OKC Thunder 2022-23 Regular Season Discussion

[ThunderBolt]

SGA/Giddey bad fit narrative didn't last...we just need Giddey to play well and they will make it work.

Will definitely hold my hands up and say I didn't see Giddey becoming a reliable shooter/scorer this quickly, which is what needed to happen to make the pairing work. But you're right, talent generally trumps anything else. The kid is a sponge though so I shouldn't be surprised.

Josh is averaging 19.3ppg in January on 54% shooting, on around 17 attempts.

I think nobody had giddey becoming this decent shooting wise this fast.

Realistically he's going to come back to earth soon, perhaps more so than we care to realize. However I think it's pretty clear that he's improved since last year and we have basis to believe he could be even better next year.

[Devilanche]

Will definitely hold my hands up and say I didn't see Giddey becoming a reliable shooter/scorer this quickly, which is what needed to happen to make the pairing work. But you're right, talent generally trumps anything else. The kid is a sponge though so I shouldn't be surprised.

Josh is averaging 19.3ppg in January on 54% shooting, on around 17 attempts.

I think nobody had giddey becoming this decent shooting wise this fast.

Realistically he's going to come back to earth soon, perhaps more so than we care to realize. However I think it's pretty clear that he's improved since last year and we have basis to believe he could be even better next year.

He’s probably on either a hot streak or a very hot streak but there’s clear improvement in his shot from last season.

So long as the team can shoot better , it will open up the floor for everyone .

We do need another Isaiah Joe though , so we can have 1 on the floor at all time .

[Dadouv47]

The way we are passing the ball...a beauty to watch. Our coaching staff is so underrated.

[jake_swivel]

Trae young is so wildly unlikable that he grew up a couple miles from me and I still can’t stand him.

[jake_swivel]

The way we are passing the ball...a beauty to watch. Our coaching staff is so underrated.

We are a very, very fun team on both sides of the ball.

[Dadouv47]

Shai could score 60 if he wants.

[jake_swivel]

First time in awhile that the Thunder’s lack of size has felt like a problem. Collins and capella are giving them problems on the boards and at the rim.

[Dadouv47]

I know he's yound and talented but Dieng is our tank commander right now.

[jake_swivel]

More joe and Wiggins. Less Mann.

[Dadouv47]

More joe and Wiggins. Less Mann.

Wiggins is the most underrated Thunder player. He deserves to play a lot more.

[Dadouv47]

That was fun but I'm pissed..JDub deserved that win. Best game of his career so far...his energy is contagious

[ThunderBolt]

More joe and Wiggins. Less Mann.

As far as I’m concerned, Mann can earn future minutes by practice performances. He doesn’t deserve rotation minutes anymore.

[slick_watts]

for most of the game, lu dort and the 'big' (kenrich williams) were switching the trae young pnr. what's the point of even having a player like lu dort in the game if you're going to switch? after we did these switches is when we'd get murdered in the paint either directly in the roll or off 2nd chance points because dort / whoever switched on the backside (not k. williams) were severely disadvantaged.

a couple possessions later in the game dort went under / through the screens and the defense was better, although trae young did score on him a couple times including and and-1 where he appeared to muscle his way into the paint.

i'm more or less done with lu dort. giddey in year 2 has already matched his scoring efficiency. and i think his impact defensively is not the same as it was before, and will be even less important once chet returns. giddey/sga/j.williams seem like the wings the team will prioritize moving forward, and dort will be the jeff green casualty.

[Dadouv47]

I thought JDub ceiling was a very good 4th option on a contender but if he can develop a decent 3pt shot, he could be more than that.

I like the way Coach D is making in game decisions. Mann was playing well during some minutes before he took a stupid deep 3 and he was benched a bit later and didn't play after that if I'm not mistaken. Wiggins was very good and earned the right to play most of the 4th quarter. Just don't get why we are still playing Bazley though.

Poku kind of lost his job because of his injury...wonder how they will manage minutes once him and JRE comes back.

[Dadouv47]

for most of the game, lu dort and the 'big' (kenrich williams) were switching the trae young pnr. what's the point of even having a player like lu dort in the game if you're going to switch? after we did these switches is when we'd get murdered in the paint either directly in the roll or off 2nd chance points because dort / whoever switched on the backside (not k. williams) were severely disadvantaged.

a couple possessions later in the game dort went under / through the screens and the defense was better, although trae young did score on him a couple times including and and-1 where he appeared to muscle his way into the paint.

i'm more or less done with lu dort. giddey in year 2 has already matched his scoring efficiency. and i think his impact defensively is not the same as it was before, and will be even less important once chet returns. giddey/sga/j.williams seem like the wings the team will prioritize moving forward, and dort will be the jeff green casualty.

