Who do you expect to under perform?

[LibertyPrime]

Wolves

Based on their 2K rating

They were what, 5th? Yeah....even as a Wolves fan I'm calling BS on that.

It's more reasonable to expect they might approach .500. Still too many non-defenders and pieces that don't really fit.

My picks are Aaron Gordon, Oladipo, and Dragan Bender.

[bondom34]

Ibaka was still top 5 in rim protection last season.

And Adams better overall defensively.

Blocked shots is not = defense. Shocking.

Did I say blocked shots?

That's pretty much what rim protection is.

Here

Adams on court, Ibaka and Kanter on bench
103.7 D rating

http://nbawowy-52108.onmodulus.net/c8j7fsonewzp5r3kfnxqq1714i#/c8j7fsonewzp5r3kfnxqq1714i

Ibaka on, Adams and Kanter off
113 D rating

http://nbawowy-52108.onmodulus.net/rof3w43s1hmyxm6a3gw3cv7vi

Adams on court: 102 D rating

Ibaka on court: 105.4 D rating

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2016/on-off/

Oddly, all the better numbers are Adams.

[basketballRob]

And you'd be pretty wrong. Adams was better than Ibaka last year. Dipo better than Fournier (though I know Magic fans don't believe it).

Ibaka was still top 5 in rim protection last season.

And Adams better overall defensively.

Blocked shots is not = defense. Shocking.

I would take Biyombo or Ibaka defensively because they have the ability to switch out and guard the perimeter. I don't see Adams being able to do that.

[bondom34]

Ibaka was still top 5 in rim protection last season.

And Adams better overall defensively.

Blocked shots is not = defense. Shocking.

I would take Biyombo or Ibaka defensively because they have the ability to switch out and guard the perimeter. I don't see Adams being able to do that.

Then you just flat never watched him.

http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/26/11765634/oklahoma-city-thunder-defense-breakdown-golden-state-warriors-stopped
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/5/23/11743798/okc-thunder-defense-breakdown-video-warriors-shook

Steven Adams became just the second player this season to officially block a Curry three-pointer (Danny Green was the other). While Curry did manage 24 points in under 30 minutes, he finished just 3-for-11 from deep.

[basketballRob]

And Adams better overall defensively.

Blocked shots is not = defense. Shocking.

I would take Biyombo or Ibaka defensively because they have the ability to switch out and guard the perimeter. I don't see Adams being able to do that.

Then you just flat never watched him.

http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/26/11765634/oklahoma-city-thunder-defense-breakdown-golden-state-warriors-stopped
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/5/23/11743798/okc-thunder-defense-breakdown-video-warriors-shook

Steven Adams became just the second player this season to officially block a Curry three-pointer (Danny Green was the other). While Curry did manage 24 points in under 30 minutes, he finished just 3-for-11 from deep.

Adams is going to get flat out embarrassed trying to guard the perimeter this season, he just doesn't look agile to me.

[azwfan]

I will say that although i was really high on Oladipo and was never high on Fournier, Fournier looked much better than Dipo last year. I still think Dipo will eventually be the better player but i'm slowly losing confidence in that assessment.

That said... Westbrook is one of the top players in the game and the Magic don't have anyone in that league... and i don't see anyone stepping into that league this season.

I think Adams is one of the better centers in the league. He is so tough. Tons of respect for him. Ibaka was a nice player but not very impactful IMO. I guess Vuc could be as good as Adams depending on how they are used, but i gotta think i'd take Adams for my center 99% of the time.

I do like the Magic, and think they could be a playoff team in the East... but they aren't better than the Thunder... nor close. I mean about the only way i see the Magic being better in the wins column is if the Thunder have a devastating injury to Westbrook. Even with injuries to other players... as long as they got GOATbrook, they got a chance.

[azwfan]

I would take Biyombo or Ibaka defensively because they have the ability to switch out and guard the perimeter. I don't see Adams being able to do that.

Then you just flat never watched him.

http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/26/11765634/oklahoma-city-thunder-defense-breakdown-golden-state-warriors-stopped
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/5/23/11743798/okc-thunder-defense-breakdown-video-warriors-shook

Steven Adams became just the second player this season to officially block a Curry three-pointer (Danny Green was the other). While Curry did manage 24 points in under 30 minutes, he finished just 3-for-11 from deep.

Adams is going to get flat out embarrassed trying to guard the perimeter this season, he just doesn't look agile to me.

Adams looked pretty agile defending on the perimeter to me.

[basketballRob]

Then you just flat never watched him.

http://www.sbnation.com/2016/5/26/11765634/oklahoma-city-thunder-defense-breakdown-golden-state-warriors-stopped
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/5/23/11743798/okc-thunder-defense-breakdown-video-warriors-shook

Adams is going to get flat out embarrassed trying to guard the perimeter this season, he just doesn't look agile to me.

Adams looked pretty agile defending on the perimeter to me.

I don't see it.

