer games over the full schedule after Roberson's injury.

Blazers and Spurs miss

[ThunderBolt]

https://theathletic.com/592822/2018/10/16/men-of-mystery-thunder-face-many-questions-heading-into-the-2018-19-season/

2 things stand out:

Where does Abdel Nader fit in?

As the Thunder wrapped practice on Monday, Nader scorched some teammates — including George, Scrhöder and Raymond Felton — in a 3-point shooting competition. There wasn’t a defender in his face or game pressure on his mind, but his shot was fluid and on target. “Abdel is one of our better shooters,” George said. “He can really spread the floor, doesn’t need much time to get it off. So that’s a huge weapon, especially playing around me, playing around Russ.”

But knee soreness kept Nader out of all four Thunder preseason games. He’s hardly practiced. Unlike Westbrook, a former MVP and the cornerstone of the franchise, Nader is an unknown. There’s no real feel for how the Thunder might use him.

I think he's maybe getting minutes now.

How much heat is under Billy Donovan’s seat?

Some.

The Thunder is a patient organization, and there’s an understanding that Donovan hasn’t been dealt the easiest hand the past two seasons. Kevin Durant left in free agency after Donovan’s first year in Oklahoma City. Last season’s team had considerable roster turnover, including the addition of Anthony days before training camp began.

But this roster has been designed with Donovan in mind. He wants additional playmakers and he has them. He wants versatility and he’s been given it. The Thunder’s health hasn’t helped, but the expectation is that ultimately this team will be whole. Once it is, Donovan will be expected to make the most of it. That doesn’t mean Donovan will be shown the door if the team stumbles out of the gate.

But what happens if the team fails for a third straight season to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs?

That’s a question for another time.

I’m so sick of the excuse that Billy has had such a tough job. He’s had a superststar every year and multiple allstars two those years. Coaching the magic is a tough job, not the thunder. That’s why Billy ran from Orlando.

[Pillendreher]

https://theathletic.com/592822/2018/10/16/men-of-mystery-thunder-face-many-questions-heading-into-the-2018-19-season/

2 things stand out:

Where does Abdel Nader fit in?

As the Thunder wrapped practice on Monday, Nader scorched some teammates — including George, Scrhöder and Raymond Felton — in a 3-point shooting competition. There wasn’t a defender in his face or game pressure on his mind, but his shot was fluid and on target. “Abdel is one of our better shooters,” George said. “He can really spread the floor, doesn’t need much time to get it off. So that’s a huge weapon, especially playing around me, playing around Russ.”

But knee soreness kept Nader out of all four Thunder preseason games. He’s hardly practiced. Unlike Westbrook, a former MVP and the cornerstone of the franchise, Nader is an unknown. There’s no real feel for how the Thunder might use him.

I think he's maybe getting minutes now.

How much heat is under Billy Donovan’s seat?

Some.

The Thunder is a patient organization, and there’s an understanding that Donovan hasn’t been dealt the easiest hand the past two seasons. Kevin Durant left in free agency after Donovan’s first year in Oklahoma City. Last season’s team had considerable roster turnover, including the addition of Anthony days before training camp began.

But this roster has been designed with Donovan in mind. He wants additional playmakers and he has them. He wants versatility and he’s been given it. The Thunder’s health hasn’t helped, but the expectation is that ultimately this team will be whole. Once it is, Donovan will be expected to make the most of it. That doesn’t mean Donovan will be shown the door if the team stumbles out of the gate.

But what happens if the team fails for a third straight season to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs?

That’s a question for another time.

I’m so sick of the excuse that Billy has had such a tough job. He’s had a superststar every year and multiple allstars two those years. Coaching the magic is a tough job, not the thunder. That’s why Billy ran from Orlando.

And even though there's been quite a big of turnover, the core has been the same ever since he came here: Russ, Oladipo/George, Roberson, Adams. It's not like he got a completely different team each season.