RealGM

When I saw thunderous intentions post a blog this morning titled 'unleash the beast in Deonte Burton' I knew that Thunder nation had finally caught up with me. (https://thunderousintentions.com/2019/03/21/okc-thunder-unleash-beast-deonte-burton/5/)

Although Nader has been playing passable defense lately, Burton is a very good defender. I propose giving Burton 15 minutes a game for the next 3 games - if he produces (he will) we keep him in the rotation. If he doesn't we cut him back.

Burton can maul you on offense and shut you down on defense. He's like a meat grinder, except he grinds up NBA benches.

We cant get worse right?

Would you all be in for giving Burton a chance to see what happens?

I don't even have to write my answer.

Guy's defense is rock solid and is better offensive player then Fergy boy and Nader combined.

Pillendreher wrote:

Imagine firing Billy and then giving Burton his minutes. It would be a win-win for both of us.

Burton is the best option available at shooting guard as Ferguson clearly has regressed. Outside of a month Ferguson hasn't really shown that he's much more than a D-League player for almost 2 years now. OKC has been playing for a decade now with the worst offensive starting shooting guard in the NBA (Sefolosha, Roberson and now Ferguson) and it's been truly baffling to watch. No question whatsoever that if Burton started he would double Ferguson's offensive output and still provide good defense. I just don't get Presti's fascination with starting a shooting guard that sucks on offense. Not one other team seems to think it's a good idea.

Again, Burton played 7 minutes and finished with by far the best +/- of anyone on the Thunder.

He was locking it down on defense and made some highlight reel passes. So Billy subs him out and we get slaughtered.

What a joke. At this point not only should Burton be getting heavy bench minutes, I think we should start thinking about starting him. He has Ferguson like defensive ability, and is a much better passer and finisher at the hoop.

PS: I updated the poll to allow y'all to change your votes. It's time to face reality. Burton is the answer.

Just insane they aren't at least trying him more. The standard haters on this board seem to hate the idea as well, but then they also complain about the lack of playmaking, scoring, and intensity in the starting 5. Which sounds like complaining just to complain if you don't want to try anything different.

Burton has certainly looked good. Ferguson certainly has done nothing to warrant blind loyalty to big minutes every night. Typical okc though

hardenASG13 wrote:Just insane they aren't at least trying him more. The standard haters on this board seem to hate the idea as well, but then they also complain about the lack of playmaking, scoring, and intensity in the starting 5. Which sounds like complaining just to complain if you don't want to try anything different.

Burton has certainly looked good. Ferguson certainly has done nothing to warrant blind loyalty to big minutes every night. Typical okc though

Ferguson had a good month. The rest has been so-so. He certainly brings a ton of effort on the defensive end, but his wafer thin size means he has to foul like crazy to keep anyone from the paint. He needs to bulk up or become a knockdown shooter to be of more value as a starter.

But even if you want to keep 2F as the starter, fine - at least reduce his minutes and give more to Burton. Burton has been better off the bench than Nader (so logically Donovan keeps playing Nader) and has shown to be better than Ferg in spurts.

We keep overplaying Grant/Adams and Ferg and significantly underplaying Burton, Morris and Noel.

Ironic that when Donovan joined the team ESPN wrote this about him;

"Brooks, for all his good coaching qualities, was more of a traditional leader. He resisted analytical assistance, favoring instinct over data. Donovan aligns more closely with the Thunder's data-driven front office. Brooks was often stubborn with lineups, leaning on veteran intangibles and continuity, while Donovan is a tactical adjuster, ready to flex when the moment calls for it."

Donovan is no different from Brooks. If you fired the first, you have to fire the second. They're the same thing.

I support this move. Anything to get Donovan fired. Give this scrub 48 minutes. Let's get it done!

Pillendreher wrote:I support this move. Anything to get Donovan fired. Give this scrub 48 minutes. Let's get it done!

Be careful what you wish for. With Burton getting 48 minutes we're probably going all the way in to June.

deonte burton is an interesting litmus test.

Westbrook, Ferguson and Schroder, none of these guys are a shooter, and yet Billy's constantly playing them together. I think any sane coach would at least experiment a little with Burton in any combination with these 3.

The more games go by the clearer it becomes that Burton is our answer. We're losing EVERYTHING without him. If we flame out this season and never play Burton again Presti will have a ready made excuse blaming it all on a lack of Burton and nothing will change. Coach will stay. Players will all stay. If we play Burton and get back on the wagon we're going to attract some good free agents and a new coach that can build around Burton.

The real question is are burtons skills best utilized on the basketball court or in North Korea establishing world peace?

I think Burton might be the answer to our first quarter woes... We're a defensive disaster in the 1st and as we all know Burton is a lock down and throw away the key kind of guy. He should be coming in around the 6 min mark so that he can put one of the opposing guys in solitary. Would probably be the difference in losing every first quarter by 10+ and winning them.

Look at that athleticism and defensive timing...

Would certanly rather see him chasing Lillard, Curry and Mccollum around, then f**** fatso like Felton. The guy is 67 times better defensive player then Felton, but off course, our brainless coach probably won't even entertain that thought....

Those of you that said NO - Time to eat crow now huh?

SecondTake wrote:Those of you that said NO - Time to eat crow now huh?

Burton was the real MVP. We missed a championship because Donovan couldn't see it

Dadouv47 wrote:

SecondTake wrote:Those of you that said NO - Time to eat crow now huh?

Burton was the real MVP. We missed a championship because Donovan couldn't see it

Fortunately he's still only 25 and just entering his prime. He could be the X factor for our championship window going forward.

Unfortunately I'm worried he'll get traded/released.

I have no doubt the dude could average 15/5 off the bench against this blazers team and put the lot of them in foul trouble. Hopefully we see him bring it on Tuesday.

I'm still banking on Ferg gaining 20lb of muscle this off-season and becoming a 40% shooter with 10 pts a game next season, while Grant develops in to an all star averaging 19 a game next year and Russ works on his shot to bring it to 35% from 3 and 75% from the line.

If we stick Burton in that lineup, oh boy... League will be on notice.