[Def Swami]

And Adams better overall defensively.

Blocked shots is not = defense. Shocking.

Did I say blocked shots?

That's pretty much what rim protection is.

Here

Adams on court, Ibaka and Kanter on bench
103.7 D rating

http://nbawowy-52108.onmodulus.net/c8j7fsonewzp5r3kfnxqq1714i#/c8j7fsonewzp5r3kfnxqq1714i

Ibaka on, Adams and Kanter off
113 D rating

http://nbawowy-52108.onmodulus.net/rof3w43s1hmyxm6a3gw3cv7vi

Adams on court: 102 D rating

Ibaka on court: 105.4 D rating

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2016/on-off/

Oddly, all the better numbers are Adams.

Not disputing Adams had a better year defensively than Ibaka last year overall, but there's more to rim protection than simple blocked shots and DRTG. Ibaka was still among the best at rim defense sporting the 6th best FG% allowed at 43.3%, 6th in points saved per game at 1.36 vs. Adams at 48.9% and -0.55. There's always noise in defensive numbers, but you have to give Ibaka credit for still being among the best defenders in the league last year. The Thunder had the luxury of 2 elite defensive bigs and chose to use that surplus to make up for a weakness at another position, just like the Magic did.

[bondom34]

Did I say blocked shots?

That's pretty much what rim protection is.

Here

Adams on court, Ibaka and Kanter on bench
103.7 D rating

http://nbawowy-52108.onmodulus.net/c8j7fsonewzp5r3kfnxqq1714i#/c8j7fsonewzp5r3kfnxqq1714i

Ibaka on, Adams and Kanter off
113 D rating

http://nbawowy-52108.onmodulus.net/rof3w43s1hmyxm6a3gw3cv7vi

Adams on court: 102 D rating

Ibaka on court: 105.4 D rating

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2016/on-off/

Oddly, all the better numbers are Adams.

Not disputing Adams had a better year defensively than Ibaka last year overall, but there's more to rim protection than simple blocked shots and DRTG. Ibaka was still among the best at rim defense sporting the 6th best FG% allowed at 43.3%, 6th in points saved per game at 1.36 vs. Adams at 48.9% and -0.55. There's always noise in defensive numbers, but you have to give Ibaka credit for still being among the best defenders in the league last year. The Thunder had the luxury of 2 elite defensive bigs and chose to use that surplus to make up for a weakness at another position, just like the Magic did.

Never said there wasn't. I said Adams is a better defender. Not rim protector.

[bondom34]

Oh, and Adams was most definitely better than Serge last year, as was Westbrook. Dipo is a debate. So you have 2 of the top 3 at worst.

[basketballRob]

That's pretty much what rim protection is.

Here

Adams on court, Ibaka and Kanter on bench
103.7 D rating

http://nbawowy-52108.onmodulus.net/c8j7fsonewzp5r3kfnxqq1714i#/c8j7fsonewzp5r3kfnxqq1714i

Ibaka on, Adams and Kanter off
113 D rating

http://nbawowy-52108.onmodulus.net/rof3w43s1hmyxm6a3gw3cv7vi

Adams on court: 102 D rating

Ibaka on court: 105.4 D rating

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2016/on-off/

Oddly, all the better numbers are Adams.

Not disputing Adams had a better year defensively than Ibaka last year overall, but there's more to rim protection than simple blocked shots and DRTG. Ibaka was still among the best at rim defense sporting the 6th best FG% allowed at 43.3%, 6th in points saved per game at 1.36 vs. Adams at 48.9% and -0.55. There's always noise in defensive numbers, but you have to give Ibaka credit for still being among the best defenders in the league last year. The Thunder had the luxury of 2 elite defensive bigs and chose to use that surplus to make up for a weakness at another position, just like the Magic did.

Never said there wasn't. I said Adams is a better defender. Not rim protector.

Maybe Adams was a better team defender than Ibaka last season in Donovan's system but he hasn't got the ability that Ibaka does to be a great defender. He just isn't as agile, doesn't have the leaping ability, and I'm pretty sure Ibaka's longer too.

[basketballRob]

Not disputing Adams had a better year defensively than Ibaka last year overall, but there's more to rim protection than simple blocked shots and DRTG. Ibaka was still among the best at rim defense sporting the 6th best FG% allowed at 43.3%, 6th in points saved per game at 1.36 vs. Adams at 48.9% and -0.55. There's always noise in defensive numbers, but you have to give Ibaka credit for still being among the best defenders in the league last year. The Thunder had the luxury of 2 elite defensive bigs and chose to use that surplus to make up for a weakness at another position, just like the Magic did.

Never said there wasn't. I said Adams is a better defender. Not rim protector.

Maybe Adams was a better team defender than Ibaka last season in Donovan's system but he hasn't got the ability that Ibaka does to be a great defender. He just isn't as agile, doesn't have the leaping ability, and I'm pretty sure Ibaka's longer too.