Presti gotta be smart with Dort because of his friendship with SGA. Looks like Shai's relationship with JDub and Giddey is growing (both on and off the floor) and once our team is good enough, it would be easier to move Dort and make it ok for Shai. It shouldn't be this way but you gotta make your franchise player happy, even more in a small market team that is struggling to compete.

[slick_watts]

for most of the game, lu dort and the 'big' (kenrich williams) were switching the trae young pnr. what's the point of even having a player like lu dort in the game if you're going to switch? after we did these switches is when we'd get murdered in the paint either directly in the roll or off 2nd chance points because dort / whoever switched on the backside (not k. williams) were severely disadvantaged.

a couple possessions later in the game dort went under / through the screens and the defense was better, although trae young did score on him a couple times including and and-1 where he appeared to muscle his way into the paint.

i'm more or less done with lu dort. giddey in year 2 has already matched his scoring efficiency. and i think his impact defensively is not the same as it was before, and will be even less important once chet returns. giddey/sga/j.williams seem like the wings the team will prioritize moving forward, and dort will be the jeff green casualty.

Presti gotta be smart with Dort because of his friendship with SGA. Looks like Shai's relationship with JDub and Giddey is growing (both on and off the floor) and once our team is good enough, it would be easier to move Dort and make it ok for Shai. It shouldn't be this way but you gotta make your franchise player happy, even more in a small market team that is struggling to compete.

i don't think presti will care at all about this as a team composition factor.

[ThunderBolt]

for most of the game, lu dort and the 'big' (kenrich williams) were switching the trae young pnr. what's the point of even having a player like lu dort in the game if you're going to switch? after we did these switches is when we'd get murdered in the paint either directly in the roll or off 2nd chance points because dort / whoever switched on the backside (not k. williams) were severely disadvantaged.

a couple possessions later in the game dort went under / through the screens and the defense was better, although trae young did score on him a couple times including and and-1 where he appeared to muscle his way into the paint.

i'm more or less done with lu dort. giddey in year 2 has already matched his scoring efficiency. and i think his impact defensively is not the same as it was before, and will be even less important once chet returns. giddey/sga/j.williams seem like the wings the team will prioritize moving forward, and dort will be the jeff green casualty.

Presti gotta be smart with Dort because of his friendship with SGA. Looks like Shai's relationship with JDub and Giddey is growing (both on and off the floor) and once our team is good enough, it would be easier to move Dort and make it ok for Shai. It shouldn't be this way but you gotta make your franchise player happy, even more in a small market team that is struggling to compete.

I think keeping Shai happiest will be by maximizing the roster so that we can win. Dort's contract is prohibitive towards doing that with the way he's playing.

[Dadouv47]

for most of the game, lu dort and the 'big' (kenrich williams) were switching the trae young pnr. what's the point of even having a player like lu dort in the game if you're going to switch? after we did these switches is when we'd get murdered in the paint either directly in the roll or off 2nd chance points because dort / whoever switched on the backside (not k. williams) were severely disadvantaged.

a couple possessions later in the game dort went under / through the screens and the defense was better, although trae young did score on him a couple times including and and-1 where he appeared to muscle his way into the paint.

i'm more or less done with lu dort. giddey in year 2 has already matched his scoring efficiency. and i think his impact defensively is not the same as it was before, and will be even less important once chet returns. giddey/sga/j.williams seem like the wings the team will prioritize moving forward, and dort will be the jeff green casualty.

Presti gotta be smart with Dort because of his friendship with SGA. Looks like Shai's relationship with JDub and Giddey is growing (both on and off the floor) and once our team is good enough, it would be easier to move Dort and make it ok for Shai. It shouldn't be this way but you gotta make your franchise player happy, even more in a small market team that is struggling to compete.

I think keeping Shai happiest will be by maximizing the roster so that we can win. Dort's contract is prohibitive towards doing that with the way he's playing.

His contract gonna be an issue in 2-3 seasons, not right now. I would love to trade Dort ASAP but I think Presti will wait at least another season.

[Big nick]

I agree we probably need to trade Dort I was high on him but he has reached his ceiling. Mann also needs traded I like Wiggins who is a much better player that's not getting enough playing time.

[ThunderBolt]

Spoiler:

Presti gotta be smart with Dort because of his friendship with SGA. Looks like Shai's relationship with JDub and Giddey is growing (both on and off the floor) and once our team is good enough, it would be easier to move Dort and make it ok for Shai. It shouldn't be this way but you gotta make your franchise player happy, even more in a small market team that is struggling to compete.

I think keeping Shai happiest will be by maximizing the roster so that we can win. Dort's contract is prohibitive towards doing that with the way he's playing.

His contract gonna be an issue in 2-3 seasons, not right now. I would love to trade Dort ASAP but I think Presti will wait at least another season.

There is the financial aspect of this but also the roster construction aspect. We might be able to afford Dort for 2-3 seasons but improving the roster alongside Shai needs to start now.