OKC Thunder 2022-23 Regular Season Discussion

[ThunderBolt]

Any explanation for Giddey shooting orders of magnitude better in December and January? Like 15-20% better from both FT and #3PT. Shooting coach paying off? Either way I'm here for it. If he knocks down perimeter shots, it opens up the game for him to play on or off the ball, pull defenders from the point of attack, and overall just be more effective in moving the defense.

There were quotes that he improved his selection and his guiding hand abit and it could be that the adjustment in game also took a while to get used to.

Another contributor could be that he started the season adjusting from his old shot and was on a cold streak and after he adjusted abit , he’s now only a hot streak ?

He's definitely improved since last year. But I also think that maybe he wasn't as bad as he seemed at the beginning of the year and maybe isn't quite as good as he's been lately. I call this Lu Dort Syndrome. Giddey's case just isn't as severe as others.

[jake_swivel]

In addition to what devilanche and thunderBolt have said, if you look at giddey’s legs, they generally aren’t flailing everywhere like they did last year.

[Dadouv47]

Don't wanna be a homer but..wtf?

Read on Twitter

[QPR]

I'm pretty sure that's based on field goals made and at what clip only. A lot of SGA's clutch points come via his ability to get to the line and convert.

[ThunderBolt]

I'm pretty sure that's based on field goals made and at what clip only. A lot of SGA's clutch points come via his ability to get to the line and convert.

Just curious, which team are you a fan of? I see you on the PHX board from time to time. Just wondering if you have any franchise loyalty or just a general fan of the NBA. Regardless, it's nice having you post on the board.

[QPR]

I'm pretty sure that's based on field goals made and at what clip only. A lot of SGA's clutch points come via his ability to get to the line and convert.

Just curious, which team are you a fan of? I see you on the PHX board from time to time. Just wondering if you have any franchise loyalty or just a general fan of the NBA. Regardless, it's nice having you post on the board.

I'm actually an old Seattle fan haha, so have a slight soft spot for OKC players although I can't fully support as I'm still bitter about the Sonics moving and I hate Clay Bennett.

I'm also Aussie so obviously follow Giddey quite closely (and Jock Landale, hence the Suns posting).

[jake_swivel]

Rick Carlisle is looking like a comic book villain tonight.

[cjmcallist]

Anyone have thoughts on Bazely? I was glad that it seemed like they were moving on from him, but now he’s back and doing alright.

[jake_swivel]

Anyone have thoughts on Bazely? I was glad that it seemed like they were moving on from him, but now he’s back and doing alright.

I’ve been impressed with his attitude. In a contract year, his reduction in minutes would have made a ton of guys in this league go rogue. During that stretch, I watched him cheering from the bench instead of sulking. Really impressive. He’s gotten the chance to contribute and he was ready. That said, I’d have a problem trusting he could play a limited offensive role. If he did, he’d a good piece to have. But unless he’s taking a VERY team friendly deal, he’s not worth sticking with. We have a bunch of dudes already nipping at his heels for minutes and about 1 billion draft picks who will be soon.

[Big nick]

The problem with baz is bb Iq. This also seems to be Manns problem. I think both have to go. I had high hopes for mannn but he now seems timid. Maybe he just needs to go down to the g league for a while. I just don't understand why Wiggins doesn't get more playing time.

[RunOKC]

I never got any vibes that Bazley is a malcontent, but someone's got to go if we're going to add guys and he has to be at the top of the list due to play/contract.

Going to be hard to do any significant mid season deals with all the money that's dead cap + the luxury tax line so we'll probably hold him til the off season.

[ThunderBolt]

The problem with baz is bb Iq. This also seems to be Manns problem. I think both have to go. I had high hopes for mannn but he now seems timid. Maybe he just needs to go down to the g league for a while. I just don't understand why Wiggins doesn't get more playing time.

Wiggins seems like the perfect role player that we’re going to move on from despite everything saying we should keep him.

[jake_swivel]

I never got any vibes that Bazley is a malcontent

He acted real sullen and annoyed in an interview after the chris paul trade. I devoted 6 minutes to searching for this on YouTube and came up empty, but it totally happened.

[jake_swivel]

Wiggins seems like the perfect role player that we’re going to move on from despite everything saying we should keep him.

Gosh, I hope not. If there is a consolidation trade, his value skyrockets.

[Zagor]

The problem with baz is bb Iq. This also seems to be Manns problem. I think both have to go. I had high hopes for mannn but he now seems timid. Maybe he just needs to go down to the g league for a while. I just don't understand why Wiggins doesn't get more playing time.

Mann seems to be wild player and I don't think he can learn to facilitate plays. Presti will probably need to find new back-up pg in couple years.

[Dadouv47]

The problem with baz is bb Iq. This also seems to be Manns problem. I think both have to go. I had high hopes for mannn but he now seems timid. Maybe he just needs to go down to the g league for a while. I just don't understand why Wiggins doesn't get more playing time.

You are definitely right but Mann looks to care a bit more than Bazley...I think he works hard and is trying to improve so I wouldn't give up on him already even if my expectations are definitely low.

[Dadouv47]

Dort deserves some credit lately. He's playing really really well.

[ThunderBolt]

The problem with baz is bb Iq. This also seems to be Manns problem. I think both have to go. I had high hopes for mannn but he now seems timid. Maybe he just needs to go down to the g league for a while. I just don't understand why Wiggins doesn't get more playing time.

Mann seems to be wild player and I don't think he can learn to facilitate plays. Presti will probably need to find new back-up pg in couple years.

I don't think he was ever considered a back up PG. We have Giddey and J Dub to run the bench units. Poku is even much more capable. I don't fault the pick of Mann. I see his appeal however he doesn't fit "the new age thunder" Schlecht is always talking about. Tre was likely drafted hoping his floor would be a Lou Williams type bench player with some passable defense. For now, Joe and Wiggins need to be getting Mann's minutes.

[ThunderBolt]

Dort deserves some credit lately. He's playing really really well.

He has played better but this is what he does. He's by far the streakiest player on the team. He'd need to maintain this level until the end of the year for me to really buy in that he's improved.

[slick_watts]

dort has made a very obvious change to his game, moving some three point attempts to aggressive attacks at the rim. he is in the 70th percentile in rim frequency (realitive to total fga) and only the 18th percentile in rim efficiency. he's shooting a ghastly 46% on layups. this frequency and efficiency are markedly different from last season where he was 55th and 25th percentiles, respectively.

i get the idea here. layups should be higher percentage than a 32-33% 3pt shot, especially when you include the potential for free throws. but he just doesn't have the handle or control at the rim to make contested shots there with enough regularity for it to make sense. he's also turnover prone on a lot of these drives, which are telegraphed and often easily defended. myles turner had a bad game overall last night but it seemed like he blocked about 10 lu dort layups.

anyway the funny thing is he would probably have been better off just shooting more threes. his season ts% is stilll below average, but he's making a sizzling 46% of his threes from the corner (and taking more of those) and a respectable 38% of his catch and shoot threes overall.

the team also has an unsual confidence in dort as a primary ball handler at times. he was given the reins to the final shot of the 1st half when the game was close. sga was on the court with him. lu dort got swallowed up at the rim.

anyway, with lots of improvement to report from other players, it's a bit of a bummer that the guy we just re-signed is plateauing. i'm less and less convinced dort is a long term part of the team. perhaps he is the 'jeff green' of this thunder iteration