2024-2025 OKC Thunder Games Thread

[Dadouv47]

Feel like this team is due for a loss so @ Cleveland will be a tough one.

Also think the Cleveland Cavaliers match up pretty well against us...gives me Dallas vibes with two very good guards and good inside players (better big mens than the mavs). This is the kind of game a Chet/Hartenstein line up would be nice to watch against Mobley/Allen but still intruiged how we will defend tonight.

[Big nick]

Yes I also feel it’s about time to have an off game, really need another big come on Chet get well. But I just don’t believe in Mitchell if we play really good defense and can get our threes falling it can happen. Really tough game on the road. We just don’t have enough bigs to match up well tonight.

[Dadouv47]

A ton of buzz about this game but I don't care much. Cleveland is rolling but I'm only really worried about Dallas and Boston at this point (and our team to be healthy in the POs). i'm curious to see if JDub can step up though...looks like the kind of match up we might need it.

[Devilanche]

Yea tonight is just meant to see how a Chet-less rotation deal with a legit dual big lineup and how Jalen Williams work his way towards becoming more of a threat on the offensive end.

[Old Man Game]

I'm frustrated by the way that game ended. Lots of lapses.

[ThunderBolt]

We played the two best teams in the league besides us in back to back road games. With a healthy Chet and Caruso, I believe we win. What I’m not sure about is if Chet and Caruso will actually be healthy long enough for that to happen.

[Clav]

Yeah, I'm not concerned about a loss here or there, especially against EC teams that are also at the top of their table. Knicks, Celts games were super competitive and I'm glad we won even the NYK game was part of a b2b! Cleveland played great with their two bigs and we didn't have the best answers. That answer is in street clothes for the time being so hopefully IF we see them in the playoffs, we are healthy to matchup.

It's a good measuring stick for all teams involved, and it's about time we came up a bit short (though Milwaukee also showed us a non-counted loss). OKC doesn't play another western conf. opponent for a few more games...

[Big nick]

This game showed our weakness in the front court couldn’t stop there bigs. We couldn’t stop Jarrett Allen and I just don’t think he is that good. Mitchell as Shaq said can’t lead a team to a championship he was really a non factor. We need a healthy Chet and Caruso back but I am scared Chet will never be completely healthy I hope I am wrong.

[Dadouv47]

we just missed Chet on defense, no surprise here. We know that we need an healthy roster to have a shot at the title. Maybe we could afford an injured Caruso but Chet is a key piece. Could have been a win last night with a slightly better performance from Shai.
JDub first half was very solid, Cason is awesome. Outcome was bad but I liked what I saw. I actually think we played better last night than last week against the Knicks or first half against Boston.

I will be ver happy if somehow we can play the Cavs in the Finals. I might be way too optimistic for once but other than health I'm only worried about Dallas and Boston.

[Xatticus]

I thought Cleveland looked really good. I hadn't watched them this year. Their ball movement was terrific. They get the defense scrambling and attack the rim. We had our chances though. That could be a preview of the Finals.

[Dadouv47]

I thought Cleveland looked really good. I hadn't watched them this year. Their ball movement was terrific. They get the defense scrambling and attack the rim. We had our chances though. That could be a preview of the Finals.

I was impressed too. Atkinson should win COY easily...amazing work in one offseason with pieces that some thought couldn't play together (Allen & Mobley / Garland & Mitchell). Talent prevails ultimately.

[Dadouv47]

Read on Twitter

[Clav]

Turf Toe hurts so much! But good thing is that he did really well with his PT, so there's lots more to come from Mitchell. Still eligible for some games so he can make it back at the end of the season or the GL playoffs to tune up before offseason. I actually expect Carlsen to be waived at some point and Mitchell signed to a guaranteed deal

[Big nick]

Wow we demolished the NY tonight. Very dominant game is it just me because I think Towns looks, runs, and plays defensive like a lazy slob. Not saying Towns is not good but seems very lazy.

[Dadouv47]

Impressive game from Shai/Joe. Wish Shai played the 4th quarter to reach 50 but it was smarter to rest him.

I already wanted to bring a vet before Ajay got hurt...hope Presti will at least make a small move.

[ThunderBolt]

That was an *** whooping! Feels like if we win a championship that we will need Joe to have a game or two where he blows up.

[Dadouv47]

It's sad Caruso is always injured but somehow the trade was still awesome because Giddey was terrible and I'm glad he wasn't willing to come off the bench (Presti got lucky).

[Clav]

Wow we demolished the NY tonight. Very dominant game is it just me because I think Towns looks, runs, and plays defensive like a lazy slob. Not saying Towns is not good but seems very lazy.

From my extensive time watching him in Minnesota, he's very prone to fluctuating level of play. Some nights he definitely has 'it', he's ready to make impact. This night, one of those lull nights [despite still getting some decent counting #s, he was not playing great]. Also important to note he was listed as questionable before being cleared to play so there might've been something affecting him more.

Towns is a really interesting player because he has undeniable skill, but he gets very frustrated with the officiating and forces his offense - leading to offensive fouls and flailing shots. Defensively he really just gets out of position and cannot recover quick enough, it looks worse when he's not 100% healthy.

Pt. 3... Big minutes Thibs is wearing down the team.

[Woerzboerg]

It's sad Caruso is always injured but somehow the trade was still awesome because Giddey was terrible and I'm glad he wasn't willing to come off the bench (Presti got lucky).

As long as he provides useful help comes playoff time, everything is fine.

[slick_watts]

big difference between knicks and cavs- knicks are not connected high-low. we seem comfortable daring kat to isolate against jdub / switch and trap pnr's, send help up, and not worry too much about the back side. against the cavs we also did this constantly and they made us pay over and over with their high-low passing. the knicks don't have another dominant paint presence, which also helped. hopefully next time we play the cavs we adjust our approach because they're not going to miss those reads like the knicks do.

seems like a trade is definitely needed with ajay mitchell out. hopefully we don't sit on our hands.