OKC Thunder 2022-23 Regular Season Discussion

[Big nick]

Funny thing LeBron played most of the game set the record and then not long after came out with a foot injury. They might have won the game with him but he cared more about the record then helping his team win the game another reason why I can't stand him. It's all about lebron.

[Mr Thunder Nick]

And another draft steale by Presti: WILLIAMS JAYLIN ....wow...respect

[ThunderBolt]

This is stupid. I don't know why this couldn't all happen after the game.

Edit: I take it back. LeBron's uncensored F-bomb on live TV made it worth stopping the world.

It would put a little damper on the celebration when the lakers lose. I believe in the boys.

It was a gutsy performance from such a young team. I’m as proud of this win as I was irritated at the warriors blowout.

[ThunderBolt]

I you used to hear on the general forum how we were a disgrace for tanking. But you don't here how a disgrace houston or spurs are for tanking.

The general forum is a cesspool for idiots.

[cjmcallist]

At some point you've got to get out of the tanking mentality.

Soap box incoming…

This is a fallacy bogeyman that everyone likes to reference when they want to find a reason to support their argument against tanking.

Our team this year proves this incorrect. So do several of this years All Stars whose teams tanked for their first couple of years.

If we pull the plug on this season, the teams “mentality” will be fine.

[cjmcallist]

Nice win last night from a young team.

I’m starting to worry about Shai’s three point shooting. It’s easy to overlook right now but I think it will be a problem down the road.

[ThunderBolt]

At some point you've got to get out of the tanking mentality.

Soap box incoming…

This is a fallacy bogeyman that everyone likes to reference when they want to find a reason to support their argument against tanking.

Our team this year proves this incorrect. So do several of this years All Stars whose teams tanked for their first couple of years.

If we pull the plug on this season, the teams “mentality” will be fine.

To clarify my comments, I meant what I said in that it wouldn’t be the worse thing if shai has a legit minor injury that caused/let us tank. I’m not advocating for sitting a healthy shai.

[Dadouv47]

JDub is scareless

This is sad for the Lakers and great for the Pels but we are already a better team.

[ThunderBolt]

JDub is scareless

This is sad for the Lakers and great for the Pels but we are already a better team.

It was crazy that any time Lebron scored the crowd went nuts like it was a playoff game. When other lakers scored it almost seemed like a letdown from the lack of noise.

[Xatticus]

Funny thing LeBron played most of the game set the record and then not long after came out with a foot injury. They might have won the game with him but he cared more about the record then helping his team win the game another reason why I can't stand him. It's all about lebron.

It certainly was a strange vibe. I've never seen anything like it. The way they stopped the game. The celebratory atmosphere throughout. It was as if the outcome didn't matter to the Lakers whatsoever, and yet it was an important game for them. Then just to pull himself out of the game when he was needed. It's just very odd.

[Xatticus]

At some point you've got to get out of the tanking mentality.

Soap box incoming…

This is a fallacy bogeyman that everyone likes to reference when they want to find a reason to support their argument against tanking.

Our team this year proves this incorrect. So do several of this years All Stars whose teams tanked for their first couple of years.

If we pull the plug on this season, the teams “mentality” will be fine.

I'm not going to argue otherwise, but there are practical reasons for why SGA wants to make an All-NBA team and you certainly could risk rankling him if you hold him out at all.

I just don't know what you do to enhance the tank at this point. You'd have to give Dieng all the minutes he can handle and then some. Poku would help the tank, but you can't rush him back. We have so many quality (and underappreciated) bench pieces that I don't think sitting anyone outside of SGA is going to help the tank all that much and I wouldn't jettison Wiggins or Kenrich just for that purpose.

I'd love to get to 5 though. Orlando has reportedly been sniffing around FVV. I'd love it if they made a move for him. Their backcourt play has been shaky and that would likely move them up a bit. There is significant incentive for someone to pull the plug and winning the race to the bottom could really pay off for the first organization to really commit to it.

[slick_watts]

I'm not going to argue otherwise, but there are practical reasons for why SGA wants to make an All-NBA team and you certainly could risk rankling him if you hold him out at all.

what are those practical reasons?

[QPR]

At some point you've got to get out of the tanking mentality.

Soap box incoming…

This is a fallacy bogeyman that everyone likes to reference when they want to find a reason to support their argument against tanking.

Our team this year proves this incorrect. So do several of this years All Stars whose teams tanked for their first couple of years.

If we pull the plug on this season, the teams “mentality” will be fine.

There's definitely value in tanking. But you're generally not going from 20 wins to contending straightaway if you're building organically. The team has already had two years of tanking and still has Chet to come in, I think there's more value in trying to win than getting pick 5 instead of 8 at this point. They've played so hard for 2/3 of the season now, I think you keep that going.

As for SGA, isn't there usually a financial incentive for All-NBA teams?

[Xatticus]

I'm not going to argue otherwise, but there are practical reasons for why SGA wants to make an All-NBA team and you certainly could risk rankling him if you hold him out at all.

what are those practical reasons?

Do you mean aside from the award itself? Because that's reason enough. They aren't easy to get.

Money. Security. One can gain supermax eligibility before meeting service time requirements if one achieves certain accolades. SGA will be able to negotiate a supermax extension after the 2024/25 season (three years from when he signed his current deal) if he makes All-NBA in two of the next three seasons. This matters for him because he won't have 10 years of service time when his current deal ends.

[jake_swivel]

Soap box incoming…

This is a fallacy bogeyman that everyone likes to reference when they want to find a reason to support their argument against tanking.

Our team this year proves this incorrect. So do several of this years All Stars whose teams tanked for their first couple of years.

If we pull the plug on this season, the teams “mentality” will be fine.

Basketball players are people. People learn habits. People learn how to handle situations by repeatedly encountering them.

Will there be some tanking mindvirus that they get if shai is benched? No, but they lose 20 something games of playing together as a group who it looks like we will be moving forward with. They won’t get the experience that they would get in high pressure meaningful games in a playoff race in front of an invested crowd. They’d potentially lose a chance at becoming acclimated to the playoff environment. Shai would potentially lose the chance to lead a team in a playoff series. And this stretch matters for coach mark who is a playoff virgin who hasn’t coached many big games in his career. Experience matters. For everyone.

Is that all something that could happen next year? Sure. And there is an argument that it’s worth it to lose the experience to get a higher pick. It’s just a matter of what you value more. Experience or the potentiality of improving your odds at a higher pick.

And I don’t think this year’s team disproves anything. They are remarkably inconsistent.

I’m okay with whatever happens, but I prefer they compete.

[cjmcallist]

Fun deadline so far!! Unfortunately I don’t know it helps our lottery standings that much. LAL and TOR are improved but UTA is going to pass us in the reverse standings I imagine. So far we’ll probably be in about the same spot.

[Dadouv47]

Fun deadline so far!! Unfortunately I don’t know it helps our lottery standings that much. LAL and TOR are improved but UTA is going to pass us in the reverse standings I imagine. So far we’ll probably be in about the same spot.

yeah we are very likely going to end with the 12th record in the West.

[Dadouv47]

Read on Twitter

that's a surprise. not a bad thing though

[Dadouv47]

Read on Twitter

oh no not again

[ThunderBolt]

Read on Twitter

that's a surprise. not a bad thing though

Maybe Moose wanted to play on a winner. Can't blame him. he was awesome while he was here.