Plus how many times has Ibaka been an all nba defender? Can't believe we're having this discussion.

[Prez]

Not disputing Adams had a better year defensively than Ibaka last year overall, but there's more to rim protection than simple blocked shots and DRTG. Ibaka was still among the best at rim defense sporting the 6th best FG% allowed at 43.3%, 6th in points saved per game at 1.36 vs. Adams at 48.9% and -0.55. There's always noise in defensive numbers, but you have to give Ibaka credit for still being among the best defenders in the league last year. The Thunder had the luxury of 2 elite defensive bigs and chose to use that surplus to make up for a weakness at another position, just like the Magic did.

Never said there wasn't. I said Adams is a better defender. Not rim protector.

Maybe Adams was a better team defender than Ibaka last season in Donovan's system but he hasn't got the ability that Ibaka does to be a great defender. He just isn't as agile, doesn't have the leaping ability, and I'm pretty sure Ibaka's longer too.

Adams is massive, strong as hell, and athletic as hell. His "ability" is terrific. I'm not sure you actually watched him last year.

[bondom34]

Not disputing Adams had a better year defensively than Ibaka last year overall, but there's more to rim protection than simple blocked shots and DRTG. Ibaka was still among the best at rim defense sporting the 6th best FG% allowed at 43.3%, 6th in points saved per game at 1.36 vs. Adams at 48.9% and -0.55. There's always noise in defensive numbers, but you have to give Ibaka credit for still being among the best defenders in the league last year. The Thunder had the luxury of 2 elite defensive bigs and chose to use that surplus to make up for a weakness at another position, just like the Magic did.

Never said there wasn't. I said Adams is a better defender. Not rim protector.

Maybe Adams was a better team defender than Ibaka last season in Donovan's system but he hasn't got the ability that Ibaka does to be a great defender. He just isn't as agile, doesn't have the leaping ability, and I'm pretty sure Ibaka's longer too.

You've literally had others say the same thing as me and won't admit it.

Never said there wasn't. I said Adams is a better defender. Not rim protector.

3 years ago. Oddly, the NBA has changed in 3 years. Oddly, Adams got much better.

[bondom34]

Never said there wasn't. I said Adams is a better defender. Not rim protector.

Maybe Adams was a better team defender than Ibaka last season in Donovan's system but he hasn't got the ability that Ibaka does to be a great defender. He just isn't as agile, doesn't have the leaping ability, and I'm pretty sure Ibaka's longer too.

Adams is massive, strong as hell, and athletic as hell. His "ability" is terrific. I'm not sure you actually watched him last year.

I'm positive he hasn't, and he's making himself look really bad.

[basketballRob]

Never said there wasn't. I said Adams is a better defender. Not rim protector.

Maybe Adams was a better team defender than Ibaka last season in Donovan's system but he hasn't got the ability that Ibaka does to be a great defender. He just isn't as agile, doesn't have the leaping ability, and I'm pretty sure Ibaka's longer too.

You've literally had others say the same thing as me and won't admit it.

Never said there wasn't. I said Adams is a better defender. Not rim protector.

3 years ago. Oddly, the NBA has changed in 3 years. Oddly, Adams got much better.

That's your statement in your sig. You need to change that because those are your words.

[Andre Roberstan]

Maybe Adams was a better team defender than Ibaka last season in Donovan's system but he hasn't got the ability that Ibaka does to be a great defender. He just isn't as agile, doesn't have the leaping ability, and I'm pretty sure Ibaka's longer too.

We've progressed well into making stuff up now.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Serge-Ibaka-1302/
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Steven-Adams-6301/

At the time each was drafted, Serge had a slightly longer standing reach and Stevie had a slightly longer wingspan.

Stevie had the same max vert and a slightly higher no-step vert than Serge.

And the whole reason we hung in the series against GSW was because of his ability to switch onto the perimeter. And Serge, for all of his good points, has never been a great perimeter defender. Stevie's better at it.

[basketballRob]

Maybe Adams was a better team defender than Ibaka last season in Donovan's system but he hasn't got the ability that Ibaka does to be a great defender. He just isn't as agile, doesn't have the leaping ability, and I'm pretty sure Ibaka's longer too.

We've progressed well into making stuff up now.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Serge-Ibaka-1302/
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Steven-Adams-6301/

At the time each was drafted, Serge had a slightly longer standing reach and Stevie had a slightly longer wingspan.

Stevie had the same max vert and a slightly higher no-step vert than Serge.

And the whole reason we hung in the series against GSW was because of his ability to switch onto the perimeter. And Serge, for all of his good points, has never been a great perimeter defender. Stevie's better at it.

Serge has 1.5 inch standing reach and Adams 1.5 wingspan. Meaning Ibaka has higher shoulders so he can reach higher.

[Andre Roberstan]

Serge has 1.5 inch standing reach and Adams 1.5 wingspan. Meaning Ibaka has higher shoulders so he can reach higher.

Which I noted. What about the rest?